{Day 10 Late Afternoon}

Jasmine had gotten so caught up in snooping around the warren picking up
different scents and following people she'd lost track of the time.  She
had seen Landon at various times but for some reason it seemed like he
was avoiding her and she was always to far away to feel anything from
him. Jasmine still had her doubts about this training as she hurried
towards the training area knowing she was already late.

Landon strode out onto the green, vaguely aware that there were a number
of eyes on him, not including the trainees.  Today was the day for
combat training for the new riders.  Galen had just run them through
their paces, attacking static targets, an easy task but necessary.  As
Landon waited for them to settle down, he felt a familiar touch on his
mind.

        **So, I can still feel you glowing.  Thank goodness everything
worked out alright.**

        <You're going to gloat about this, aren't you?>

        **Well of course I am.  It's about time I broke you out of your
slump.  I was afraid I was going to have to be put out to pasture or
something.**

        <They put studs out to pasture, not dragons.  They tend to eat
the horses.>

        **Cut Landon.  We'll continue this later, you're up.**

Taking a deep breath, Landon walked out to the center of where the
trainees were gathered, "Okay, today I'm going to be taking over this
portion of your combat training.  For those of you that don't know
me, my name is Landon.  Today, you are going to be practicing with
moving targets. It's a more realistic training simulation because most
objects aren't going to stand still while a dragon flames them.  We'll
be doing both air and ground practice, starting with the ground."

        One of the riders spoke up, "What are we going to use as
targets?"

        <Apparently not everyone is aware of what I can do, shall we do
a demonstration?>

        Landon shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps it would be better to
show you.  Stay here."

        Landon ran out onto the sand <You ready, big blue?>

        **Most definitely.**

"JAZZ-A-MEAN!"  Vandira's terrified shriek echoed through Jasmine's
mind. Unfortunately both females had been kept in the dark as to
Landon's abilities and when Vandira saw what Vlad was about to do she
was horrified.  The young dragon was barely coherent as she babbled on,
filling her rider's mind with images.

Jasmine broke into a run. She cleared the building just in time to see
Vlad start his what previously Landon had called a strafing run.   Her
heart was in her throat as she saw the dragon close in on his rider and
her mind focused on one thing, to save Landon. Jasmine couldn't
understand why Vlad would do such a thing, he must've gone crazy was all
she could think, but Jasmine would not allow him to hurt Landon.  The
young woman raced forward jumping over obstacles her eyes searching for
the clearest path between the onlookers.  As she rushed through the
crowd people called her name and hands reached out to stop her but her
reflexes were too quick.

The trainees watched in awe as the massive Vladiggor lifted off and flew
directly towards Landon.  All except one, who darted out towards Landon
on his blind-side.  Vlad reached the target and inhaled and sent
his rain of fire down on Landon, spotting the lithe form of Jasmine
running into the blast radius,

**Landon!  Jasmine**

She burst from the crowd running towards the man, "Landonnnn!" she
screamed her fear for Landon pushing her on.

Landon spun and saw Jasmine and flashbacks hit him, "NOOOOO!!!!"

The flames seemed to respond to Landon's need and they moved
unnaturally, flowing directly into him, the fire barely missing
Jasmine.  A red-orange haze glowed around Landon as he struggled to
contain the intense heat raging within him.  Turning to Jasmine, his
pain contorted with pain, "Move back, Jasmine!  I can't hold this much
longer."

Jasmine didn't understand, seeing the pain in Landon's face all she
wanted to do was to help him somehow.  Even the smell of her scorched
hair could not stop the young woman. She started to shake her head when
someone grabbed her from behind pulling her backwards.  Tattooed arms
identified her captor and Jasmine struggled fiercely against K'tarr
screaming, "Let me go! I have to help Landon!"  Tears touched the bluish
eyes and Kalena's face swam before her.  Jasmine could see the other
woman's mouth moving but didn't comprehend the words.  All she could
see, all she could feel was the man with the blue flames.

Landon released control, sending the flames outward in a ring about
him.  Instead of the blackened ring, actual flames raced outward,
melting the sand.  Sweat streaming down his face with the exertion, he
walked across the ring, untouched.

