<T'grat>


>"We will manage something, even if it means calling the right to search 
>again on Lars, Greta and Alyne. I would rather feud with Haarkon than put 
>those children in danger, and I know Naomi would agree. " Lacey said 
>"Lets just watch them very close until Naomi gets back and then see if 
>she has any ideas."


"I think it might be better if I took......."


The trumpeting challenge from outside drowned the rest of his words. He
heard Lacey gasp;   "Garnet! No, not now!" just as she rose stiffly and
pushed past Meena to leave the room.  


He struggled briefly with Malachite, trying to hold him back, remind him of
how vulnerable Greta would be...  But he lost the fight almost before it
began as Mal launched himself skyward to chase the tantalising form of the
brilliantly glowing Garnet.


Her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with pent up passion, T'grat thought she
looked magnificent as he followed her swaying form through the admin
building, each turn of the  corridor adding another male follower intent on
being the winner of Lacey's favours.


They formed a loose circle round the sensuously writhing Queenrider, hands
outstretched to touch and clutch as she danced and wove her way among them.
 Head thrown back, she laughed at their puny attempts to attract her
attention.....


"None of you are worthy."  she taunted.....


******


Malachite held back, letting the younger dragons set the pace, knowing that
he would prevail, he would be the one to satisfy the burning lust he could
sense raging within her.  Her flitting form looped among the males, staying
just out of reach of their wings and claws, until one bolder than the rest
made a grab from overhead....


Quick as a flash Malachite dove beneath the twisting Queen, taking
advantage of her distraction to tangle her body within his wings.
Screaming,  she fought him...


<*Not fair!*> she raged as they tumbled earthwards


Biting the base of her neck to hold her still,  he roared his triumph.
<*You are mine!*> 


<*Yes, Malachite, you are worthy.*>

*******

>The dragons soared for the mountains to spend their passion, as T'grat 
>picked up Lacey in his arms, pulling off her clothes as he leaned down to 
>kiss her passionately. He dropped her shirt on the path, leaning down to 
>take a nipple into his mouth.   His hand roamed freely over her slender
body as he carried her away from the disappointed males, a soft growl of
passion sounded in his throat, mingling with her moans..... 


Pushing open the first door that promised privacy,  he lay her down,
leaving her only long enough to discard his own clothing.  His mouth sought
her nipples, sucking and biting frantically, his hands pushed her thighs
wide, fingers seeking the hidden spot....


Her body arched as he caressed her, and he moved over her, thrusting into
the hot moistness at the core of her being. He paused a moment, teasing
her, then he wrapped her tightly in his embrace as he pumped his hips,
roaring his possession of her.  She answered his fire with a fire of her
own, screaming joyfully as she felt his seed flood into her.  


Groaning with exhaustion, he collapsed atop her quivering body, his
breathing ragged...... 


She crooned softly as she clung to him, moving sensuously beneath his
exhausted body until she felt him hardening with desire once more.  A
throaty laugh escaped her lips as she rolled him to his back. "My turn
lover....." she whispered as she quickly straddled his hips, sinking down
onto the rigid staff of his manhood...... Head thrown back,  her face
distorted by the lust still flowing through the rutting Queen she began
rotating hips....


<..>


Finally, their passion spent, he rolled off her lax body and curled himself
around her.  With a sigh of satisfaction he fell into the black pit of
sleep.....


**********
<Naomi>


>She kissed him gently on the cheek and pushed him away. "Just so it's
>clear who's the boss H'tor," she said as she turned and walked towards
>the dining hall, Haroc moved quickly out of her way to open a path.
>
>"Perfectly clear Naomi," he said. "Perfect, in fact."
>
>She tossed her head back and laughed. She kept walking without looking
>back, knowing he was watching her... a small shiver of delight racing
through her at the thought.


Pack dangling from her fingers, she pushed the heavy doors to the dining
hall open and slipped through the gap.   The hall was full of diners, and
she grinned widely as they greeted her not caring that they might wonder at
her electric mood.  She made her way to the doorway to the kitchens,
pausing here and there to exchange a few words as the riders responded to
her warmth.....


She slipped through the door quietly, not wanting to upset the routine of
the kitchen... or Uncle.  She unpacked the remains of the meal she had
shared with H'tor, and laid them neatly on the table by the huge sinks.
Her fingers lingered on the glass he had drunk from remembering the taste
of wine on his tongue as he had kissed her........


"Naomi?"  


Jeryn's gentle touch on her shoulder brought her out of her daydream, and
she flushed at his shrewd look.   "I'm sorry Uncle, my thoughts were miles
away....." Her voice trailed off dreamily, and her eyes stared past him,
once more seeing the meadow and the oak tree and the rushing ribbon of the
river.....


"Naomi?"  He waved a hand under her nose, his tone irritable  "For the gods
sake listen to me girl.  It's important!"


She shook herself, pushing thoughts of H'tor away with regret, and gave
Jeryn her full attention.


"What's wrong?"  she asked as she finished putting the used plates and mugs
into the suds-filled sink.  


"It's Lars and little Alyne."  Jeryn said as he steered her towards the
kitchen rear exit.  "I was on my way to the storeroom for some dried herbs
when I found them wandering in one of the back corridors.  The poor little
girl was petrified by something, shivering and shaking in her shoes she
was.  Lars wasn't much better though he tried hard not to cry so that Alyne
wouldn't be any more upset....."


