Gazella
****

Gazella had been worried about the young Eliana before she had started her
talk with them. Most of the girls were older, and more mature. But the sweet
little girl who had just been thrust into a role she hadn't planned for was
a concern. She would take extra special care of the girl as she remembered
the heartache she had gone through, joining at 14.

Of course, while Rainbeth had been patient and somehow waited until she was
ready, it was still an overwhelming experience. And not always pleasant for
a young girl. It was Gazella's job to make sure the girl was as ready as she
could be before that time came.

"Eliana, talk to you dragon. Can you not feel her love? She will be there
for you as you will learn to be there for her when the time comes. You know
she doesn't really know what to expect either, you will go through it
together and you must let that give you strength. If you do, you will find
it to be the most satisfying experience of your life. It's not something to
be frightened of. Because through it all, I will be there, if you need
anything."

Watching the two older girls Gazella was sure she could count on them to
help with the young Eliana. Perhaps even in helping her it might quell some
of their own fears and questions.

<<NRPG: Just wanted to add to what Barbra wrote. I meant to jump in earlier
and write for Gazella for you all, but I didn't get to it. Barbra did an
excellent job, but I wanted to point out that mating flights are not always
pleasant, though I'm sure Gazella isn't going to tell her charges that :}
Now back to your regularly scheduled character.>>

Kalewyn
****

Kay walked into the dining hall searching with his eyes to see who was
there. They fell on a waving and brightly smiling Laria. He grinned happily
to see the preety girl he'd met only this afternoon and waved back. He was
going to continue on to get his food, but saw that she was waving him over,
so he walked over to where she was sitting.

He was pleased to meet the dragonrider she was sitting with. Kay watched
Laria closely as she introduced them. 

"R'chis, this is Kay.  He's deaf, but he can talk to the dragons, and he
reads lips.  Kay, this is R'chis." 

Her eyes never left Kay's face as she spoke.  The young man's dark brown
eyes turned to R'chis and he smiled. 

"Good to meet you, Kay."

Kay was starving, so after shaking hands with R'chis, he turned to Laria and
pantomimed something that could only indicate he was going to get food.

"Good idea," Laria responded.  "I'll be back in a minute."

Kay smiled and reached out to help her get up. Kay kept his eyes on her to
catch her words as she talked, her face animated. "I've been wanting to get
away this evening. I was thinking about a beach party.  Don't you think that
would be fun?"

Kay nodded. It did sound like fun, perhaps once he had Sabbith settled in
for the night. And the way Laria talked about it, he knew he couldn't refuse.

Laria grabbed H'nry and a couple other dragonriders insisting that they have
a beach party. Kay was delighted. His life had changed so much. He couldn't
believe that he now had friends to have beach parties with. Friends to hang
out with as Titus had always done only without Kay. Of course, Kay would
have been the brunt of all their jokes anyway, so it was better that he
hadn't hung around Titus very often.

They all returned to the table where R'chis sat, "We've decided a beach
party sounds like fun.  Do you think you could take someone on Pech?"

R'chis stared at her in surprise, "Ummm... yeah.  I'll... I'll take Kay, if
he's coming."

Kay watched the man, and smiled at the invitation, though he wasn't sure why
his words didn't match his face. He didn't seem happy about the beach party.
Or maybe it was more unexpected along with some disappointment.

"Good!  This will be so much fun." Laria was thrilled. Her enthusiasm for
the event was enough to take Kay's thoughts away from R'chis.

Kay tried to keep up with the chatter at the table but it was difficult.
With so many talking at once, he was missing most of what was being said. He
decided to focus on Laria as she was seated next to him. At least he'd get
an entire conversation that way. She was talking to R'chis. "Aren't you
going to finish?" she asked.

He shrugged.  "I didn't want to get too full if we're going to the beach."

Kay watched the man's face begin to lighten as he watched Laria. It seem
Laria's excitement was getting to him as well. Kay grinned, glad that
everyone was in agreement again.

Kay agreed to meet R'chis and the other a little while later. He needed to
make sure Sabbith was oiled and ready for bed before he left.

He walked into the barrack to see Tera, Tahlaya and the youngest of the new
dragonriders in an intense conversation. He turned quickly to Sabbith not
wanting to interrupt them, <Sabbith, what's wrong?>

<Taerith's rider is scared and misses her family.>

Kay nodded, <I can understand that. She's very young.> He began to oil down
Sabbith's hide, <Maybe she'd like to go to a beach party>

<A beach party>

<Yes, I'm going to a beach party when you're asleep.>

<Sounds like fun. I wish I could go.>

Kay grinned, <I know Sweet Sabbith, but you are too young. You need your
sleep with all that growing you are doing. Soon you're going to be too big
to fit in the door here.>

<I am tired, Kay>

<When I'm finished you may sleep, Sweet one.> Kay finished after giving
Sabbith a complete rub down. He turned to see the three girls sitting there
still though they looked a little less somber now.

He walked over to them with his slate. Giving the little one his warmest
smile he wrote [Beach Party?] then he looked to each of the girls in turn
pantomiming and signing, *Swimming, dancing, running .. it will be a great
time.*

Soon Kay had the girls laughing. He was glad to see a smile on Eliana's
sweet face. He could remember what it was like to lose your family. *We must
go soon, or they will leave without us,* he signed, knowing that Tera and
Tahlaya should get most of the that by now. They had both been very apt
learners, and he was grateful for their eagerness to learn with him.

****
Kay saw R'chis waiting for him with the others. He waved to the man standing
next to his large indigo dragon. <Hello, I am Kalewyn> he said to the dragon
as he approached. 

Repechin looked at him, <I am Repechin, I have heard that you will ride with
us.>

<If that is alright with you, of course,> Kay said not wanting to overstep
his bounds with the large dragon.

<It is,> Pech seemed amused at Kay's concern.

Kay turned to R'chis, showing him the slate where he had already written, [I
am ready. Thank you for the ride.]

--Kalewyn & Sabbith
****
NRPG: I didn't know if Tera or Tahlaya would want to join, so I didn't
force, only asked :}

I hope I haven't screwed up the time .. I'm a little fuzzy on the time line
right now.

Kristen


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    "   "  "      "   \ : :  : : /   "      "  "   "

(AKA -  Lt. Krysa Jenn, Ens. Darla Shane, Lt. Ainese Kev, Bree, 
Dr. Janna Swansen, Captain Gabriel Faison, Ens. Roana Shan,
Darlea & Makayla,  Waylene & Aura, Meena & Vonn, Saul & Fayloth
Kalewyn & Sabbith, Rebecca Bower, Reesa Goodlyn)

http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/kris.htm
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