<Day 10 Late Evening Outside the Crater>


****"Really?" Ka'Laren leaned forward. "Tell me about K'Tarr,
Jasmine."****

"This is good! But I was really hungry! K'tarr, well he's really big but
I..I could take him though, he doesn't like it when I do. He gets mad at
me when I knock him down especially that one day...."  she said
thoughtfully taking another bite.

"What day?" Ka'Laren asked obviously amused by the woman's chatter.

Jasmine recalled the day that she had pulled K'tarr off his feet then
sat on him.  Indignantly she said to the tattooed man, "I didn't know
anything! Vandi and I thought he was trying to eat Kalena but I know
different now.  He was just kissing her.  Kalena said it was ok, that
you kiss people you like.  So when I did it to find out who liked me
they all got mad. I'm always doing something wrong but I know Landon
likes me a lot when he kisses me."  A dreamy look filled her eyes at the
mention of Landon and then she shook her head to dispel the image.
Landon didn't trust her.

[And don't forget Vlad too! Jazz-a-mean this dragon is kinda scary he
keeps looking at me funny.]

Another swallow of wine and Jasmine continued, "K'tarr told me one time
he would maybe take me hunting with him but he hasn't. I think he's
afraid I'm a better hunter than he is, plus I can smell better than he
can.  Can you smell things too?  S'ron can't, I don't think he'd be very
good hunter, he kinda got mad at me when I knew who he was. I still
haven't figured out why he was dressed so funny.  None of them could
smell Ma..Mar..ssell, but I could. I don't know why they can't I thought
everyone could. He is a bad man, he tricked me and made me think Kaymann
was bad.  Kalena was kinda mad at me then too. But I yelled at her and I
felt bad. I don't think Kaymann likes me much he gets a mean look when
I'm around." Jasmine was so busy eating that she didn't see the flicker
of anger in Ka'Laren's eyes at the mention of Kaymann.

"Who is Kalena, Jasmine!"

"She is my sister, I don't really understand what that is for sure, but
Kalena says we're family and that family is important. Of course I make
her mad a lot too.  She knew about Landon and didn't tell me I don't
think she trusts me either. Do you have a sister Ka'Laren, does she look
like you the way Kalena looks like me. I'm bigger though and she thinks
I'm older, so she calls me her big little sister. I don't really
understand what a family is I think it's where you have the same Momma
but my Momma was Kodura and Kalena doesn't know who her Momma was but
she wasn't around so I don't quite understand how we could be family if
we didn't have the same Momma."

"Kodura?"

Kodura was my Momma, the Lady Naomi told me that was her name.  The Lady
could talk to Momma, I couldn't though I could only feel her." A
terrible sadness crossed Jasmine's face. "When Momma went away she left
with out me.  I thought it was because I was bad that she left me, but
Kalena said it was because Momma was sick.  I knew Momma didn't feel
good I could feel it but I didn't want to bel........." a single tear
rolled down Jasmine's cheek.  Her eyes were luminous with tears in the
firelight.  "You would have liked Momma Ka'Laren she was the most
beautiful dragon of all, pretty blues and greens and she was a really
good hunter too."

"Your Mother was a dragon, how interesting."  Ka'Laren said his voice
filled with something Jasmine couldn't identify.

Jasmine's blue eyes turned to ice, "Are you gonna laugh at me too! Vandi
and I will go away we don't need anybody!"

"No Jasmine, I'm not going to laugh at you. It must be hard not to have
people trust you. I can understand why you left. And I think having a
dragon for a Mother makes you very special,"  Ka'Laren's eyes glittered
in the firelight, "Yes, very special indeed."

The young woman was pleased with his answer and continued eating.
Jasmine reached for the flask and  hiccuped, the action brought back
some incredibly bad memories and her eyes widened. Setting the flask
down she stood up feeling a little light-headed.

"I'm going for a walk!" she said .

Noticing that the green dragon had not moved he said his voice filled
with what Jasmine thought was concern, "Do be careful little one you
never know what is out there, bad things lie in wait in the darkness!"

Jasmine snorted at the tattooed man and picking up her spear disappeared
into the underbrush.   She wandered through the woods letting the cool
night air clear her head.  Coming to the edge of the lake she stared off
into the distance and sighed. The crater looked like a lonely sentinel
silhouetted against the dark sky.  Jasmine's bottom lip quivered as
Landon's face came to mind. She hadn't been gone that long and already
she missed him terribly.  Maybe she should........No she thought shaking
her head to herself, Landon lied, he didn't like her well enough to tell
her the truth. He had to trick her then got upset with her because she
didn't understand.

