Darrkon awoke, exhausted from the previous nights events. 
He looked over to the empty right side of his bed, where
one of two women could have lain.  He thought of a third
possibility that had passed him by, and could honestly
say he didn't regret missing it.  Not that he wouldn't
have enjoyed the encounter, but his relationship with
Naomi was already strained.  No other tension or
awkwardness was needed.

He sat up and shook out his hair, a habit he still hadn't
grown out of.  It was common to wake with a lot of
"quests" when sleeping in the wild.  He lit the lamp by
the side of he bed got up and threw on a pair of light
workout pants.  Darrkon stretched his weary muscles and
performed a number of balancing exercises.  This was part
of his morning routine and he stuck to his schedule
despite the fatigue he was feeling.

After his light workout he bathed.  While in the tub he
recalled the previous nights events after the mating
flight.  Returning to the green, finding Marina gone,
going for a run, coming back and finding Kaitlin...

<..>

Previous day

"OK love.  Make it up to me."  Kaitlin said to him seductively.

He was irritated with the days events and didn't need
another irritant.  "I'm tired Kaitlin." he lied, "I don't
need any trouble now."

Kaitlin watched as he approached, then turned and placed
her arm in his as he walked by.  She matched his step and
smiled up at him, "Good, because I'm not here to cause
trouble  I'm here to take care of whatever your need
are."  She traced a finger along his neck down to his
chest, "I heard about the mating flight today, and
thought you might want some company."

He pretended to check his dragon's straps, Thanks, but
no.  I'm going to bed." he replied.

"I guess the saying is true." she said wrapping her arms
around his waist, "Great minds do think alike."

The faint aroma of her perfume filled his nostrils.  He
felt her body warm against his, and his temperature began
to rise again.  She was beautiful, she was sexy, and most
important...she was here, wanting him.  There would be no
commitment, and no expectations.  Yet something held him
back.

<I can easily carry two.>  Calindeth said humorously.  The           dragon
was obviously enjoying the situation.

<There wouldn't be any need to carry anyone if you had
won the flight.>  Darrkon shot back, knowing it would hit
his dragon's pride.  <Anyway it's not gonna happen.>  and
the decision was made.

He separated Kaitlin from him and moved her away just as
Calindeth turned his head and exhaled.  The force from
those massive lungs knocked Darrkon off his feet.  It was
a prank the dragon had abandoned long ago.

The dragonrider picked himself up from the ground. 
Kaitlin was struggling to keep from laughing.  "Kaitlin,
this isn't going to happen, not tonight.  I need to
straighten some things out in my head.  Even when things
are straight there's no guarantee anything will happen
between us."

"I'll accept your answer tonight."  She answered moving
close, "But I want you to know choosing to be with me
would be in your best interest."  As she walked past, she
trailed her finger under his chin, down his neck, and let
her hand res on his shoulder for a brief second before
moving on.

<..>

Darrkon ducked beneath the water sill thinking about the
previous day.  How long had it been since he was with a
woman?  About a year, and then it wasn't like it was his
choice.  But last night, with the perfect opportunity,
and no commitment, he turned a woman down.

This place had definitely changed him.  Perhaps that is
what led to his late night marathon that had him feeling
so tired today.  He was loosing touch with who he was. 
He had barely established himself at the warren before
becoming involved with Lacey, and now he couldn't get
beyond her.

This was definitely unlike the old Darrkon.  There were
too many feelings, too much emotion.  How can a person
operate with all this clutter?  Life in the wastes may
not have been perfect, but it was far simpler.

<..>

Dining Hall

Darrkon stacked his plate with anything that would fit. 
He ate very little at he reception and didn't make it to
the dining hall after his workout last night.  He found a              table
and began eating.  While he was eating he noticed
K'lestide rushing into the kitchen and hurrying out with
a number of bundles.

He turned back to his food and noticed Mordig'n standing
opposite him.  "Mind if I join you?" he asked.

Mordig'n was one of Darrkon's acquaintances.  They had
sparred together on more than one occasion.  He was the
inspiration for Darrkon's morning exercises.  He was the
closest thing Darrkon had to a friend.  Mordig'n
practiced a strange form of hand to hand combat.  But
Darrkon's bruised and battered body soon learned of its
power.

"Have a seat."  Darrkon answered.  When his comrade was
seated and comfortable, he asked, "So what's on your
plate today?"

Mordig'n looked down at his tray, over a Darrkon's and
back at his again, "Not nearly enough from the look of
things."  He smiled and continued, "Actually I've got
patrols in the morning, a class to train later on, of
course the regs for the day.  Then after that I'm free. 
Why you up for another beating?"  A small laugh escaped
both men at the taunt.

"Not today.  I kinda overdid things last night."

"Really?  Who was it?  One of Greta's friends, or a
nurse, maybe that Kai..."

"It wasn't like that."  Darrkon interrupted, "You know I
don't..."  Mordig'n was smiling broadly.  "Very funny. 
More humor at my expense.  You should be honored that
you're the only person I let get away with that."  He
remembered the form of K'lestide rushing in and out of
the hall, "The patrol you're on, is it with K'lest?"

"No.  Why?"

"Well, he was just in and out of here."

"Oh.  He's going on a search mission with Meena.  They're
going over the area the new guy L'kor told them about."

Darrkon popped a few more pieces of fruit into his mouth,
took a large bite out of his danish and drained his glass
of juice.  "I've got to find Meena.  I know Ardomok 
better than anyone here.  Maybe if I can search his camp,
I can find out what he's up to."  Darrkon sped out of the
dining hall leaving his close associate and an unfinished
plate of food at the table.

<..>

L'kor's apartment

L'kor paced in the apartment assigned to him.  In the
time he had been at the warren there hadn't been much for
him to do.  Earlier today he drew a map of the bandit
camp he was assigned to.  He explained to the woman, what
was her name?,  Meena, that he wasn't part of the main
base.  Odds are his camp would have broken down.

He had taken a chance leaving the camp the way he did. 
If not for sentinel's expert ability to camouflage
himself on cerain rocks, they would have been found
immediately.  He couldn't believe his luck, or lack
thereof.  When it looked like he would escape his past
and become a true dragonrider, he ran right back ino it. 
In the form of Darrkon.

But what was he doing here?  The cove his men had
attacked was nowhere near Norwall.  Of all the warrens in
this world, why did Darrkon have to be at this one?  But
there was some good news.  He hadn't been thrown out
despite Darkon's accusations.  But why?  Is it possible
no one trusted him here either?  Is so, is that the type
of atmosphere he wanted Sentinel to grow up in?  Would it
be healthy if he and his dragon were never fully trusted?

<No, it wouldn't be.> his dragon piped up <If the humans
can't trust you, we should leave.>

<What about you and the other dragons?>  He asked.

<Some speak to me, some don't.>  Sentinel replied simply
<There was a hatching the night we were brought here. 
The hatchlings don't have any problems with me.  The
dragon's that avoid me do so because they don't want to
hear what I know.  They don't like how I was treated, and
that's all I can talk about to them.>

<But do you like it here?>

<It's much better than the camp.> His dragon answered
<But I miss the rest of my clutch.>

<It's good I got you out of there.  They're going to