Waylene
***
<< Day 0 - Day before D'zall and Rainy's deaths - after the time jumps >>

>"Well, I must be going. The work is just beginning, and I believe I have a
>dining hall to entertain before bedtime. Thank you for your generous
>hospitality, m'lady." The bard made another bow, flourished his cape, and
>walked out of the room. Waylene laughed to herself after the man had left.

>"Is he ok?" B'rall asked as he watched the door swing closed.

>"I certainly hope so." Waylene giggled, and sat down at her desk. "Either
>that, or I just gave a madman permission to hold a carnival at Marrid." At
>that, she giggled even more.

Waylene was pleased to have the carnival in the warren. It was always nice
to have a distraction for the Warrenfolk and the dragonriders. Of course it
would mean extra work for the wing and for Traknor. And she did worry about
that since he still seemed overly worn out and wasn't recuperating as well
as he should .

She was sure it had more to do with the stress of his position then
anything else, because in the evenings at home with her and the kids he
seemed much better. She'd tried to talk to him about taking a break.
Perhaps a small vacation .. but he wouldn't hear of it.

She would talk privately with David and D'nar and see if she couldn't get
them to take some of the responsibility off of him. Extra patrols would
definitely be needed to watch over the warren with all the tents and
wagon's here.

She smiled .. still a carnival would be very nice ..

***

>Tina knocked on the door and waited until Waylene answered. "Hello Tina
>what can I do for you?" asked Waylene.

>"Well I've been thinking, before when Shella was metallic you mentioned
>that I'd have to become a junior queen rider right?"

"Yes that's correct." said Waylene trying hard to contain her anticipation.
The girl had been more then a little preoccupied the last few times they'd
discussed this and she'd allowed her as much space as she needed. But if
she was coming to her now .. Perhaps she did have what was needed to be a
queenrider.

>"Well I've been thinking we can only guess whether she is going to become
>metallic again, whether it will be for good or just for a short while. For
>all we know she might never become metallic again."

Waylene nodded along, listening to every word Tina spoke.

>"I was thinking, why not start to teach me how the warren works and all
>the tasks and responsibilities that a Junior Queen Rider has to cope with.
>Before you say no hear me out. If Shella does become metallic then you
>have a head start training me, also if Shella never turns metallic I can
>always help out when you're really pushed." said Tina.

Waylene was more then ready to accept the help without question, but she
did know there were those who did not feel Tina had the ability .. let
along the right .. to be of any help. The fact that Shella's color had
returned to a normal state and was no longer shining with the metallic
sheen was enough to make some people wonder whether the girl should even be
allowed to stay.

Waylene had heard some small-minded rumors about the 'evil' omen the dragon
and her rider were bringing to the warren. Waylene, of course, held little
stock in such things, but it was something she had to consider. She had no
doubt that it was something Tina herself had heard at one point of other,
and perhaps was part of the reason it had taken her this long to decide she
still wanted to be a part of Marrid Warren.

"I'd have to think about it and discuss it with others. You can only be a
Junior Queen Rider..." started Waylene.

>"Hold on a sec, why not look at it as if I was an assistant to you, just
>to lend a hand without any of the authority as a Junior Queen Rider. I'd
>be there to take some of the burden away from you." interrupted Tina.

"OK it's definitely something I'll look into, I can't promise you
anything." said Waylene, a smile of satisfaction settling on her lips.

>"Cool." said Tina. "It's only an idea."

"I think it's an idea worthy of consideration. And something I will discuss
with Carie and Traknor. I'll have Aura call to Shella as soon as a decision
is made."

Tina nodded, "Well, thanks for your time."

Waylene nodded, then called after her, "One thing you must do though, Tina
.. is make sure you have Shella tested whenever Koda asks. We have to know
what's going on with her. It may give us a clue as to whether she is a
queen or .. something else."

"You mean like a mutant or something." Tina nodded, "I've heard the rumors .."

Waylene nodded sympathetically, the girl would have to be deaf and blind
not to have heard something.

***

Waylene was pleased to meet the young man that Kendal brought to her. His
name was Breeze and according to Kendal, he could talk to dragons. Kendal
told her that he'd spoken to Ainu and had been looking for Kirimith whom
he'd spoken to several weeks ago in Wellcot.

