"Who's there?"  T'grat demanded loudly  "Show yourself or...."

The tall figure that moved into the light was familiar and welcome.
"A'shair!  You gave me the shock of my life!  What on earth are you 
doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same question..." A'shair said with a 
smile.  "I couldn't find you in your office, so I decided to look 
around.  The newly joined riders are ready for their awakening, 
shall I see to the Wing's training today?"

The Wingleader nodded, "Please." and started towards the barracks.  
A'shair fell in behind him, since the way would take him by the 
green.

"I have some good news.  The medical staff may have found something 
that can protect me from the sun, some sort of lotion.  It's stil 
being tested, but it is a start.  Maybe soon I can spend more time 
without this cloak, and feel the sun without harm."  The 
hopefullness of the young man shone through, and T'grat put a hand 
on his shoulder.

"Becomeing more outgoing are we?" He asked teasingly.  A'shair 
blushed and shrugged.  

"It seems to be best." He said, and took his leave to the green for 
practise.  "I will see you around."

<...>

Wing practise went smoothly, the riders coming to accept A'shair 
more quickly as both a leader and a person.  The wing went through 
maneuvers and formations, and the training went quickly.  Before 
long the sun was bright overhead, and A'shair was growing hot 
underhneath his heavy black cloak.  Calling the end of practise, he 
made his way towards the medical center so see what progress they 
had made.  Finding there was none, he walked outside and covered up 
as much as he could.

'Sirus, shall we go to the green?' He asked, and the large dragon 
turned towards him, his scales turning to a bright yellow.

*To the green?* The dragon asked, confused.  Usually his rider 
didn't spend much time out in the open.

'Yes, to the green.  Though not for long...' He added, a little 
nervous about exposing himself outside for all to see.

The dragon smiled and let his rider mount for the quick ride.  
Within minutes, the two had flown down to a large tree, and A'shair 
sat down underneath it in the shade.  Pulling back his hood, he 
could barely feel the warmth of the sunlight through the leaves, 
and smiled as he felt the soft grass beneath his fingers.  

'Maybe life outside isn't as bad as I thought...' He said to Sirus, 
and watched the people about the green, some working and some 
playing.  He could hear laughter from some nearby children as they  
chased eachother about.  Everything was so alive when compared to 
the cold rock he was usually surrounded by...

Taking out his flute, A'shair began to play softly, letting his 
mind flow with the melody, making itself up along the way.  The 
notes seemed hypnotic, relaxing in a mystical way.  So captured by 
his playing, A'shair didn't notice the few on-lookers around him.

"Is that him?" One would ask, and another would nodd.

"He doesn't seem like a monster..."
"I've seen him dissappear in the shadows..."
"But he's in the sun..."

Their gossip was more out of curiosity than anything, and all let 
him be, not wanting to disturb the strange man with no hair or 
color.  Sirus lay on the green listening to the music, falling 
slowly asleep listening to the music.  As he dozed off, his scales 
started blending with the grass, and if one wasn't looking closely, 
it would seem like the dragon just slowly dissappeared....

********** SUBMITTED BY **********

			Justin

NRPG:  Well, I've been quiet for long enough.  Anybody want to chat 
with A'shair?  :)


"Pain?  What do you know of pain?  I've experienced anguish on the
 molecular level.  It courses through my body like a live wire.  Here, let
 me show you what it's like..."
                                              -The Crow