Dejected Jasmine ran up the trunk of a tree, moving silently through the
limbs she jumped from tree to tree until she was back to the clearing.
It felt good to be back out in the open moving freely through the
forest.  The Warren was nice too but this is where she truely felt at
home.

Hidden within the shadow of the foliage Jasmine watched the tattooed man
poke at the fire. She was downwind of him and she could tell he hadn't
sensed her presence yet.  There was always a slight imperceivable change
in scent when one realized they weren't alone.

A slight breeze had kicked up and Jasmine shivered.  She had heard some
of the people at the warren talking about a cold season coming but the
young woman wasn't quite sure what that was.  But she did know the land
was changing and that the air smelled completely different. More crisp
somehow and the leaves were changing colors on the trees and falling
off, something she had never seen before.  Jasmine really hoped that the
terrible thing that had happened to her previous home wasn't coming to
Norwall too.

Jasmine snapped out of her reverie and realized Ka'Laren was now looking
at her tree.  His eyes scanned the foliage up and down as if he was
looking for something.  A grin spread across her face, with one swift
movement she ran the length of the limb jumping easily to the ground in
the clearing.

Walking over to the fire she looked at the man, "I'm tired, I need to go
to sleep now."  Without waiting for an answer Jasmine walked over to
Vandira who was laying underneath the natural rock overhang.  Keeping
her spear close she crawled under the large green wing.  Snuggling close
to Vandi Jasmine shivered.  *I don't think I like this cold stuff,* she
thought.

[Me neither, Vlad's cave is much nicer.]

*I know.* the young woman answered forlornly.

A silence ensued broken only by the sound of the crackling fire.

[Jazz-a-mean, I miss Vlad and his rider.] came the unhappy voice of the
green dragon.

*Metoo Vandi,* Jasmine sighed sadly. *But they think we're babies and
don't trust us.  We can't go back!*

[I know] Vandira answered with a big sigh.

A while later Jasmine woke with a start.  She was shivering
uncontrollably the night air seeping in under the large wing.  Dragons
were not known for emitting a great amount of body heat and right now
she was feeling it.  Jasmine decided right then that this cold season
stuff was for the birds. Her sharp hearing picked up the sounds of the
fire and peeking out from under Vandira's wing she noticed that Ka'Laren
was asleep by the glowing embers, his head propped on the log.  Crawling
out from beneath the wing Jasmine crept silently around the log and
curled up next to the man.  A slight sigh escaped her lips as she felt
the warmth from his body.  Snuggling closer to his side Jasmine felt the
man tense for an instant then his hand began stoking her long hair.  The
sensation of him playing with her hair caused Jasmine's eyelids to droop
and she soon drifted off with visions of Landon filling her head.

Day 11 Dawn

Jasmine's dreams kept replaying her night in the cave with Landon and
Vlad's flame consuming him in a ball of fire.  She moaned softly in her
sleep rolling slightly. A light snoring tickled her ear causing Jasmine
to inhale sharply.   Her eyes popped open and she realized she was being
held down by a large arm.  Shoving the arm away she jumped up quickly
still disoriented.

Ka'Laren immediately sat upright yawning slightly, "Jasmine what's
wrong?"

"I..I thought you were Landon!" she exclaimed breathlessly her blues
eyes huge with confusion.

"Oh," he said irritation in his voice.  "Jasmine, I don't think your
Landon cares very much about you or he would be here. In fact he
shouldn't have let you go in the first place." Ka'Laren said flatly
watching the young woman's expression. "I know if I had someone as sweet
as you around I wouldn't let her go off alone."

"Landon cares about me!" she snapped defensively at the man.

"Does he now! Then where is this wonder boy that cares so much?"
Ka'Laren answered his voice tinged with just enough sarcasm as he looked
around the clearing.

Jasmine scowled and whirled on her heel stomping away towards the pond.
She didn't see the malicious grin spread across Ka'Laren's face as he
watched her go.

Day 11 Noon in the clearing

Ka'Laren told her he had some things to do and left early on the big
black dragon. Jasmine had spent the morning searching the area
familairizing herself with the landscape.  Vandi followed behind happily
perfecting the art of chasing rabbits much to Jasmine's amusement. Well
at least Vandi wouldn't starve to death Jasmine thought.