"Where was Greta?"  Naomi asked, curious as to why the young woman would
let the children wander in places she knew were off limits.


"Ah... that's the thing!"  Jeryn frowned  "I asked Lars where his mummy was
and he just clammed up as tight as you please.  Just asked me to get T'grat
for him to talk to.  But of course I couldn't so I was just on my way to
fetch A'shair or your brother, S'ran."


"Why not Greta or Lacey?"  Naomi paused to look at Jeryn  "I would have
thought they'd be better if their mother was to be called......"


"Can't fetch Lacey for the same reason I can't fetch T'grat."  Jeryn winked
and grinned "They're... er... otherwise engaged you see.  Garnet rose this
afternoon...."


"Ah I see."  Naomi grinned back at Jeryn  "But why not Greta?  Surely she
should be....."


She stopped talking as Jeryn shook his head.  "She was the first person I
went to look for.  But she wasn't in her apartment.  The door had been
kicked in and the place was trashed....."


"Where did you leave the kids?"  Naomi asked urgently.  If Greta was
missing then the children were in danger too.....


"I left them in my apartment."  Jeryn reassured her  "And I told Lars not
to open the door to anyone but me.  He's a good boy and he'll do as I told
him...."


"Good!"  Naomi paused thoughtfully  "You'll have to come with me or he
might not open to me either.  I saw Meena in the dining hall as I came
through......"    She turned to one of the kitchen helpers and had her go
find Meena and tell her to meet them in Jeryn's rooms, then she followed
Jeryn out of the rear exit.  


As she walked she tried to formulate a sensible reason for Lars and Alyne
to be wandering on their own and for Greta's disappearance... but she could
only remember T'grat's suspicions of the last few days and fear rose in
her.  Who could she trust?  T'grat had been sure that someone in the warren
was responsible for the threats to Greta's family.  She racked her brains
for a clue as to who the traitor in their midst could be, but had to give
up when she realised it could be literally anyone.


*Not quite anyone.*  Amethyst said as Naomi sighed heavily  *It couldn't be
Garnet or Malachite's riders....*


*You're right.*  Naomi told her  *And it's not Meena or S'ran.... Talk to
Jasper and have him tell S'ran I want to see him.  And *NO* gossiping about
this Amethyst... I need to keep this confined to as few people as possible.*


*As if I would gossip about something so important.*  Amethyst huffed, hurt
by Naomi's words.  *Jasper's rider will be there shortly....*


*I'm sorry love.  But we need to be discreet if Greta isn't to be hurt."
Naomi soothed  *It's too important to get wrong is all.  Ask Haroc to ask
H'tor to meet me at Jeryn's too.  I *know* he can be trusted......*


<..>


She held Alyne in her lap, stroking the tiny child's hair as she comforted
her as best she could.  Lars looked at her solemnly when she promised that
they would find Greta, but he relaxed slightly and wiped his tears away at
her assurance that she believed him   


She'd just finished explaining the situation to S'ran when Meena and H'tor
entered the room.   Her heart lurched in her chest as she  looked at H'tor,
 and a smile trembled on her lips for a few seconds before she was once
again all seriousness.  She quickly explained the events to them both
before she looked around at the group and asked for suggestions.....

*********
NRPG   Kris & Abe?
**********
<T'grat>


He woke slowly, a small sigh of contentment escaping him as he wrapped his
arms tightly round the woman beside him.  He snuggled sleepily closer,
kissing her neck and nibbling at her shoulder.


"Hm!  That's nice...."  Lacey murmured, wriggling against him


He sat up abruptly, the events of the last few hours flooding over him.
Quickly he disentangled himself from Lacey's clinging arms, and as he
rapidly pulled his clothes on she sat up, watching him with tears in her
baby blue eyes.


"I'm sorry Lacey."  he groaned as he realised how his hurried departure
must look to her  "I'm really sorry but I have to check on Greta....."


"I understand T'grat"  she said,  drawing her dignity around her like a
cloak  "There's no need to explain these things to me.  I was Warren born
too you know, and I know just how little a mating flight means....."


"Lacey! Lacey!"  He dropped to his knees before her and raised her chin so
that he could look into her eyes.  Taking the time to reassure her even
although he was paralysed with fear for Greta and the kids.  "It's not that
Lacey... you should know me better than that.  But I left Mal guarding
Greta's place and if he's with Garnet....."


".... then who's watching Greta?!"  Lacey gasped as she realised, and she
pushed him away.  "Give me two minutes..." 


She dressed quickly, and they hurried out, hoping that nothing awful had
happened while they had been wrapped up in each other.....


<..>


"Go get some help, Lacey!"  T'grat whispered as he pushed the shattered
door back on it's hinges.  


She turned and hurried away.  Moving stealthily he entered the apartment,
sword at the ready.  Alert for any slight movement or noise he crept into
the main room and stared with horror at the chaos... furniture was
overturned, cups and plates were smashed, and there was a large bloodstain
soaking into the rug....


He whirled around and ran to check the bedrooms, hoping that his fears were
unfounded even though he knew that something terrible had happened.  He
checked under the bed and in the closets, then pushed the door of the
bathroom wide.... 


He ran frantically from room to room but silence and emptiness met him
everywhere he looked.  Apart form the scattered and torn clothing littering
the bedroom floor there was no evidence that Greta had ever been there.  


"Greta!  GRETA!"  he screamed her name as he ran


If only he'd been here.  If only......


Submitted by

Naomi & Amethyst
T'grat & Malachite