The trainees came charging back into the common room, anger in most of
their faces.


"That's just not fair!"  T'rence faced her, fists clenched, eyes blazing
fury  "You *knew* that Batua would listen to Amethyst rather than me.  You
deliberately told her not to let us out of here!"


"Well of course I did."  Naomi told the boy, her own anger held well in
check  "What kind of WarrenLady do you think I'd be if I let half-trained
riders go haring off trying to act like heroes?  You may not care much for
your dragon's hide, but I certainly do!  And so does Amethyst!  


"Have any of you listened to your dragon's keening this evening... or have
you been fuming and cursing so much that you hadn't even noticed how badly
it affects the dragons when one of their kind is killed?  And you want to
take your half-trained charges, half paralysed by grief, throw them into a
fight......and expect them to come through it unscathed"


"Penthos has been keening ever since the battle began."  Aleipha said
slowly, thoughtfully  "I thought it was because some of our dragons had
been killed."


"Did you ask him?"  Lacey turned to the white-haired rider with a
questioning look.  She turned to the others then...  "Did any of you ask
how they felt about killing their own kind?"


"I never thought....."  Aleipha said.  Her eyes glazed over for a moment as
she spoke to her dragon.  When she finally spoke again there were tears
standing in her eyes  "He would fight his own to save me and the Warren...
he really doesn't want to but he would if I ordered him to because he loves
me."


All around them the other trainees were finally asking their friends how
*they* felt about the battle high overhead, and as each received the same
answer Penthos had given Aleipha the anger died down, to replaced by
apologetic sorrow.


"None of you in this room have ever had to deal with a Wilders attack.
Even our very experienced dragon/rider pairs grieve for days after a dragon
death.  And the depression when they've been personally responsible is
terrible to see.  Those fighting tonight will be depressed for days to come
because of the numbers lost.... "


*Vonn says that Demee has been returned safely to his mother.*  Amethyst
cut in  *The tide of the battle turns too.  The leader of this group has
been killed and they are beginning to retreat....*


Naomi relayed her dragon's words to the waiting trainees.


"They'll be coming in soon, and they'll all be exhausted and saddened by
what they've had to do to keep us all safe.  I want you all to go help out
at the Medical centre.  Yes I know none of you have been trained... but you
can run errands, or help apply numbing ointments to burnt dragon hide."
She smiled slightly  "There's a lot of hide on a dragon, and the others
will be grateful for the aid you give their friends."


They filed quietly from the room, chastened by her words.


*You can move now love.*  she told her Queen tiredly  *I have some very
unhappy riders but I don't *think* they'll go flying off blindly.*


*I told you my offspring would have more sense.*  Amethyst told her smugly


*So you did my love.  So you did.* 


"We should go and help too."  Lacey said as they too left the common room
"I'm glad that didn't get nasty back there...."


"So am I. They're always so eager to fly in battle."  Naomi said sadly  "so
ready to fight and die if they have to. But they're so young!"


"They're old enough to stand as candidates and old enough to be considered
capable of caring for their dragons... you can't say they're not old enough
to fight."


"They're too young to die, Lacey!"  Naomi shook her head quickly  "Every
time the wing goes into battle my stomach turns upside down thinking one of
them might be killed.  I'm responsible for them...."


"You can't be responsible for everyone."  Lacey protested  "You're only one
person and you can't do everything.  Or do you have a God complex?"  Lacey
asked, sending Naomi a dark look  "Should we all start bowing down and
sacrificing things to you?"


"Oh you!"  Naomi elbowed her gently  "Don't tease so!"


"You were getting a bit *too* serious there sis."  Lacey laughed, and
pulled a face  "You shouldn't frown so much either... remember what Mam
said when we were little."


"I don't think that applies in this case, thankyou!"  Naomi said dryly
"The wind isn't blowing tonight."


"You just watch out!"  Lacey told her innocently  "You never know when it
might *start* blowing....."  


<..>


Scene:  Medical Centre


They made a brief detour to  the Dining Hall to check that everything was
under control, before joining the younglings at the Medical centre.  When
they arrived they found that Greta and her children had been brought in to
be treated for smoke inhalation.


Not wanting to disturb Lilliana's work, she stopped the first staffer she
found in the corridor and questioned him about Demee, Greta and her family,
and Hered.


"The little boy is fine."  he told her  "Still frightened obviously, but
there's no serious physical injuries.  The young lady and her children have
inhaled some smoke... but not enough to cause serious concern.  Lilliana
intends to keep them overnight just in case."


"And Hered?"  Naomi asked  "How is he doing?"


"He hasn't been brought in yet."  the man shrugged  "Perhaps she should
have a word with Lilliana?...."


"No... I don't want to distract her.  Where have they put Demee and the
others?  I'll have a word with Greta...."


"Second door on the left."  the man pointed along the corridor  "We put
them all together because we're expecting a lot of injuries tonight....."


<..>

"The last time I saw Hered he was running towards the forest to search for
Demee."  Greta told her  "I thought he would be alright....."


Greta broke off as a coughing fit shook her slender frame.  Meena held her
as she fought to breathe and the tears rolled down her cheeks.


"I'm sorry..."  she gasped  "Talking seems to make it worse."


Naomi nodded her understanding.  


"I'll leave you in peace."  she said, patting Greta's hand  "You just relax
and let Lilliana take care of you.  Meena... could I talk to you outside
for a moment?"


Reluctantly she left her son's side, and followed Naomi into the corridor


"I'm sorry to ask you... and under normal circumstances I wouldn't dream of
taking you away from Demee's side tonight."  Naomi said hesitantly  "But
all the experienced riders are still battling against the Wilders....."


"You want me to help with the search for Hered don't you?"  Meena interrupted


"Yes."  she nodded, her expression pleading  "You know I wouldn't ask if I
didn't have to.  But the only riders I have available at the moment are the
trainees.  I'd like to split them into two groups... half go with me and
half with you....."


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst


NRPG  Kris... if you don't feel Meena should leave Demee then Naomi will
take all the trainees to the fire site.


-- 
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

 
 http://www.netkonect.co.uk/l/lovers/mint/norwall.html