[Of course I won't starve to death I've got you Jazz-a-mean and
Vl.....Oh never mind]

Jasmine sighed and draped herself over a log to watch some beetles
scurrying through the fallen leaves.  A soft sound reached her ears and
Jasmine tensed.  *C'mon,* she said to Vandira and hurried back to the
clearing.  Making Vandi stay back she scaled the rocks and was soon
peeking over. A grin spread across her face as she saw the black dragon
first, then spied Ka'Laren walking around the clearing.  Slinking
through the rocks she positioned herself ready to spring, as the man
moved closer Jasmine leapt into action.

In seconds Ka'Laren was laying on his back with Jasmine sitting on his
chest.  The young woman grinned, "Hey you! This is my fire!  But I'll
share it with you!" Poking him playfully in the chest she laughed, "And
you need practice!" Ka'Laren couldn't hide the tensing of his muscles
and Jasmine jumped to her feet to avoid retaliation. Her childlike
laughter filled the air as she pranced away twirling the spear.

Ka'Laren was on his feet in an instant half-glaring half-smiling at the
wild woman prancing just out of arms reach.

[..]

Jasmine spent the afternoon with Ka'Laren teaching her new things to do
with her spear and other various weapons he had in his personal
arsenal.  The woman was totally in awe as she watched the tattooed man
skillfully handle the different weapons.  Jasmine's blue eyes were wide
with delight as he showed her how to use them and perfecting what she
already knew.

<Day 12 Mid Afternoon >

Jasmine watched Ka'Laren go and thought about following him but decided
against it. He would probably get mad too and she was starting to really
like the tattooed rider. He didn't make fun of her or treat her like a
baby, besides the day was warm and it felt good to bask in the sun.

*Vandi, let's go swimming!*

A snort filled her mind, [You mean get wet! Are you crazy I just got
oiled!]

Jasmine laughed and wandered off to the pond.  Stripping out of her
leather she folded it meticulously as Cassandra had shown her. Laying it
on a nearby log she ran happily into the pond the cool water felt good
against her warm skin.  The water was clear and Jasmine dove time and
time again chasing fish this way and that.  Catching a large one she
threw it up on the beach and Vandira scooped it up gratefully begging
for more. After catching a few more fish Jasmine climbed onto a large
rock protruding out of the water.  Laying down on the sun warmed rock
Jasmine relaxed letting the heat from the sun and rock warm her.  Her
eyelids slowly closed and she dozed lazily listening to the water lap
rhymically against the rock.

And this was how Ka'Laren found her.  "Jasmine," he called out his voice
almost strangled sounding. Jasmine sat up her long hair falling forward
covering her nude body.  Ka'Laren had such a strange look on his face
Jasmine immediately became alarmed. Rising she yelled, "Ka'Laren, what's
wrong."

"Not a thing actually," he answered huskily.

"Come swim then, it's nice!" Jasmine invited gaily.

The tattooed man shook his head, his eyes soaking in the perfect figure
as the long reddish hair swirled enticingly around the bare flesh.

Jasmine giggled then dived in.  When she didn't surface right away and
the green dragon began to react to her rider's absence he grew
concerned. Even Nostragus got nosy and crept forward.  Vandira became
frantic when Jasmine didn't answer her calls and ran back and forth at
the waters edge almost running over the dark rider.

Ka'Laren walked out onto the rocks scanning the water's surface he was
soon joined by two dragons, one panicked, the other curious.

Under the water Jasmine had sunk down in the depths.  For those on land
it seemed like she had been under forever when in actuality it had been
only a few minutes.  Coming up almost underneath the trio the young
woman could see them looking out to where they had last seen her.
Coiling up her body Jasmine shot upward exploding out of the water, her
arms flew slapping the water showering the three. Laughing with glee she
dove back in and swam just below the surface. "Now she's half fish," the
dark man muttered to himself shaking off the excess water.

Jasmine swam to the shore giggling at the soaked group as she went.
Dressing quickly she was just buttoning her vest when Ka'Laren grabbed
her from behind. Kicking and laughing for him to let her go Ka'Laren
held her tightly as he carried her towards the rocks.

Next thing Jasmine knew she was flying through the air to land in the
pond. She heard triumphant chuckling as she hit the water.

Tag: Wil-I think I caught up finally!<G>


Respectfully submitted,
Jasmine and Vandira
aka
Tree Deutscher
treedr@yelmtel.com

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons - you are crunchy and taste
good with ketchup!"





















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