[Zera]

Resting her head against Galen's chest, Zera watched the flames rise
above Talesin and his beloved Lacey, eyes dry and empty.  There were
no more tears... she had no emotions left to spare, not even for
this.

"I can't believe they're gone..."  The words slipped out on a sigh as
the flames flared into the sweet light of a perfect dawn.  "They were
so... right together, a joy to behold."

"I know."  His arms wrapped around her waist.  "A terrible waste."

"It's not fair."  Zera twisted her head to look up at him with a
faint, sad smile.  "But then life rarely is..."

"Isn't it?"  Galen's lips brushed her forehead.  "They're together
forever now."

"Like my parents?"  The bitterness in her voice clear as she
stiffened slightly.  His arms curled tighter and she relaxed once
again.

"Not separated, like T'grat..."

"...and Greta..."  Zera sighed.  "I know."

She didn't add what it would have done to Lars and Alyne if their new
father had been taken from them as well.  As it was, the initial
blood tests had not looked good, and she'd set everything to double
check it just before the landslide in Fairlight.  When her shift
started, she'd have to check it...

Zera glanced at the rising sun...  Oh, gods.  Her shift.

She groaned.

"What is it?"

"My shift...  It's almost time for my shift to start..."

"You've been up all night."

Zera sighed.  "I have to go."

"You don't --"

"Hush, love.  I want to..."

[Tag Ben, add whatever you want ;) ]

<...>
[The Med Center]

It was fortunate that Galen chose to come with her, since the
adrenaline that had been holding her upright decided to desert her.

"Zera!"  Lilliana called out.  "Wait...."

Galen managed to get her to a desk, which Zera sat on immediately,
unwilling to trust her feet.

"What do you need Lilliana?  I've only just star--"

"What's this about seizures?"

Zera blinked.  "Huh?"

"The new rider... Kiona... he said something about you fitting..."

"Zera?" Galen asked.

"I..."  Zera swayed slightly, from exhaustion.  "Well...  I..."

"I'm going to examine you.  Come on..."

"I'm fine, really..."

"Galen, do me a favor...  Pick her up and bring her along."

"But --"

"You heard the lady..."

"Galen!  I can walk!"

He ignored her, damn the man.

"Where do you want her?"

"Here will be fine..."  Lilliana pointed to an examination table. 
"Now, Zera...  What happened?"

"Mazel was angry..."  She felt Lilliana's hands moving over her and
Zera shrugged.  "She -- we -- were fighting Orobos..."

Lilliana stopped and studied her.  "You?"

"We -- us -- I remember..."  Zera shook her head.  "Mazel was so
*angry,* Lilliana...  It was...  I...  I don't know how to describe
it."

"Hmmmm."  Lilliana finished her examination, asking a few routine
questions about vision, pain, and other such things.  "You seem to be
fine."

"I feel fine.  It was just...  weird."

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that it was like a mating flight,
only...  I've never heard of someone having seizures during one."

Zera laughed sardonically.  "That'd add a whole new dimension to the
experience..."

"So it would..."  Lilliana shrugged.  "But on external evidence, I'd
say you're fine, except for exhaustion.  Have you had any sleep?"

"Where would I have found time?"

"Good point...  Go on, get some sleep."

"Have you had any?"  She was crashing fast now, and the world began
fuzzing out.

"I wasn't in Fairlight.  Go."

Lilliana swept away and Zera blinked stupidly after her.

"Go where?"  Zera blinked stupidly as Galen helped her off the table.
 Gods, she was tired.

"Home.  To sleep."

"Oh..."  Zera half collapsed against him.  "Nowhere t'go.  No
'partm'nt yet.  Have'ta get one."

"Zera..."

She didn't really hear if he said anything else, passing out almost
as soon as she got upright.

<...>

[Next Day]

< My rider!  You're needed in the caves! >

Zera sat bolt upright, blonde hair flying erratically around her face
as Mazel's voice echoed in her brain.

<< Ow! >>

< I'm sorry, but there's a Wraith... >

<< A what? >>

< T'grat has found a Wraith... >

<< Where..?  Where are they...? >>

Mazel told her, and Zera took off running.


-----
NRPG --
Ben -- do whatever you want with putting her to bed and later on day
2/evening.  Everything else aside, she *does* need to pick an
apartment...  does Galen want to help?  *grins*  I didn't want to
assume anything.  Got any questions about Zera's reactions, just ask
:)

Yes, there'll be more, but it's getting late...


*hugs*

Jill
             X-FILES                         DRAGONLANDS
 Assistant Director                   Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
 Sterling Kincaid, TL, ECHO           Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
 Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA          Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
 Xan X. Xavier, Trainer,              Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
			      Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
 Jill E. Flansburg	          |		            vasaris@az.com
 CS HMC 1994	                |		jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
 History, WWU 199?                |		vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


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