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Midmorning
Day 11

Clainn had waited outside Rei's room in the Med Center for
what seemed like more than days.  People kept entering and
exciting her room and no one said a word to him.  *Don't
they know I'm worried!* he thought as he paced back and
forth across the hallway of the med center.

<They know you're worried, my rider.>  M'kel sent to his
rider.  <They're busy trying to help Rei.>

*Damn it, I know.* he sent being very frustrated not knowing
what was going on.

At that moment the nurse that sent him from the room
approached him.  "You can go in and sit with her if you'd
like."  she said with a gentle smile.

"What's wrong?  Are they going to help her?"  he asked
pleading for an answer.

"Well at the moment she's comfrotable and now all we can do
is wait for the test results.  But go be with her.  I think
it might help you both."  she gave the man's hand a squeeze
and then held open the door to her room for him.

He managed to mubble a "Thank you" as the door went shut.
He stood and watched her rest for a bit.  It was a more
peaceful rest, but he could still tell she was
uncomfortable.  He wanted to scream out, "Will someone help
her!",  But knew that they were trying.

After standing and watching Rei for a few moments he pulled
the only chair in the room up close to the bed and sat down.
He took her hand and brushed her red hair from her face.  He
couldn't help but think how beautiful she was.  The color
had begun to return to her face and he wondered if they'd
given her something.

The door opened which startled Clainn and he jumped.  It was
the healer Nash and Clainn could do nothing but to wait for
him to speak.

(This is actually a tag for Michael, even tho Tree writes
Nash, we need to know what's wrong with her.)

***************
Mid Morning
Day 12

S'ron and Alex had spent a few minutes talking when S'ron
stated..

(snip)

Now, let's see if we cant come up with something for you."

(end snip)

"What would you be interested in doing?  I don't know much
about you and Galen hasn't really been able to tell me
much."

She looked at him with shock on her face.  What would she be
interested in doing?  What she was taught at home was
nothing she could do here.  Her reading and her needle
point.  Everything else would have to be totally taught to
her.  She just assumed she'd be put in a wing and be taught
what to do there.

"I really don't know how to do anything to help the warren."
she stammered after sitting thinking quietly for along time.
Being a daughter of a Lord, doesn't train you for much but
finding a husband that will make the property grow.  I
learned to do needlepoint and I was lucky to be taught to
read.  Other than that,  I really have no skill.  I was
always told to be seen and not heard, that that was a
woman's place."  she signed,  "I will do what I am told."

"Well I can see why they wished you to be seen, you're a
very beautiful woman, but I think you're very intelligent if
you'd only let people see that side of you."  S'ron
commented.

She blushed now really not knowing what to say.

"Well as I said before," S'ron began knowing that he'd said
more than he should have,  "I have a few ideas of things you
could possible do.  Everything will take training and you
must be willing to work hard."

She nodded,  "I'll do what I can to help the warren."  she
nearly whispered.

"I was thinking that you might fit into a scout position.
You're quiet and seem to move quickly and quietly.  Those
are skills that are hard to teach and you seem to already
possess them."

She looked up with interest in her eyes, letting S'ron know
he peaked her curiosity.

"I'm thinking of training several new scouts so you wouldn't
be totally alone in your lessons.  I know you'd probably
rather be, but also in this position you'd have to learn to
deal with people.  It will mean you have to come out of the
shell that's been built around you."

She looked down at the ground again and this was something
that worried S'ron.  Had he already lost the little
enthusiasm that she had shown?

"I have another idea..." S'ron began. but was interupted.

"No, I like this one.  I know it's one where I'll have to
learn some self defense though.  If I get caught, I'll need
to defend myself."

"Yes, that's true.  But that's also why I want Dragon Riders
in these positions,  a dragon will alway be in contact to
defend their riders and to get help from others.  But yes,
you'll be taking many classes before you're ready to go out
on your own."

"Thank you.  I think this would be something I would like.
Tell me when you'd want me to begin."

S'ron saw life in the girls face that had seemed absent.  He
knew that she wasn't just agreeing.  With the enthusiasm
that she showed, he knew that she would be a success at this
position.

(Tag Michael)

Mid Afternoon
Day 12

Alexandria had been thinking about nothing but the scout
position from the time of her talk with S'ron.  She didn't
know why but it really excited her.  She really had no one
that she'd call her friend at Norwall, but Lasa and Cat
always seemed to pay special attention to her.

Just then she saw Cat leaving the dining hall and she
actually go up to approach the other girl.

"Cat?" she said softly.

Cat startled, not expecting to see the quiet young rider
approaching her.

"Hey Alex!" she shot back with a grin.  "You need
something?"

"Well I'm actually a little confused, and a little excited
all in one.  I talked to wingleader S'ron today.  He wants
to train me in a position as a scout.  What confuses me, I
think you'd be much better at it.  You could already do
things without a lot of training."

"Girl, you are observant.  But you're right about me being
good at it.  He's probably just gonna stick me in a wing."
she said with a slight pout on her face.

"He did say he was going to train others as scouts. Maybe
you should go and talk with him.  I'd like being trained
with you.  I bet you could really help me."  she said
quietly looking down at her feet.

"Hmmm...wonder if Anthra doesn't have something to do with
him not asking me.  I sometimes wonder...." she trailed off.

"Oh, Anthra definately has a personality."  Alex chuckled,
surprizing Cat.

"Yeah, I guess you could put it that way."  she grinned back
at the girl.  "Well I think I'm going to go track down S'ron
and see what he has to say about it.  It would be fun."

(Tag Carina)

Mid Morning
Day 13

Kalena had gotten to Galen's office early.  It was the best
time to get any work done because when he was there it was
difficult.  She knew training would soon be over and he
would return.

She was regretting her choice in uniforms for the home
guard.  They were much too gawdy now that she'd actually
seen them on the men.  The also didn't look like they'd be
very easy to move in.  The problem was now, that the money
had been spent and they would have to use what they had.

She sat looking at the uniform.  There was no reason that
the pants wouldn't work.  Even the jackets with a little
less decoration.  But the jackets were stiff.  She didn't
like them at all. The shirts were fine.  A light weight
material that was easy to move in.  The rank insignia could
be removed from the jackets and put on the shirts.  The
jackets could be saved for a dress uniform, but they just
wouldn't work in battle.  Maybe she could convince Cassandra
to make some sashes for the uniforms, then again, maybe not.
Something else was needed but she wasn't sure what it was.
She'd decided that the hats had to go.  She thought they
looked silly.  The enemy would be laughing so hard that they
would be easily beaten though.  She giggled to herself just
as Galen walked into his office.

"What's so funny?"  he asked his young assistant.

"These uniforms."  she said as she saw a dejected look cross
Galen's face.

"Well they're fine for dress occassions, but are they really
comfortable for battle?  I think the jackets for sure have
to go.  I thought we could take the rank insignia off the
jackets and sew them on the shirts, and maybe a sash, but I
don't know about that.  The pants are fine.
What do you think?"

(Tag Ben)

Respectfully Submitted,
Kalena & Donjanth
Clainn & M'kel
and
Alexandria & Prayer

aka

Dianne Eberle