<T'grat>


One by one the refugees gathered at the bridge.  Malachite hissed quietly
when T'grat appeared out of the night and he took a moment to soothe him.


*It's only me you great lump*  he said as he thumped the dragon
affectionately on the shoulder  *Calm down or you'll frighten our guests.
Will you be alright to carry all of us?  I'd not want to overburden you...*


The dragon harumphed and shifted slightly as T'grat helped Greta up into the
saddle.


> "I'm glad they're tame," she murmured, as she accepted her son from T'grat
arms, and strapped him in.


>T'grat chuckled, "Don't mistake a Joined dragon with being tame, m'lady."
he said as he climbed up behind her, and made sure she and the boy were
settled comfortably.  "This beast here can be a real devil in battle."


*Showing off to a lady friend?*  Malachite asked slyly   *Should I try to
impress her?*


T'grat laughed aloud at his dragon's sally and Greta turned her head,
puzzled at what could have amused him.  He took a moment to explain to her,
and she asked in surprise  "They talk?"  When T'grat nodded she shivered in
fear, and held her son tighter to her.....


T'grat looked to where Meena and Vonn were waiting patiently, and gave the
signal to take off, calling to her  "Don't forget.... picture the far end of
the Warren's bowl.  That way we won't be seen."  


*OK old friend.... take us home.* he told Malachite.  


The great green and black dragon bunched his muscles and leapt high into the
air.  As they gained height Greta squealed and wriggled backwards in
T'grat's lap, arousing a response he wasn't quite prepared for....


*You sure you want to go home right now?*  Malachite asked, with a roguish
chuckle *Wouldn't you like to find a nice quiet lake....*


*Home...*  T'grat sent firmly, and tighten his arms around the girl as they
teleported....



<..>


They emerged at the far end of the bowl, away from the diversion that T'grat
and G'raint had planned with such precision.  T'grat had Malachite relay
instructions to Vonn for Meena, and then directed him to settle on the ledge
outside their apartments.  He slid to the ground, and helped Greta and Lars
down just as Vonn delivered the little girl to them.


"I'll see you settled and then I have to go.  I have some work to do for a
while.  I'll be back later though."  he told Greta as he led her into the
apartment and showed her where things were.


"Who lived here before?"  Greta said as she poked into cupboards and
drawers, and stuck her head round the kitchen door.  "They've kept it neat...."


"I lived here.  Um  I -live- here!"  


"Oh really?  And how do you expect me to pay my keep?"  she patted his cheek
"In the kitchen or the bedroom?"


Mumbling about presuming women, he left her to get settled.


<..>


T'grat waited until the last straggler from Alpha wing appeared before
saying anything. 


"If that had been a real attack... whether by Wraiths or wild dragons...
we'd all be dead in our beds."  He was angry and didn't hold back from
showing it  "What on earth were you all doing milling around out there?"


"Ack.. it was only a drill..."  someone muttered


"Only a drill was it?  Do you think the Wraiths are going to hold off
attacking long enough for you to realise that, yes indeed this time it's
real?"  T'grat shook his head in disgust  "You're a disgrace to the
Warren... the lot of you!"


"We'd have done better if we'd had warning of this drill."  someone else
called out.


"Shall we put the welcome mat out for the Wraiths?" he asked, and laughter
rippled round the hall at his words  "What's the point in warning of a
drill?  O course you'd have done better..."


The riders looked sheepishly at each other as he continued to berate them
for their deficiencies.  


"Apart from a few notable exceptions... G'raint, A'shair, M'lent and L'anai
well done on your alertness... the lot of you might as well be Landbound for
all the good you'd have been.  Extra patrols and training for everyone
starting tomorrow morning and going on till everyone can be up, dressed and
ready to fight at 5 minutes notice.  Dismissed...."


With much mumbling and complaining about the extra work involved the riders
all filed out.  T'grat waited until only G'raint was left before saying;


"Well done!  The drill worked it's magic and we got them into the Warren
without anyone being wiser. And it showed us that we've become far too
complacent recently."


"Come and have a mug of ale before bed?"  G'raint asked with a grin,  "It's
thirsty work shouting at that lot..."


"Maybe another time."  T'grat answered  "I have to get home to make sure
Greta and her kids are settled down.  Sleep well...."


G'raint watched his friend leave with a broad grin on his face.  So the girl
was staying at T'grat's place... well, well.... interesting....


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst

<and friend>
-- 
Les

the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  CMO    USS Javelin        T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage         Broken Lands      Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands

Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands