Meena
****

Meena met the two young riders who would accompany her on their part of the
search, "Are you ready?" she asked with a smile. "We're going to search the
mountains on the Norwall-Telnor border.  So make sure your dragon's get the
picture from Vonn and well teleport there."

Piper nodded at Meena with her dark brown eyes, while W'liam said, "I'm
ready. Irrin says he has the picture already."

Meena grinned. The young man certainly was eager enough. "Then let's go."

The three dragonrider hopped on their dragon's and were soon high over
Norwall. Bishvilea's red-gold hide standing out sharply beside the albino
and sky-blue bodies of the other two. With a word from Vonn the three
dragons teleported from the skies over Norwall to a spot near the beginning
of the mount range which  stood between Norwall and Telnor Warrens. 

Behind them the hilly land receded into sloping plains, while in front of
them the mountains jutted up into the sky. Meena noticed the leaves on the
trees beginning to yellow as the air had grown from hot summer into cooler
autumn.

<Soon the lake north of Norwall will freeze and we can slide across it on
the ice.> bubbled Vonn.

Meena had to repressed a chuckle as she remembered the albino's love of
sliding on the frozen lake last winter. She quietly reprimanded the dragon.
<That's not what we are here to be thinking about, dear Vonn.>

<I know, I was simply making an observation.> the dragon said, disregarding
her riders light rebuff.

Vonn led the way as they swooped in to the mountain range looking for signs
of D'gerrit or Orobos. <I don't see why we should want to find *them*.> the
dragon moaned as Meena reminded her to call out for the large red Orobos.
Vonn had avoided Orobos like the plague every since the larger dragon had
threatened her as she tried to protect Demee from Lord Harkon and
D'gerrit's plot to take him away.

<They might be sick, Vonn.> said Meena though she had her own prejudices
against the man as Vonn had against the dragon.

Vonn hrmph, <They are sick and always have been!>

<Just look, love, and listen>

Hered
****

Hered gather the basket he'd made and headed out of the apartment, heading
toward Greta's with Demee in hand. As soon as Demee spotted young Lars who
was sitting coloring on the floor, he shook his hand free of his
grandfather and ran toward his cousin. "Larss, gonna go picnic wif us?"

"A picnic?" asked the boy, his eyes lighting up. "Mama!"

Greta came out of the kitchen, carrying Alyne, "Good morning, Hered."

"Good morning, I'm taking Demee on a picnic. Meena was supposed to go with
us but was called away on something or other. I thought you might like to
go with us?"

"Can we go, please," asked her son, his eyes pleading.

Greta grinned, "That would be nice." Lars grinned happily and ran over to
join Demee in a ball game of the sort young children like to play.

"Down, mama," said young Alyne, as she struggled to get down and play with
the boys. "I wanna play too."

"Of course, if you have plans .." Hered began, his eyes searching the
apartment for the handsome wingleader. Though most likely he was doing
whatever it as Meena had been called away to do as well.

"No, I have no plans." Hered could hear the disappointment in her voice as
she let Alyne down. He smiled gently at the women knowing from Meena how
rough this was on all involved. He knew Meena was racked with guilt over
the whole thing. Though he understood her wanting to keep Demee safe. He
was with her on that, and wouldn't allow anything to happen to the little
boy. 

Little Alyne moved quickly over to get in-between the boys to join their
game. The boys grumbled slightly but let her join in a game of keep the
ball from the girl. Since Demee was not the greatest catch or throw yet,
Alyne had little problem getting the ball every once in a while. 

"Is there anything I can help you with," asked Greta.

"Nope," grinned the elderly man, "I've got plenty here for all of us. In
fact if you'd have said 'no', I'd be in really big trouble."

Greta giggled, "Well then let's go."

They gathered the children and began walking toward the forest just on the
outskirts of the Warren grounds. The children ran along happily around them
as they chatted amiably enjoying the sunny late morning air.

Meena
****

<This is hopeless, Meena.> groaned Vonn who was getting tired of  calling
for Orobos. <What's to say that even if he's here that he would answer us.>

<I know, love, but we have to keep trying.>  said Meena as they continued
to search. <How are Bishvilea and Irrin doing?>

<They're fine.> Vonn continued to grumble.

Hered
****

After having eaten their fill, the three children ran off to continue their
ball game while Hered lay back to relax. Enjoying the crisp breeze which
rattled the leaves of the trees which encircled the open area they'd chosen
for their picnic. It was a lovely spot, with a small lake that many of the
unjoined came to since it was a fairly short walk from the Warren.

"You look tired," said Greta softly.

"What, me?" laughed the older man, "I'm just a little worn is all. It's
sometimes hard to keep up with that boy."