"Minty is Kirimith's rider." Waylene told him. "You'll likely find her and
David in the dining hall about now.... though they may not be there if Zael
is awake and hungry."

"Thank you, ma'am," Breeze said politely.

"May I ask you a question?" she asked.

"Of course," he answered.

"Have you always been able to talk to dragons?"

"No, ma'am," he said shaking his head, "Only a few weeks, I guess. At first
I thought .. well that something was wrong with me."

Waylene didn't get a chance to respond when Dorien came running into her
office, "Waylene! I'm sorry to disturb you .. but .. I need you right away."

Waylene took note of the concern in his face and knew that it had to be
important. She nodded and turned to look at Breeze. "I'm so sorry to cut
this short, Breeze. I do hope we can talk again."

"Of course, ma'am." The young man said politely.

"Good, enjoy your stay at Marrid."

He nodded and moved past Dorien, exiting her office.

Once he was gone, Dorien motioned for her to follow. She did and her
worries grew as he led the way to Trak's office. "What's going on, Dorien?"

"He passed out .. he just dropped .."

Waylene pushed passed him to see Trak sitting on the floor rubbing his
head, "Trak? Are you okay?" She knelt down beside him.

"I'm fine .." he said, but she could hear the tired weakness in his voice.

"I'm calling Koda .." she began.

"NO!" He said, surprisingly strong, considering what he looked like. "I've
already told Mayhem not to let her know. I'm fine .. really I just tripped."

"You passed out!" Dorien insisted.

"You panicked, old man," Trak said gently. "I'm okay .."

"Trak, you look like hell. You've got to take a break." Waylene told him.

"I'll be fine .. honest."

"Traknor, you listen to me .." she began but stopped when he reached out to
take her hand.

"I'll go upstairs and rest. I just haven't been sleeping well .." he could
see she wasn't fully buying it. "Look, I'll take the day off .."

"How about the next week."

"Today and Tomorrow?" he bargained, "There's so much to do, and David busy
helping Minty and you know how D'nar hates being in charge."

"He won't mind when it has to do with your health!" Waylene insisted.

"Please, love. I promise, I'll be fine .. just today and tomorrow and I'll
be good as new."

"I don't know, Trak."

"If I'm not .. then we can go to Koda. But just give me a couple of days to
recuperate and you'll see we would have bothered her for nothing."

Waylene sighed, "All right. Today and Tomorrow you stay in bed. Then we'll
see .."

Z'lec
***

Z'lec had been allowed to leave the small room in the med center, and had
been given a small ground level warrenfolk apartment. On several occasions
he'd seen Ailill, but though he tried, she still maintained her distance.

He didn't understand it completely. After all it was clear from her stolen
kisses that she was attracted to him. He could feel her respond under his
touch. Still kisses were about all she'd allow him to steal.

He was pretty sure a big part of it was due to Kendal. He could tell that
Ailill still had feelings for the young dragonrider, and to be honest, even
Z'lec had gained a great deal of respect for him. He'd watched him training
with the warrenfolk on the green, but declined to join them.

Still though he watched Ailill, she rarely did more then say hello to him
in passing. For that Z'lec had to admit he was grateful, because right now,
more then anything, he wanted Ailill to love him. And he would do what he
had to in order to be the one to win her completely.

Z'lec went out of his way to avoid Waylene and Traknor, for whenever he saw
them, the anger welled up inside him and it was all he could do to just
walk away. Both Waylene and Trak seemed to know that, and neither of them
tried to approach him.

He had found himself in a couple altercations .. someone looking at him the
wrong way and it grating on his nerves until he blew. But  somehow he'd
always managed to get out of it before anyone got seriously hurt.

Once it had been D'nar who'd stepped in between him and another guy, only
to end up with black eye. Z'lec had felt really bad about that one. After
all D'nar was one of the more peaceful fellows he knew. That tall blonde
man wouldn't hurt a flea. Seeing D'nar with an ice pack over his eye had
made him forget whatever it had been that had started the fight in the
first place.

Now as he walked through the hodge-podge of tents set up on the green he
tired hard to keep his temper in check at the crowd. He growled at a few
people who happened to bump into him, but they all quickly backed off.

He tired to keep him mind on the thing that made him most happy .. Ailill
and how happy they'd be one day ..

