[DL] Z'lec

Z'lec watched as Tr'etram headed towards him. He was not looking forward to
this. He had already decided that he would not put Trey with Diana. Diana
hadn't ridden patrols, Z'lec wasn't going to allow Trey to ride with her now
that they were ... living together. His mind stumbled over that thought. He
couldn't' believe Diana had fallen for his so fast.

>"Yes?" Z'lec asked gruffly.
>
>"I wanted you to know that I appreciated your defending me at the warren 
>meeting the other day, though I know it wasn't for me that you did so.  I'm 
>sorry I undid it all moments later."

Z'lec shrugged. He hadn't done it from Trey, he had done it for Waylene. At
least the man had seen that.

>"I'd also like to ask that you pick a patrol partner to assign me."

Z'lec seemed a bit surprised. He had not expected this, "You're not asking
for Diana?"

>Trey shook his head.  "I'm not used to patrolling with my mate."
>
>Z'lec flinched at the word, and Trey himself found he was amazed at how 
>easily the word came to his tongue.
>
>"And I think it would be best for me to get to know some other people 
>here," Trey continued.  "I trust your judgment in the matter... and I thought 
>you might feel more comfortable choosing someone for me."
>
>"Waylene promised you wouldn't be treated any differently--" Z'lec began.
>
>"I know.  I realize I could make a choice and you'd have to live with it. But 
>I'd really like to try to work with you.  So, you choose.  I'm sure I'll be
happy 
>with the choice."

"Very well, I'll let you know my decision when I make it." Trey nodded and
headed off. Within a very short time Z'lec found Diana standing in front of
him. 

>"Z'lec?" She said questioningly "May I talk to you for a few minutes?"

"If it's about Tr'etram, he's already requested that you two not be assigned
together as patrol partners" Z'lec said, assuming the worst

>Diana looked at him. "You know that's how I prefer it too" she said. "No, 
>the only request I have is that we be on the same patrol schedule so that 
>our hours don't conflict too much"

Z'lec raged. Of course, so they could spend more time together and Tr'etram
could work his way under her skin. "Diana! Why are you letting him do this
to you? Taking advantage of..."

>"Z'lec" Diana interrupted "Though this is really none of your concern I know 
>you are just worried about me. Isn't it enough for you to know that he makes 
>me happy? Give him a chance."

"But Diana, Darrin was my friend" Z'lec said "I don't believe he would want
you to get involved with someone like him" Perhaps this was the crux of what
bothered him. It was like Darrin was forgotten. He didn't like that thought.

>"Z'lec, what Darrin would want is for me to be happy & not spend the rest 
>of my life grieving for him. I know that it's sudden but you grab happiness 
>when you can" Diana said, & sadly added "because you never know when 
>it will be taken from you." She then shook her head & looked up at him. 
>"Besides Z'lec, I have always considered you MY friend also, won't you 
>support me & be glad that I am happy?"

Z'lec sighed deeply, "Diana.." He looked resigned to the fact that he would
not be able to talk any sense into her. "I do want you to be happy. I am
just worried about what he might do to you. Or to someone else for that
matter. His last mate was hurt so deeply she couldn't even stand to have him
in the same Warren."

"It wasn't his fault." Diana told him. "Won't you believe that. It's what
you said at the meeting. Were you just lying?"

"No!" Z'lec said indignity. Then he slumped slightly "I mean... I don't
know. I did it for Waylene, because it's what she wanted." He looked Diana
squarely in the eye, "Diana, I am content to have him here. To have him fly
with us in the wing. Gods, I know he was a big help in getting you rescued.
But I don't want to see anyone hurt. Not Waylene, and not you either."

"I won't get hurt, Z'lec. Trust me." he nodded and she turned leaving him to
his thoughts.

[DL] Waylene

Treena floated though the dining hall as she always seemed to do. As she
walked by each table she stopped to caress a cheek, or tickle an ear, or
throw a kiss at the various males. It was well known that she was quite free
with her affections which made her extremely popular with the disappointed
riders following mating flights.

It was lunchtime and she was late, but still she dallied. Finally she
wondered into the kitchens sticking her finger in a bowel of cake batter as
she headed toward the wall pegs to collect an apron.

'Cook' frowned at the young girl, "Treena, I needed ya here an hour ago.
Where ya been?"

Treena flashed her winning smile to the woman, "Just keeping company,
'Cook'. A poor rider who was feeling a tad lonely."

"Now, girl, what've I been telling ya about that. How're ya gonna find a
proper mate like that?"

Treena laughed gaily, "Oh, but, this place really needs cheering after the
last week we've had. I'm just doing my part to make everyone a little
happier. Besides I don't need a proper mate here in the Warren." She sighed
slightly, wishing the one man she would take as a proper mate would take a
second glance at her. But he never did.

'Cook' shook her head and pointed the girl to a bowel of vegetables that
needed to be cleaned. Treena cheerfully headed over to begin her daily
chores. 'Cook' went back to her batter and poured it slowly into a large
baking dish.

Waylene entered the kitchen, "'Cook'," she said softly to the middle-aged
woman, "How are you feeling?" Waylene was still concerned over the woman's
earlier accident in the cave-in.  Two of those in the same cave-in hadn't
survived, and it had been touch and go for Hanna herself, for awhile.

"Now, there's no use'n ya being concerned over me. I'm fine." She cocked an
eye at the WarrenLady, "Ya weren't coming in here to kick me off my feet,
were ya?"

Waylene smiled, "No, I wouldn't think of doing that."  She turned to Treena,
"Treena, when you get a minute, Noreen needs you in her shop."

Treena smiled, "Thanks, tell her I'll be there right away."

'Cook' looked up at the girl, "Not till those vegetables are done, ya won't.
I'm behind as it is no thanks to you."

"That's alright, Treena. Noreen isn't in a big rush. Finish up here first."
Waylene headed out to dining hall and took a seat. She looked for Z'lec, but
he wasn't around. She frowned, not knowing what she was going to do with
him. She couldn't figure out why he refused to give Trey the benefit of the
doubt.

She noticed Trey and Diana enter the dining hall. She quickly moved over to
sit with them. "I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about Z'lec's
ouburst this morning. I don't know what's gotten into him."

Trey shrugged, "I understand where he's coming from. He was fine at the wing
meeting earlier."

Waylene gave a slight smile, "I hope so. He's really usually easy to get
along with. I can't explain his behavior lately."

****
NRPG: Just introducing a couple of NPC's to keep us on our toes. As well as
trying to catch up Z'lec :)  Hope I did okay :)

Treena: 25, 5'5", 120 lbs., long brown hair and dark eyes. She is pretty
much a general handy maid around the warren. She helps out in the kitchens
and in the shops doing various odd jobs. She never joined, but has been in
Marrid since she was 15. She is a very happy affectionate female who enjoys
the Warren's free lifestyle.  She has a secret love, in D'nar, but he has
never given her anything other then a passing glance. She takes it in stride
hoping for the day she can win his heart, though it isn't likely being his
heart is already taken.

Noreen: 50, 5'4", 130 lbs, short light brown hair, green eyes. Seamstress.
She is the one who took Waylene in when she was disowned by her father.

Kristen 
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Kristen and Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm
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