Lyonnia looked around the room, taking in the faces of the people
there.  Many of them looked nervous, and one or two looked downright
fearful.  Lyonnia wondered what she looked like; I probably look like they
do, she thought.

     <You do.>

     *Gee, thanks.*  She felt some of the tension run out of her, and was
glad for the dragon.

     <I do anything I can to help.>

     *You do.  Yes, you do.*

     Just then, an older lady stepped into the room.  Lyonnia, not knowing
fully what to expect, gave the lady her full attention.

     "Good morning ladies," the older woman greeted.  "I'm glad to see you
all could make it."  She smiled, a warm, friendly smile at everyone and
continued.  "For those of you I haven't met yet, my name is Gazella,
Rainbeth's rider and all around slave."  There were chuckles around the
table at that; each dragonrider professed to feel that way sometimes.  

     Lyonnia found herself liking this woman.  She had a good sense of humor
and a quick wit, which Lyonnia found refreshing.

     <Oh, and what am I?  Scrap meat?>

     *Oh sweeting, I know you're witty too.  But you know I like witty
people as well as dragons.*

     Lyonnia heard a faint hurumph in her head, and fought down a smile.

     "The Warrenlady Ophelia has asked me to make myself available to any
one of you who have questions you need to ask or just if you need someone to
talk to."  Lyonnia saw her eyes fall on one young girl for a moment before
continuing.  What was that about, Lyonnia wondered.

     "First of all, landborn society and warrenborn society are hugely
different.  Many people new to the warren are at first blown away by the
open society a warren has."  She went on to tell the differences between the
two societies, with Lyonnia and several others hanging on her every word.
Eventually, though, the conversation turned to the differences in the sexual
practices of the two cultures, and Lyonnia found herself blushing.  "It's
like you are the dragon too," Gazella told the girls.  "You feel the same
urges that your dragon does.  The hard part most landbound raised riders
have to face is that your dragons may not be flown by the same dragon each
time.  In that case you'll have to learn how to handle the fact that you
mind end up mating with a different rider each time.

At this, Lyonnia heard one of the girls start to cry. Lyonnia looked at the
girl and was shocked to see that the girl couldn't be more than 14!  *She
shouldn't be here* she thought, shocked.

     <She bonded with her dragon, no matter what her age.  She has to learn.>

     *But she's too young for this kind of thing!  She shouldn't have to
hear this kind of thing until she is older.*

     <You needant worry about her.  Her dragon won't be rushing into
anything.  She'll know when Eliana is ready.>

     *That's the girl's name?  Eliana?*

     <Yes.>

     Lyonnia looked at the girl out of the corner of her eyes.  *I still
think she's a little young though.....*

     <Maybe she is> Dianthus answered.  <But she's been bonded, and for
better or for worse, it's done.>

     I hope it's for better, Lyonnia thought to herself.  She watched as
Gazella comforted the crying girl.  "It's all right child," the older lady
told the younger girl in soothing tones.  "I know how you're feeling.  Lost,
lonely and a little scared."

     "I'm not ready for all this," the little girl (Eliana, Lyonnia reminded
herself) whispered.  "I thought riding a dragon would be fun and exciting.
I never dreamed..." The little girl seemed like she was trying to get
composed, but failed.  "I just want to go home.  I miss my family."

     Gazella looked at the girl in her arms, then said tenderly, "Let me
tell you something I never told another living soul.  I too joined young.  I
grew up here and knew what to expect but I wasn't anymore ready for it than
you are."  Elaina raised her head up and looked Gazella in the eyes, wanting
reassurance and finding it.  "Somehow Rainbeth knew I wasn't ready and for
some reason she never rose to mate until she knew I was ready.  You see
child," she told Eliana, smiling, "your dragon always knows."

     Lyonnia couldn't help herself.  *Am I ready?* she asked, afraid of what
the answer might be.

     <I don't know.  Are you?> came the reply.

     As she listened to Gazelle talk about birth control, she pondered the
question, then answered *I believe I want to wait a while more.*

     <Then I will wait a little while more> Dianthus answered in a
reassuring voice.

     The meeting lasted a little longer then finally broke up.  Just in time
for the morning lesson, Lyonnia noticed.  She hurried along, not wanting to
be late for the lesson.

**********************
Submitted:

Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus (Telnor)
Isolinde/Faile (Cleft)


NRPG

Hi again.  I modelled this post after the "[DL-T] Meeting With Gazella."
Now, I didn't know whether or not that was just Tera and Elaina, or a whole
group of people, but it sounded like the latter, so I used that as my base.
Hope it's okay.