 Jasmine finally jerked free glaring at her captor who immediately
stepped back from the angry woman.  Turning towards Landon her mouth
hung open she couldn't believe it, Landon was really alive. How could
this happen. Oblivious to everything around her she moved towards the
man stopping a few feet away from him. Her emotions were such that she
could feel nothing but her own relief and anger.  Relief because he was
unharmed and anger because she was sure she had been tricked once
again.  Now Jasmine understood what she had felt earlier from Landon and
the blue dragon.  They had known they were going to do this.

Looking him up and down fury filled the blue eyes, "You lied!" she
hissed at Landon as she fought back the tears that threatened.

 Landon blinked at her, "I didn't lie, Jasmine.  Nobody got hurt.  The
only one who almost got hurt was you.  Do you really think that Vlad
would flame me unless we were both certain I was safe?"

"You tricked me and that's the same thing, you knew and you didn't tell
me or Vandi, she is scared to death."  Jasmine was so angry she was
beyond reason.  Landon didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth and
it stung bad.  "And Vlad could be crazy how was I to know!"  Hearing a
noise she turned to find Kalena and K'tarr watching them.  "You knew
too!"  Glaring at Kalena Jasmine yelled, "You said family was important
why didn't you tell me!"

Kalena looked helplessly at K'tarr who was at a loss concerning the
angry young woman.  A mixture of fear, anger and frustration filled
Jasmine's face as she turned back to Landon.

"Whoa there!  First of all, let's look at the situation.  I'm okay,
you're okay, that's all that matters here," Landon said in an
exasperated tone, trying to simplify the matter quickly, "Second of all,
don't
get angry with Kalena and K'tarr.  Leave them out of this.  Third, you
could have been killed, running out there like that!  If..." Landon
stopped as the realization hit him that he came perilously close to
losing her.
Putting up his hand, he shook his head, "You're right, I should have
told you."

Vandi's sad voice broke into her thoughts in that moment, [Vlad said
that what he did to his rider is gonna be part of our training]

*I don't understand!*

[Vlad says we have to do that to his rider so we can learn too!]

Unbridled anger flashed in the blue eyes as Jasmine quickly crossed the
space to Landon.  She punched him hard in the chest making him stumble
backwards slightly, "Are you crazy! I'm not gonna do that to you and
neither is Vandi!" A lone tear ran down her cheek and Jasmine's next
words came out in a sob, "I saw you, I felt your hurt and now Vandi says
we're supposed to do this to you." Her voice had risen to near hysteria
as she cried out, "I could never hurt you!"

Landon rubbed his chest, easing the sting of the blow, "But you won't
hurt me!  I'm immune to dragonfire.  My hurt came from what almost
happened to you!  The idea of losing you is too much for me to bear.  I
just
thank fate that my ability was able to absorb the fire quick enough!"

Her fears were a driving force behind the fury, "I don't believe you, I
felt it, I saw your face, you're lying, you're all trying to trick me
again!" Jasmine raged.  Looking at the three people before her she
yelled, "You think I'm a baby! You all treat me like I'm a baby an I'm
not!"   A few onlookers were smirking at the group,  and she hissed at
them, "And everyone laughs at me! They make fun of me!"

Looking down at the ground Jasmine could no longer hold back as the
tears rolled down her flushed cheeks.  The blues eyes glistened brightly
when she looked up at Landon, "And you couldn't even t..tr..trust me
enough to tell me!"

Turning to walk away Landon grabbed her arm, "Jazz listen to......."

"NO!" she screamed jerking away. "Kalena says Momma went to a nice
place. I shoulda gone with Momma! Sometimes it hurts too much here!"

Jasmine took off at run heading for Vandira, the green dragon lifted off
as Jasmine hit the saddle and woman and dragon disappeared over the
crater rim.

Landon stood there, a dumbfounded look on his face, unable to move or
even react.

**Landon, we have to go get her.  There are dangerous people about.
Something could happen to her.**

<No, let her go.  She needs some time on her own to sort a couple of
things out.  She did this once and she came back, she'll do it again.>

**For you're sake, I hope that you're right.**

<Vlad, I hope that I'm right for my sake, too.>

**On another note, your demonstration seems to have scared our
Warrenlady again.**

<Is she okay?>

**Yeah, Ahzdeen wanted me to let you know that D'lion's rider is taking
her to the healer's.**

<I'll make sure to stop by later on.  Hopefully nothing else will go
wrong.>


Day 10 Very Early Evening

Jasmine and Vandira had flown haphazardly neither caring where they
went.  *Don't you talk to Vlad or none of 'em* the young woman thought.