Waylene
***

Waylene had taken the kids to the carnival that afternoon after school, to
give Trak more time to rest. The kids were having a wonderful time, riding
the rides and eating all sorts of food. Waylene herself, was trying, but
she was far to worried about Trak, and something about the food did nothing
to help her stomach.

"Aren't you going to eat, mommy," the sweet little girl asked, staring up
at her with her innocent blue eyes.

"No, not right now Marika," Waylene tried to smile, but the smell was
getting to her. "Hey look a puppet show!" she pointed to where a small
puppet stage was being set up, "Hurry and finish eating and we can go see
it."

The children cheered and gobbled down the food. Waylene kept her eyes on
where they were preparing for the show ..

***

Waylene crawled into bed exhausted later that night and her eyes were
closed even before her head hit the pillow. She didn't hear the children
come in to kiss her good-night, nor did she hear Trak wake and ask the kids
how that carnival was.

"It was fun!" they told him.

"I can see you wore your mother out," he smiled at them.

They nodded and kissed him before shuffling off to their own beds. Trak
pulled Waylene close and she settled back against him, getting comfortable
in her sleep.

***
<<Day 1 - Afternoon>>

Waylene held the girl, as they sat on her bed, and just let her cry. Losing
family was tough but to lose someone as close as she had been to D'zall.
More then just a brother, he had been her twin .. her confidant and dearest
friend.

They'd lost their parents when they were still fairly young and all they'd
had was each other. Now poor Ziila was alone .. and her cries of despair
brought tears to Waylene's eyes too. It wasn't fair that such a thing
should happen to such good people.

She only wished she could tell the girl why .. but right now there were no
answers ..

There was a trumpeting of dragons and Waylene reached out for Aura, <What
is it?>

<Ribbon's rider is about to have her hatchling .. and Ribbon is sick.>

<Sick?>

<She's weak and there is something .. 'not right' about her.>

<What does that mean?> she asked.

<Well it's almost as though she's got the waste sickness ..>

Waylene frowned. Waste sickness was something that dragons would get on
occasion if they ventured to far out into the wastes. It was rare, however,
as there was a clear boundary set up that dragonriders knew not to cross.
The boundary had been there for years .. and each new group of young
dragonriders were shown the limit's of Marrid's domain. Where the safe
point ended was required learning for EVERY dragonrider and his dragon.

<It must be something else. Perhaps she's just worried about her rider
being in labor?>

<Ribbon is a well trained dragon, 'Lene .. and I know enough to know when
it's simply over worry!>

Waylene frowned slightly. She'd hit on one of Aura's raw spots .. and of
course when she had eggs on the hatching ground she had so many raw spots.
<I'm sorry, love really I am, but as I understood it, they were only taking
her to the watering hole .. that's no where near the wastes.>

<Perhaps not. I can only tell you what I know. And *that's* what I know!>

<All right, all right. What about the rest?>

<Prisma has already headed back out to the site with her rider. Ainu and
Colchis are taking Storm out there to let her rider help with the
investigation. I've already told them they had best be careful with my
hatchling!>

<Storm's a full grown dragon now, love. She can take care of herself.>

<Of course she can!> Aura snorted, <I teach all my children well .. but
Ainu and Colchis are *not* my children .. and I don't know how well they've
been taught!>

<All right Aura, just tell me when they return. I want to know what's going
on.>

***

Ziila's crying had stopped and she'd assured Waylene she would be fine, but
just wanted to be alone for while. Waylene nodded and told her she'd be
back to check on her after awhile.

Leaving the girl, she headed toward the hatching cavern to sit with Aura
until more word came from Talitha and the others. She hadn't made it all
the way to the hatching cavern when there was more trumpeting and the
metallic blue Fiera  burst into the warren. Waylene could clearly see that
Carie was not on her back and she felt a moment of panic.

<Her rider is coming, 'Lene. She was just outside the warren when the
wastes attacked her.>

<What!>

<That's what she told me, 'Lene.> Aura reported. <She said suddenly it felt
as though she was in the wastes.. even past the safe point. She say for a
moment she could not even feel her rider. She was almost ready to 'port
thinking something had happened ..>

<Oh gods ..> Waylene gasped silently.

