>Naomi watched the woman beside her as she struggled with the idea. "It's
>alright, Meena. You can stay here .. I'll find some help."
>
>"No, Naomi, I can't stay here worrying forever, I'll go and help." she
>glanced one last time at her tiny child, "Demee will be safe with Lilliana."


Naomi breathed a sigh of relief as she gave the young woman a brief hug,
and then hurried her towards the front of the med centre.


"I'm really very grateful Meena, and I wouldn't have asked if I hadn't been
so short-handed.  I've got Lacey overseeing the treatment of the injured
dragons because she can talk to them and calm them even if their riders are
hysterical with their transmitted pain."


They split the trainees into two fairly even groups....


"Piper, T'rence, Kim, T'lant, F'yod, H'tyn and G'llian.. you'll help me.
The rest of you go with Meena."  Naomi turned back to Meena  "Did Greta say
which area they had been picnicking in?  Hered promised to stay close to
the Warren today... did he?"


"They didn't go that far, "  Meena replied  "Greta says they were in the
woods just north of Keelands Gap, about an hour on foot."


"Right..."  Naomi nodded  "I know exactly where they would have gone.
There's a fair-sized clearing that's perfect for a picnic.  OK everyone...
please be very very careful.  I can't afford to lose any of you to a
teleport accident, so don't think at your dragon at all... let Amethyst
give the image."


She made sure that all the trainees were securely seated before climbing
astride Amethyst's neck and giving pumping her fist in the recognised
signal to put clear air under their dragon's wings.


*You should have be using a saddle Naomi.*  Amethyst chided as she climbed
over the other dragons.  *you don't set a good example to the younglings.*


*There's no time to stop now love.  Just give them the image and let's see
if we can find Hered and Arwin....*


<..>


The air was full of choking smoke when they burst out of the momentary
blackness of the 'port.  Naomi briefly touched each dragons mind, checking
that all had made the trip safely, and then gave each an area of the woods
to begin searching. 


*Pair off...* she broadcast to the circling dragons   *Your rider will come
with me Bishvilea.  Search carefully but don't take any chances.  We're not
sure how far Hered might have got before he was overcome by the smoke... or
even which way he went, so watch carefully.*


As the dragons relayed her orders to their riders they began pairing off,
waving to let her know they understood.  Each pair were rapidly lost in the
swirling smoke....


"We'll fly south"  Naomi shouted to Piper  "As close to the treetops as we
can fly without putting our dragons at risk.  If you see anything, even if
you think it unimportant, shout."


With Piper following close behind she urged Amethyst lower, and then began
to fly south.....


<..>


An angry roar was the first encouraging sign they had.


*Startz is just east of us.*  Amethyst told her  *She is circling over a
small pool of water where her rider is sheltering from the fire.  She has
the human we seek with her but he sleeps and will not wake.*

Naomi tried to reach out to touch Startz' mind, but all she received back
was whirling confusion, anger and misery.  The young dragon was too upset
to hear her, so she had to rely on Amethyst's calming motherly instinct to
aid them....


*Can Startz give you an accurate image to 'port to, love?* Naomi asked
*Will we be able to land and pick Hered and Arwin up?*


*Startz says the heat is too great for her.*  Amethyst said eventually
*She is frightened to go lower and angry that her rider is in danger while
she can't help.  I have an image..... Follow me Bishvilea.*


<..>


The warbling from the violet dragon was pitiful as she circled, trying to
find a way to reach her rider.  Amethyst ordered her higher, away from the
heat of the flames.


*Go! And you, Bishvilea*  she said forcefully  *Your hide is still soft and
tender, and you will not be able to withstand the flames.  My hide is
tougher from the heat of the Hatching grounds... I may have a minute or so
to bring them out.*


Quickly she folded her wings and dropped like a stone.  Flying blind she
nevertheless sensed the ground rising to meet her, and at the last moment
snapped open her wings.  The wrench as her descent was abruptly slowed was
painful and she keened softly to herself as she landed at the edge of the
pool.  


Coughing and wheezing Naomi slipped from her back, and waded into the
water.  She ducked beneath the surface  to wash the smoke from her eyes,
then scanned the water for any signs of the two humans.


"Arwin!"  she called in relief as she spotted the girl in the centre of the
deep pool  "Are you alright?"


"I am.... but he is not."  Arwin gasped back, exhaustion making her voice
unsteady "He's alive... but only just I think."


Naomi swam towards where the girl was treading water, supporting Hered's
head above the surface.


*Amethyst*  she called  *I need help here....*


Amethyst joined them in the pool, and together the two women managed to
drape Hered's still body across the Queen's neck.  Naomi clambered up
behind him,  and then extended her hand for Arwin to join them.  Amethyst
waded quickly back to the edge of the pool, and before they could be
affected too badly by the heat she was airborne, rising quickly to meet the
other two waiting dragons.


*Let's get back to the Warren.*  she told the three dragons  *These two
need help from the healers as soon as possible.  Amethyst... tell the
others with have found Hered.....*

<..>

Scene:  Medical Centre


Lilliana was waiting for her when she landed.  She gently took charge of
Hered, leaving Nash to see to the other two.


"I'm fine Nash."  she coughed when he tried to steer her towards the
entrance to the building  "Just let me alone and see to Arwin.  She was in
the smoke much longer than I was."


"But you should be looked at too."  Nash tried to insist


Naomi ignored him, and turned to Arwin.


"Thank you for your help"  she said, hugging the girl   "You were foolish
to go alone and I really ought to be angry with you, but you rescued Hered
and I'm sure he would have died if he'd been on his own.  Go with Nash...."
 she pushed her gently towards the waiting man  "Let him look you over and
make sure there's not too much damage done.  We'll talk in the morning....."


Nash led Arwin away.  


Exhausted, Naomi sank onto a nearby bench and waited for the other
searchers to return.....


Submitted by


Naomi & Amethyst


-- 
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