[I don't understand why the old guy didn't tell me.] Vandira thought
sadly feeling as betrayed as her rider.

*Because they knew that you would tell me* Jasmine answered, feeling her
dragons sadness mixed with her own.

[I'm tired Jazz-a-mean]

*I know, I don't feel so good either, find a place to land!*  Jasmine
said feeling the affects of her emotional overload.

 She was so despondent Jasmine wasn't really sure where they were, she
remembered flying a long way across the lake so she was guessing they
were on the farthest side away from the warren.  They were a few small
ponds edging the lake and an open area came into view.

*This is perfect Vandi* Three-fourths of the area was surrounded by
forest the other fourth was a rock wall with a natural cave like indent
ground level with a rough ledge overhang. *This is good! I don't think
the patrols come out this far!* Jasmine thought excitedly.

After landing Jasmine scouted the area and realized someone else thought
it was perfect too.  Remnants of a campfire were there and it was
obvious it wasn't that old.  *Someone has been here and gone.  Since
they left nothing I guess its ours now.* She said thoughtfully to her
dragon.

*I don't feel so good, but I'm hungry too Vandi! Maybe if I ate
something.*

[Metoo!]

Thankfully her spear and pouch were on her saddle when they left.
Pulling it free she unstrapped the saddle from the greenish dragon *It's
gonna be getting dark in awhile we need a fire then I will go get
something*

[Metoo! Metoo! I wanna come!]

Jasmine busied herself making a fire *You don't need to go with me you
can hunt your own!*  Seeing the forlorn look on Vandira's face Jasmine
sighed, *Oh never mind!*  Unfortunately, this was a part of Vandira's
education that had been sadly neglected,  either Vlad had hunted for
Vandira or Jasmine brought her buckets of meat. Sighing Jasmine said,
*No you stay here I will take care of it.*

Once the fire was going good Jasmine threw a couple of larger logs on it
to keep it from going out, then grabbing her spear disappeared into the
trees.  Jasmine started feeling better as she ran through the forest
jumping over logs and climbing trees searching for game.  It felt like
she had been away forever, getting a bead on a young buck she crept
silently forward.  It seemed like she had been with the crazy human's
forever and then Landon's face came to mind. She was just about to
through the spear when she smelled her dragon nearby.

[But you're a crazy human too, Jazz-a-mean]

Jasmine jerked upright scaring the buck, swinging around she saw Vandira
trying to hide behind some trees. *I am not!* Her mind yelled at the
dragon.

Vandira snorted *Then what are you?*

The young woman stared at the dragon in shock, *I..I..don't know what I
am!*  Tears came to Jasmines eyes and sunk to the ground sobbing.  This
whole situation was awful Jasmine thought. Momma would be so upset
seeing her crying so much but she just couldn't help it. Landon had
scared her so badly she didn't know what she would've done if he had
been hurt.  Jasmine's child like mind couldn't comprehend Landon's
reasoning only hers.  All she could see was that he had tricked her and
couldn't be honest with her because he didn't trust her enough.

The green dragon came running instantly curling herself around her
rider, [I'm sorry Jazz-a-mean I didn't mean to make you sad!!!]

Jasmine hugged Vandira's scaly neck crying until she was exhausted,
sniffing she said *I just wish Landon would come out here I think he
would like it and here I could make him believe in me.*  Her mind went
to the earlier events and tears swelled again.  Then shaking her head
said, *No, maybe not, he thinks I'm a dumb baby.*  Vandira sniffed in
agreement thinking the same thing of Vlad.  Common sense and a grumbling
stomach brought Jasmine around and wiping her eyes she stood up, *I have
to hunt for us now, you stay here!*

Vandira begged and looked so sad Jasmine allowed her to follow along.
It took a while having a large dragon in tow but she tracked the buck
killing it swiftly for Vandira and then managed to spear a pig for her
too.  She then showed her dragon how to chase down a rabbit, which led
to some fun, as she watched Vandi hopping around after rabbits.  How
Jasmine will never know but Vandi was lucky enough to catch two and
reluctantly gave them to Jasmine then went in search of more.

