Darrkon and Calindeth's performance during the wraith attack had been a
good one.  Well good by their standards anyway.  The more experienced
riders found a number of flaws in their formations, but added that
Calindeth flew remarkably well for a dragon trained outside of the
warren.  Surprisingly Darrkon felt a swell of pride at the remarks.
Calindeth, on the other hand, took them as an insult.

<Why would I not fly well?>  He repeated often.  <Dragons were flying
long before we ever joined with humans.>  Darrkon would never comment.
He knew it was better to let his dragon blow off steam.  But Darrkon
also noticed that Calindeth wasn't finding it any easier to get along
with other humans.  He was barely able to tolerate most dragons.

As the weeks passed training bacame more intense.  The cadets were
taught tighter flight patterns and more intricate flaming attacks.  They
had also bagun learning the "art" of dogfighting, as D' Gerrit's
replacement as Beta Wingleader called it.  This often bacame necessary
because the wraiths had learned how vulnerable they were to an organized
attack and had adjusted their attacks accordingly.  A'shair had been
working with Calindeth for a number of weeks but hadn't made any
progress.  The dragon hadn't produced one flame under A'shair's
tutelage.  It wasn't due to a lack of trying on A'shair's part,
Calindeth simply thought the human was out of his element.

<Why do I have to do this?>  He complained to Darrkon.  <So what he can
make fire with his mind, it's entirely different from flaming.  Why
can't a dragon teach me control?>  Everyday Calindeth asked these
questions, every afternoon Darrkon gave him the same answers, and every
night the dragon went to sleep frustrated.

Of course Darrkon could understand his frustration.  The beast had been
but through more drills and training in the last few weeks than he had
in his entire six years of life.  Add on to that Amethyst's
overprotectiveness of her eggs, she wouldn't even let Calindeth know the
count, and Darrkon was surprised his dragon hadn't flamed the cattle for
mooing too loudly.  It had happened once, before they joined the warren.
Darrkon however, was in high spirits.  His relationship with Lacey was
becoming more stable.  Although he hadn't shown her his face yet, they
were working together on redesigning his mask.  They spent as much of
what little free time they had with each other and never got tired of
each other's company.

Darrkon also found that his relationship with Lacey helped him learn to
communicate and associate with other humans better.  He hadn't made any
real male rider friends, but he wasn't the wilder stranger anymore
either.  There was a sign of respect and comraderie, he had even found
himself joking with some of the men.  In what little time he and
Calindeth spent alone they fixed the cove.  Today it was finally
finished.  As he looked around at the work they had done Darrkon was
proud.  He mounted Calindeth and headed back for the warren to show
Lacey his special place.

The first thing to catch Darrkon's attention when they came out of
transport was a loud bleating roar.

<What's going on?>  Darrkon asked.

<The eggs are hatching.>  Calindeth answered excitedly.  <We must attend
the joining to see how the clutch turns out.  I think it'll be the best
the warren has had yet.>

Darrkon sighed but followed his dragon's lead to the hatching.  His
night with Lacey would just have to wait a while.


Submitted by

Darrkon & Calindeth

NRPG:  Back at last!!  And finally caught up.

Justin:  I'm gonna make some progress with Calindeth's fireball so keep
A'shair open for me

Kat:  Get ready for the cove.

Everybody else:  I'm back!!  Woo Hoo!!  =)