Greta chuckled, "You should try chasing two."

"Ah, but you are much younger, my dear."

They were interrupted by loud cries from the children. "Mama, Mama!"

Before the two adults had time to stand a large dark form flew over head
roaring. Greta shrieked and jumped up grabbing Alyne and Lars as they
headed toward her. "Where's Demee?" Both Hered and Greta said at once.

"He ran to get the ball," Lars cried. 

The dark form that had passed over head was turning and coming at them
again. This time Hered could see the outstretched claws. "Run for the
trees!" he screamed. Greta began moving immediately, practically dragging
the children as she ran.

Hered ran for cover in the opposite direction. The direction in which he
had last seen Demee and the children play. He glanced behind him at the
riderless dragon. He felt a claw rip his shirt as dove into the brush just
barely in time.  He heard the dragon's frustrated roar as his prey got
away. "Demee!" the man screamed, looking frantically around for the little
boy.

Demee
****

Demee had been playing ball with Lars and Alyne when he'd seen the dragon's
fly over head. He waved at them as he always did when he was out with his
mother. He also called out a cheery, *Hello!*  as Vonn had taught him to do. 

Vonn told him that it mad his mother sad when he talked to the dragons out
loud so he was learning to talk to them in his head. He didn't always
remember, but he tried very hard.

The dragon had turned out not be very nice and he scared away Lars and
Alyne. This time Demee remembered to talk to the dragon in his head as he
admonished the dragon for scaring his playmates.

<Stop scarin' Larss and Alyne!> he thought to the dragon. <Din you mama
teach you that.>

<Are you speaking to me, small meal!> laughed the dragon as it swooped in
for a closer look at the small boy. He had never had a human speak to him
before. He told another dragon to follow the other small morsels as the
rest of the wild dragons of his pack continued on toward the place where
the traitor dragon's lived.

<My name's Demee, not 'meal',> said the small boy.

The dragon was intrigued that a human could talk to a dragon. He'd heard
rumors of such things, but never believed human's would ever be smart
enough. He swept down and gently picked the boy up in a claw. He would have
to study this phenomena. 

<Put me down!!> cried the boy angrily. When the dragon refused to listen,
the tiny boy began to get scared and he screamed. A scream which echoed out
from the little boy both physically and mentally. 

Hered
****

Hered heard the scream which made his blood run cold, "Demee .." he
whispered as he ran in the direction of the call. As he broke through the
trees into yet another open area he saw a second, maroon dragon flying away
a tiny little human form in one of it's claws. "DEMEE!!" He screamed. Then
he heard the rush of dragon wing's behind him.

He spun to see the first dragon come around for another shot at him. He
moved as quickly as he could making it once again into the safety of the
forest. The dragon, tiring of the chase flamed the forest in frustration.
Hered made his way through the trees as the fire began to spread, hungrily
devouring the dry underbrush. 

Hered could feel the heat as the flames licked the forest around him. He
began to cough from the smoke, and his eyes began to sting. He knew he had
to get out he made his way back to the clearing where their picnic had
begun so happily not all that long ago. He made his way to the small lake
jumping in to escape the flames which raged around him.

Greta
****

Greta and her children remained hidden in the forest until the spotted the
smoke. It was then that Greta knew she had to get her children out of
there, now! She began pulling them once again toward the path the lead to
Norwall. She watched the skies for signs of the riderless dragon which had
chased her children. Seeing no sign of it, she broke through the forest and
ran down the path. She had to get help for Hered and Demee.

"Mama, I can't run anymore," cried Alyne. Greta picked up the girl and
continued to run. Lars continued to keep up as his mother pulled him along,
though she could feel him struggling. She slowed down still watching the
skies. Far over head she saw a large pack of riderless dragons heading
directly for the Warren. They were to high to take much notice of the woman
running with her two children, and Greta tried to stay as concealed as
possible  as she ran toward the Warren.

Regards,
Meena & Vonn
 (along with Hered, Greta and Demee)
****
NRPG: I'm assuming that Vonn is too far away to hear Demee, so Meena won't
know for a bit. As neither will anyone else already out searching for
D'gerrit, most likely. I know Naomi is still at the warren and is probably
close enough to hear Demee. 

As for Meena and the others, I figure they left in the mid morning
sometime, and Demee gets taken after lunch .. so there is plenty of time to
play out our search for the missing D'gerrit, before tragedy strikes at
Norwall. I figure, the Dragons will definitely make it before Greta, but
she's on her way to.

Les, I hope this is what you had in mind for our busy day! :}

Kristen

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Kristen Gant
(AKA: Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, 
Kalewyn & Sabbith, Saul & Fayloth)
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm