Meena
***

Meena woke disoriented. Sitting up she realized she was in her living room
.. events of the night began to flash back to her. Her body went limp
against the back of couch, ".. dear gods .."

She heard voices .. a deep one .. and one that couldn't be anyone other
then her son. Oh Farr'in .. she'd nearly forgotten about him. He'd been so
sweet last night. Getting her a drink .. Making sure she slept well. And
really she had. Now she had to face the morning .. she had to face Greta's
kids.

She stood padding quietly toward Demee's room. They were there and Farr'in
was pulling an off-white tunic over the child's head. Demee was chattering
away and Farr'in nodded in response.

>"You're good with him," Meena was standing there leaning against the door
>jam grinning sadly when he turned around to face her.

>Standing up he walked slowly towards her and place his hands on her
>shoulders. "Are you okay this morning?"

"I suppose .."

Demee turned to look at his mother, then ran to wrap his arms around her
legs, "Uncle Farr'in told me Aunt Greta was an angel now .."

Meena met Farr'in's eyes and he shrugged, "I thought it might make things
easier for you."

She nodded, and whispered a quiet 'thank you' before bending down to pick
up her son.

<Meena, Mazel's rider needs to speak to you in the med center. She asks
that you bring our Demee. And the other hatchlings as well.>

Meena frowned and Demee nearly jumped out of her arms, "Yeah! A ride on
Vonn!" he went running toward the dragon chamber.

"What's the matter?" Farr'in asked.

"They want me to bring Demee to the med center. And Lars and Alyne .." She
closed her eyes, "Gods, Farr'in .. how am I going to tell them .."

He wrapped his arms around her, "You'll find a way."

She accepted his comfort for as long as she could, then pushed back, "I
guess I'd better go."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

She looked up at him, "You've done so much already .."

He smiled, "I wanted to."

She nodded, "I'd appreciate it .. as long as you don't have somewhere else
you'd rather be .."

He shook his head and followed her out to the dragon chamber where Demee
appeared to be having a telepathic heart to heart with the two dragons.

Demee
***

<I think that you need to help me ..> The boy was telling both dragons at
the same time.

<How can we help?> Vonn asked.

<Mama likes Farr'in .. he like mama .. I like him to. I want him to live
here.> He looked at the brown dragon, <Don't you like our apartment? You
can share Vonn's sand.> He looked back at Vonn, <Can't he?>

Vonn shook her head, <The decision is not mine, little one. It's your mothers.>

Demee frowned and turned back to Tergath, <But if you came here all the
time. Tell Uncle Farr'in you want to live here .. Please.>

The boys face was very intense as he stared at the huge dragon pleading
with him, <Please ..>

"Demee," he heard his mother call. He turned quickly and smiled at her, "I
like Tergath, mama. Can I ride with him and Uncle Farr'in?"

Meena looked at Farr'in who grinned and nodded. She turned back to her son.
"All right, but you must be good and sit still."

"I will, mama."

Meena
***

"Zera." The wingleader called to the healer, "You wanted to see me and my son."

The young woman turned and nodded solemnly, "And Greta's children too."

Meena nodded, "I.. I don't think they've been told yet."

"It's very important, Meena." Zera told her. She turned to a passing
staffer, "Could you take Demee back and get him ready for a check-up. The
young woman nodded and Zera turned to the small boy, "Lilendiss‘ is going
to take you back and get you ready while I talk to your mama."

Demee nodded, "Okay." He took the staffers hand and followed her to an
examination room.

Zera faced his mother. "Greta was poisoned."

Meena's eyes widened, "What?"

Farr'in put a steadying arm around her, "Are you sure?" he asked.

Zera nodded and began to explain about the slow working poison. When she
finished, Meena was white as a ghost. "Now you see why I need to check
Greta's kids."

"You think .. you think my father .."

"Or someone in Whitbarrow."

"Oh gods," Meena gasped, "Megandra."

"I don't know .. but I do know that that poison had to be in Greta's body
for a very long time in order to do the damage it did."

Meena nodded, "I'll go get Lars and Alyne." She turned to Farr'in, "Stay
here with Demee?"

He nodded and she headed out of the med center.

***

She knocked at the door to T'grat and Greta's apartment. Rybeth had told
her T'grat had already come and picked up the children. Meena was
surprised, she'd not expected the man to be ready to see them. But perhaps
the news was best coming from him.

Malachite watched her from his sandy bed. Vonn was nuzzling his head and
neck. <Mal says to go on in .. T'grat isn't responding much to him either.>

Meena nodded, and pushed the door open, "T'grat?"

She heard him in the back of the apartment and headed in that direction.
"T'grat?"

"Go away." He said as she came to the doorway to the master bedroom. He was
there, throwing clothes into a bag.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't know."

"Where are the kids?"

T'grat paused, "In their room .."

"You told them."

He nodded and went back to his packing.

"T'grat, have you talked to Zera since last night?"

The man shook his head.

"She .. she said Greta was poisoned."

He looked up at her, a shock and anger growing in his eyes, "Poisoned."

Meena nodded, "She wants the kids checked.. just in case."

Regards,
Meena & Vonn



*********************************************************************
  |\  /^~~^\  /|
 -qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp------------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/