<'Lene ..> Aura's voice was at a near panic level, < She was just outside
the Warren!>

Waylene had stopped in her tracks, her mind whirling with all these new
information. Information which seemed to make no sense at all!

Suddenly the sky filled with more trumpeting as four more dragons 'ported
into the skies. Waylene watched in horror as Colchis raced to the floor
hitting it with a thud that could be felt all the way over to where Waylene
was standing. She could see Ranon drop off his back as the two lay slumped
to the ground.  A short distance away, Prisma was standing protectively
over her rider, growling at any who dared to come near.

She moved toward them and saw Ailill and Kendal both hugging their dragons
who looked more then a little panick-stricken. Healers were standing near
Ranon and she saw Tr'etram trying to talk Prisma down so she aimed for
Kendal and Ailill.

"What happened!" She asked in a demanding tone.

Kendal turned to look at her and shook his head, "It's like the wastes were
there .. no .. worse then wastes. It was like going beyond the wastes." His
pale face told the story of his fear, "It was like Ainu was being ripped
away. We got out as fast as we could."

"I don't understand .." Waylene said. "How can the wastes be *inside*
Marrid's domain?"

Kendal shook his head, "I .. I can't explain it. But Talitha .. she seemed
to know."

Waylene looked over to where Trey had gotten Talitha away from her dragon
and was helping her toward the warren offices.

"Now I have some understanding of what Z'lec feels .." Waylene heard Ailill
whisper softly. "For a moment .. even as brief as it must have been .. I
felt alone .."

Waylene nodded and let the two go back to their dragons. She turned back
toward the hatching cavern, <Aura, talk to Prisma .. she might know what's
going on.>

<The wastes .. 'Lene .. they're coming ! They're coming to get my eggs!>

<Aura! Please!> Waylene ordered, trying to calm her dragon, <Talk to Prisma!>

***

It wasn't to much after Waylene had made it to the hatching cave that she
began to actually get information out of her dragon. <It's like the
pockets.>

Waylene had heard of the pockets in the recently rediscovered lost
Warren's, but nothing like that had ever happened here before .. Well that
wasn't exactly true, she knew. After all they'd had to open up a new warren
to accommodate the expanding area of magic. But pockets of non-magic? How
could that be happening?

Her blood ran cold as she wondered how close these 'pockets' might get to
the warren .. What if they opened within the warren itself! Talitha had
more experience with this then anyone. She had Aura tell Prisma that she
would like to see her rider as soon as she was feeling up to it.

"'Lene," she heard Trak's voice coming up behind her. Aura gave him a
threatening rumble as he drew closer and he stopped.

Waylene stood and moved over to him, "Sorry, she's more then a little bit
edgy. What are you doing out of bed anyway? You promised me .."

"I've heard everything for Mayhem," he told her, "You can't expect me to
just sit back and do nothing."

"Of course I do," she told him, "After all you promised.

"I'm feeling fine, besides the warren needs me. You need me."

"Trak, you aren't well, and if you don't keep your promise I'm going to
call C'tain over here to ground you!"

Trak groaned, "You can't do this on your own."

"She won't be alone .." they heard Carie's voice and looked up at her. "I'm
here. I'll help."

Trak looked at her doubtfully, but Waylene nodded quickly, "See Trak we'll
be fine. Besides there's not much we can do, until we're sure what we're
dealing with. D'nar's already warned the patrols to watch for anything out
of sorts."

"I want to help too," A third voice sounded and Waylene smiled at the young
woman in leathers sauntering toward them.

***

Waylene, Carie and Tina had sat in Waylene's office discussing the events
of the day, when word of the birth of Koda's baby reached them. Waylene was
glad to here that bother mother and baby were doing well. At least
something was going right today!

"So what do we do if one of these pockets opens up here .. in the warren?"
a worried Carie asked.

"I don't know .." Waylene frowned. Then looked up as the door was pushed open.

Talitha stood there, pale and hollow-eyed, "There's nothing you can do."
She said darkly.

The three women stared at her and she dropped her eyes, "I'm sorry for just
pushing in .. but I heard your question."

"No, it's okay," Waylene assured her, "I've been waiting for you. I need to
know more about what Prisma told Aura."

