Waylene
***

"Waylene?" He called to her gently. He always did. Never sure how she was
going to react ..

She didn't reply. More often then not in the last few days she didn't reply.
He stepped in and moved to the chair she was sitting in, "I thought maybe
you'd like to go for a walk? Get some air?" He smiled at her, his blue eyes
begging for a reaction .. something .. anything.

Instead she only looked away from him.

He signed, "How about something to eat .. or a drink? The healer wants you
to start eating more."

"I'm not hungry .." she said and her voice was strong .. if more then a
little depressed.

She'd been feisty when she'd first arrived. Giving him the reaming of his
life for not telling her what was wrong with him. Then after that first
scare with the baby, when she'd been put on bedrest, she'd been scared.
She'd done everything the healers had asked of her .. even when she found
herself bored and feeling like she should be up and doing something. How
often had she asked to take a short day trip back to the warren to see that
things were okay?

However she had not been allowed .. not that it had been much good. Only a
few days earlier she'd taken a turn for the worse. And though they'd done
everything they could, it came down to either losing her or the baby .. and
really that was not a choice. The chances of the baby surviving were low to
nil anyway. And now .. well the question of having another child had been
answered by the surgeons knife.

And since then, Waylene had been listless and lethargic.

There was a knock at the door.  Traknor turned to see one of his
dragonriders. He smiled, "Barte! It's good to see you."

At the name, Waylene turned slightly and if Barte was surprised at her
hollow cheeks and dark circled eyes, he didn't show it. "I need to speak to
you .." he said to Trak, "They told me I could find you here."

Trak nodded and started to move toward the man. The sound of Waylene's voice
stopped him.

"Is it about the Warren? You should talk to me, if it is."

"Well .." Barte stammered. It was clear something was wrong and he didn't
want to burden Waylene about it.

"I'm still warrenlady, aren't I? Or have they taken that away too .." Her
voice was bitter.

"No .. it's just .."

"It's okay, Barte," Trak assured him. "Go ahead and tell us what's up?"

Barte began to spill the news about the pockets of non-magic forming in
Marrid .. the death of D'zall .. and now the scattering of everything as
even the warren fell under attack by the non-magic. Trak and Waylene
listened in shock.

"I just felt you should know. Especially in case you decided to go to the
Warren. A Warning is going out .. but I wasn't sure if you'd hear about it
or not."

Trak nodded, "We do appreciate you bringing the news."

***

Trak returned to Waylene's room, after having walked Barte back to his
dragpn, only to find her gone. He frowned and called, "'Lene?"

He moved back into the hallway, searching it with his eyes, "Waylene?"

"She headed out to the back field. Wanted to see her dragon." A passing
nurse informed him.

He nodded, "Thanks," and then headed that way himself. He broke into a run
when his dragon informed him that she was climbing on Aura's back and
planning on going for a flight. He ordered Mayhem to stop her until he got
there, and Mayhem promised to try.

"Damn strong-headed woman!" he muttered as he ran. What was she thinking? He
knew Koda's father wouldn't be happy that she was going flying!

He arrived just in time to see Golden Aura launch into the air.

***

<I'm telling Mayhem where we're going ..> Aura warned her.

<Don't Aura. He won't let us go, and we have to. We're needed.>

<It's too late, 'Lene, I already told him, and you can't be alone. You
aren't fully recovered.>

<I'll be fine once we get to the Warren.> Waylene insisted.

Aura shook her great head, <Just to the lake remember. Tonn said the lake
was still okay, but it was sure where the boundaries around the warren
were.>

<Fine just to the lake then.> Waylene frowned.

***

<It looks so .. deserted ..> Waylene said as she slid from Aura's back and
moved to stand on the edge of the plateau where Lake Lindon was perched high
in the peaks surrounding Marrid.

<There are no dragon's there ..> Aura said softly. She too was feeling the
emptiness.

Suddenly there was a horrific roar and a strong male voice calling, "Watch
out!"

Waylene turned to see an ugly, hairy creature raising his hackles to her ..
Looking ready to lunch at her. Aura flipped her head and let loose a stream
of hot flame, sending the creatures howling in pain. The smell of it's singe
hair hung in the air even as he ran away ducking into the rocky terrain.

Waylene's heart was racing, even as Trak ran toward her, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Wh .. what the hell was that?"

Trak looked back in the direction the creature had run. "I don't know." Then
turning back to her, "And what in the name of the gods are you doing coming
back here! Didn't you hear from Barte how dangerous this place is."

"This *place*??" She asked. "This is our home, Trak!"

"It's not safe right now, 'Lene. You know that. Besides you should not have
left Tinoble."

"You wanted me to get out."

"To the garden! Not out of Tinoble. Waylene you only had surgery two days
ago. You should still be resting."

"I can't stay there, Trak .. I .. I want to go home."

He sighed and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, I know .. but .. this isn't a
good time .."

"It's the perfect time!" She yelled pulling back from him. "I'm needed! At
least somebody needs me! And I'm not going to let them down. I'm going to
find my warren!" She stormed off toward Aura.

"Alright .. alright .." He said following her and grabbing her arm, "But not
alone. I'm going with you."

She shrugged it off, "Whatever .."

Regards,
Waylene & Aura (on their way home)
****
NRPG: Okay guys, I didn't get as much as I wanted to, but time is drawing
short. I'm leaving on vacation tomorrow and I wanted to get something out. I
figure this happens about the same time as Koda having her daughter returend
to her :)

Don't forget about James' guests from Ranon .. Hey James, maybe they can run
into Waylene and Trak as they try to pinpoint the way to the temp warren??

Mike feel free to give them more adventures on their search for Marrid. :)

Kris

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena,Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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