Jasmine's  heart still hurt  but the distraction had been good for both
of them and the one question that hung heavily on her mind, what was
she?  Walking along the edge forest she could see the crater off in the
distance and a melancholy feeling pushed in on her.  So much had
happened in such a short time.

When her and Momma were together in their meadow there was no question
no doubt.  They would have stayed there forever if the nothing hadn't
come to eat the land.  But at least she belonged there, no one laughed
at her or made her do things. Now an invisible cord tied her to a place
that she didn't belong.  Even though Landon and the others said she
belonged Jasmine definitely had her doubts and even more so  after
today.  If only Momma hadn't left, if only Momma had taken her with her
Jasmine was sure she wouldn't feel so bad right now.  But Momma had left
her and now she was alone.

[Oh no no no! You're not alone, you have me Jazz-a-mean]  Vandira chimed
in.

Jasmine smiled, *Yes I do!*

It had grown dark by the time the two females arrived back to the camp.
Both were both so overwrought emotionally that they were in the clearing
and already in plain view when Jasmine tensed, her senses tingling with
danger.  Vandira almost ran her down Jasmine stopped so fast.  A
wonderful smell drifted to her making her mouth water and her stomach
growl even worse.  Her eye's narrowed when she saw a stranger standing
in front of the fire. The spear twirled into place.

"Who are you?" Jasmine demanded.

The man turned to look at her a sly grin on his face, "Actually since
this is my place, the question is who are you?"

[Jazz-a-mean it's a strange dragon, too]  Vandi whispered fearfully as
if someone could hear.

Jasmine glanced around the clearing, at first she couldn't see what
Vandi was talking about. Then her eyes made out a large mound in the
shadows that wasn't there before, the dragons coloring making it almost
invisible.

If Jasmine had been thinking straight in that instant she would have run
but that was her fire and she planned to defend it. Pulling herself up
ready to do battle, "I'm Jasmine and that's my fire!"

The man was amused by Jasmine's demand and looked her and Vandira over
sizing them up. His head cocked to the side looking at the two rabbits
Jasmine was holding, "And thank you, it's a fine fire and I'm willing to
share!" the man said stepping aside revealing the source of the
delicious smell.  A spit had been added and a small pig was roasting
over the flames.  Jasmine was so hungry she almost started drooling at
the sight.

Jasmine standing there defiantly in the firelight her long hair swirling
around her leather clad figure gave the young woman a wild savage look
and her twirling the spear only enhanced the image.  "Where you from
Jasmine?" the man asked smoothly eyeing the woman appreciatively.

Still on the alert Jasmine crept forward.  Vandira followed closely
keeping an eye on both her rider and the big black dragon.  The young
woman's face filled with sadness as she pointed towards the crater.

A gleam filled the man's dark eyes, "Why don't you come sit, share some
of my dinner!"

The woman hesitated unsure of the tall man but the smell of the pig was
overriding her common sense.  She watched him pull off a piece of meat
and begin to eat.

Jasmine's mouth watered as the succulent meat went from his hand to his
mouth. "Jasmine!" He said startling her out of her trance. "Why are you
out here alone?"

A scowl crossed Jasmine's face, "I'm not a baby! I can take care of
myself!  I don't need anybody!" She said twirling her spear.

Amusement etched the man's face, "I bet you can! I thought maybe there
was something wrong, you look so sad. Maybe I can help."

Jasmine fought back the tears that swelled in her eyes and blurted out,
"Landon lied, he tricked me, and Kalena and K'tarr they think I'm a baby
and people laugh. And they are always mad at me.  Landon makes me feel
good, but he doesn't trust me. I don't try to be bad it just happens.
I'm not a good human Momma said I would be but I'm not and S'ron is
always mad at something too, but he went away and the lady was sick and
I really miss Landon he didn't tell me and he should have."

The man grinned in evil delight at the young woman's outburst.
Questioning her further he realized she had no idea who he was.  Cutting
off some more meat he handed it to Jasmine and said in a comforting
tone, "That sounds just terrible. Listen little one, you came sit by the
fire and tell Ka'Laren all about it."

{Tag: Wil}


 Respectfully Submitted by,
Jasmine and Vandira
aka Tree Deutscher
and
Landon and Vladiggor
aka
Chris Weeda































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