"Warrenlady," Talitha said formally, "If a pocket of non-magic opens in the
warren, then any dragon within it will die, just as Rainy did. But that's
not even the whole story. It's more then just the pockets we have to worry
about. It's what the pockets create. The plants .. the creatures .."

Waylene frowned, "Go on .. tell us everything .."

***
<<Dinner>>

Waylene sat in the dining hall unhappily picking at her food. Bad news
seemed to be drawn to this Warren. Fluxing magic, disappearing babies ..
what else could go wrong! There were several extra patrols over the warren
and now several extra patrols out searching for Minty and David's baby.

"How you hanging in there?" she heard Trak say as he came up and sat beside
her.

"Okay .." Waylene said as her eyes fell across his plate and her stomach
churned.

He noticed her face looking very pale, "Waylene?"

She turned her head and covered her nose and mouth.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yes, I think so .." she managed to get out, "Could you just
move your plate away .."

"My plate .."

She nodded, "I'm sorry, It's upsetting my stomach."

Nodding he quickly pushed it away from them, "Are you sick?"

She looked up at him, "I don't think so .. I think I'm pregnant." She had
begun to suspect about a week ago, but she'd only recently begun to be
nauseated by certain smells.

His eyes widened, "Pregnant?"

She nodded, "Yeah, between being exhausted and sick to my stomach .. and
the fact that I'm late .."

"Late? How late?"

She shrugged, "Three weeks .."

"Three weeks! Why didn't you say something?"

Again she shrugged, "Well, we've had other things on our minds .. and well
I haven't had the most reliable cycle lately."

"Gods Waylene .. this is .. this is incredible." A large grin crossed his
face, "We're going to have a baby .."

"Maybe .. I'm not 100% sure .. just like .. umm.. maybe 95%." Waylene
chewed on her lip a moment, "Well .. maybe 90% .. or even less .."

"So how do we get 100% sure."

"Trak .." she began, an edge of warning to her voice.

"What? Don't you want to have a baby?"

"It's just that .. well you know I don't have good luck .."

"Yes, but I also know that was Amblee's fault and she's a long way from
Marrid these days."

"I'm just afraid to hope to much .." she said shaking her head, "And if I
don't really know for sure .. and something goes wrong .."

"Nothing's gonna go wrong this time. I won't let it." Trak said taking her
hand in his.

Waylene allowed herself a small smile, "How could it with you there .."

"That's the spirit!" he grinned and folded his arms around her. Waylene
relaxed in his embrace, but still she could not keep the worry from her
mind completely.

***
<<Day 2 - Early morning>>

Waylene was up early .. even before the sun .. trying to settle her stomach
with dry toast and water. It was beginning to work and her eyes were
beginning to droop once again. She was certain she could crawl into bed
again, and sleep for a few more hours ..

However the fates were once again, not on her side, as suddenly Aura roared
happily, announcing the hatching of her eggs. <It's time, 'Lene! My
hatchlings are coming! Hurry round up the searchlings! My children need
some riders!>

Waylene groaned lightly, but couldn't help but smile. It would be good to
have her Aura back. She really hated it when Aura was broody. However, it
did mean there would be no more sleep until these hatchlings were hatched!

"By the gods!" she heard Trak grumble, "Is that what I think it is?"

She nodded at him and had to chuckle as Marika and Lemek came dashing out
of their room, "Is it the eggs!"

"Yes, it is," Waylene smiled, "How did you know?"

"Cause it sounded so much happier then all those roars we heard yesterday,"
Marika said with a slight pout.

Waylene ran a hand over the beautiful child's head and nodded, "Yes it
does. Now hurry and get dressed so we don't miss it."

Z'lec
***

The stocky former rider, buried his head under his pillow as he heard Aura
roar. He recognized that roar and knew what was coming. Another hatchling
.. more happy-faced of dragonrider .. more starry-eyed dragons .. And still
nothing for him.

It was times like this he wondered why he stayed in the warren, torturing
himself .. Maybe it would be better if he just left ..

He grabbed another pillow and plastered it against his ears as now the
sound of happy voices sounded as warrenfolk headed to watch the new dragon
hatch.

Regards,
Waylene & Aura
***
NRPG: Okay guys there is still a lot to cover before the hatching, so
please feel free to do so before you 'rush' to the hatching.

Kristen
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  |\  /^~~^\  /|
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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
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        \/