She watched them take off, the wind raised by the multicoloured wings
sending her red hair whipping across her face.  Sighing, she brushed the
strands back and tried to be optimistic about the search....


*He will be found.*  Amethyst told her quietly  *if he really wants to be
found.  I don't see why you are so concerned about him.*


*T'grat said the same thing.*  she said absently  


*And he is right.*  the dragon replied  *He wouldn't show any concern
should it be you or one of the others missing.  He wasn't a compassionate
man, and Orobos was no better than his rider....*


*Doesn't mean we need to be like them, my love.*  Naomi said reasonably  *I
hope they find him... if he doesn't want to come back then we'll rethink
things.... but we have to find him first and ask.*


Amethyst lowered her head and peered into her rider's face.  *Just remember
that he won't thank you.  Don't expect gratitude from him... he's more like
to curse and howl!*


*I've long since stopped expecting anything of D'gerrit.*  she scratched
the Queen's muzzle affectionately  *Don't worry love.... Now I have some
work to do.  Being at the Council meeting yesterday has put me right behind
with the running of this place.*


*Couldn't you take 5 minutes to swim with me?*  Amethyst wheedled  *We
haven't swum together for a long time.... and I need to be oiled.*


*Later love.  When the others come back maybe.  But this evening
definitely.*  


With a sigh she went towards the admin building, mind already preoccupied
by paperwork.......


********

Scene:  Early afternoon, Warren Green.


Naomi walked across the Green towards the Dining Hall, mind still on the
work piled on her desk.  Only the urgings of her stomach had pulled her
away, and she was on her way to collect sandwiches before returning to her
task....


She paused under the shade of the oak tree, remembering the impromptu
concert of a few days ago, and the fun she'd had, whirled around the Green
in M'lent's arms.  The extraordinary music that A'shair and Soliel had
produced seemed so far in the past.......


She heard Hered before she saw him, chattering away to the children as he
shepherded them towards the Dining Hall...


"Come along Demee."  he said gently  "If we're going on a picnic then we
have to see Uncle...."


"Uncle?  Sweeties?"  the child's voice was hopeful  "Uncle gif me sweeties?"


"Not sweeties... sweets."  Lars pointed out loftily  "Only babies say
sweeties don't they Grandy."


"Me not  baby."  the childish treble was indignant  "Me big boy!"


"Now now boys.  Be nice to each other or we'll stay here and no picnic.
Lars, help your sister.  Come here and help me with the basket Demee...
like a big boy."


Hered soothed the friction quickly and with the minimum of fuss, and Naomi
smiled as she watched the small group.  She envied Meena her family.... In
fact she envied everybody who had someone to share the small pleasures in
life with.....


"Ah Naomi!"  Hered had seen her watching and made a slight detour to talk
to her  "I'm just about to take the children on a picnic, and we would be
honoured if you would join us."


She shook her head slightly, a smile sparkling in her eyes.  "Much as I'd
love to I have far too much work to do.  But you go and enjoy yourselves."  


"I'm going to pick flowers."  Alyne told her solemnly  "For my mummy...."


She knelt so that her eyes were level with the child's.  The shy smile the
girl gave her making her heart skip a beat.  The child would be beautiful
when she was grown, no doubting that... almost as beautiful as her mother.


"I'm sure mummy will love the flowers." she said softly  "You be good and
mind what Hered tells you."


"You should have children, Naomi."  he told her quietly  "Don't leave it
too long though...."


"You have to have a relationship before there can be children... and I
don't have time."  she said, straightening up.  She watched the two boys
grab the little girls hands and go running off across the grass.  "Don't
take them too far from the Warren today.... we've a full scale search going
on and I'd rather they were near at hand."


"I'd heard about it."  he told her,  "I'll keep them close by me don't worry."


She shot him a look of relief that he understood her concern.  "I shouldn't
think anything will go amiss, but just to be on the safe side......"  


"I know Naomi."  he touched her hand lightly, reassuringly  "I'll get them
back before it starts getting dark too."  


With a quick nod and a smile he hurried off after the children.


<..>


She watched the search parties return as the dusk fell.  Each group
bringing the same news... no sign of D'gerrit or of Orobos.  Lacey reported
that there was no sign of anything human having been at Shard's camp
recently.  Darrkon told the same story of Rixx's site.


She was discussing where and how to continue the search the following day
when she heard a child's scream of terror.  She stopped talking, heart
pounding with fright as she tried to find the source of the scream.  She
was surprised to see that everyone else was going about their business
normally.... Was she imagining things?  


The scream sounded again, loud and close and terrified.  Lacey's face
turned white as she put her hands up to a suddenly aching head, and Darrkon
staggered slightly, wincing with pain....


"Naomi?"  T'grat and Meena showed concern  "Are you OK?  What's wrong......."


The scream of terror and pain echoed in her mind again, and she feel to her
knees clutching her head, pain drilling through her temples. 


"A child...."  she gasped in pain, tears rolling down pale cheeks  "He's so
frightened...  I can't..... dragons... why would he be afraid of dragons...."


Trying desperately to calm the terrified child, reaching out to touch the
child's mind, she sent soothing thoughts..... The thoughts she got back
were jumbled and chaotic.... images of dragons swooping down, fire and
blood, and small figures cowering away.....  <*mmmmmuuuuummmmmyyyyyyy*>
The child's wail cut through her mind, the roaring of dragons loud in the
child's thoughts.......



.... she thought the echo that sounded round the Green was still inside her
head, until she saw the riders hurrying towards their mounts.  


*It's Demee.*  Amethyst said,  as the dragons suddenly screamed in
challenge.  *The wild one dare to attack......*  She fanned her wings,
trumpeting alarm that spread rapidly round the Warren.


"We're being attacked.  Wilders are attacking!"  someone shouted as the
dragons took to the skies


"Demee!"  Meena screamed in anguish  "Demee...Vonn says Demee is in
trouble..."  


She raced frantically for her dragon, but T'grat caught her and held her.
She beat her fists against his chest, twisting and turning to escape,
screaming curses.....


"he's in danger... let me go damn you... I have to get to him.... Vonn!
Help him....."


"Let her go T'grat..."  Naomi staggered to her feet.  "I'll take care of
her... you go help her son.... come on Meena.... T'grat will bring him back
safe....."


She waved T'grat away as she led the sobbing girl to a bench.


"They'll bring them back safely..... Demee will be safe....Demee will be
just fine...." she held her close, rocking her gently    "But why didn't
you tell someone that Demee was a telepath?......"


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst


NRPG 

Ah!  We lurch from crisis to crisis!  :)   Tag Kris!

Everyone else.... let's kick ourselves some Wild dragon ass!



-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands
                        
                              Caliban, Lute's human,  Dragon Lands
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

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