The meeting with Gazella had been imformative, but Talaya had already
been to the Med Centre to get some form of contraception. She had
spoken to Libby who had suggested that she should have a check up.
Having been given the all clear, Libby was instructed to perscribe the
medication.

Tahlaya had heard all about the mating flights from Beth, rider of
Rosie. Beth's mate, Myst was Landborn and she had told Tahlaya about
the complications that could occur.
But Tahlaya was not your normal Landborn woman. She was not ashamed of
her body and saw no harm in having as many partners as one wanted. She
thought that this was one of the reason's her parents had her matched
with Torrat. They couldn't cope with her promiscuous nature.

Tahlaya had, had a few lovers in the past and saw no harm in it. This
had caused many arguments with her parents.
She knew she would be happy in the warren and had no problem with the
culture at Telnor.
	
			********
Tahlaya was concerned about Eliana. She seemed distracted at practice,
she and Tera had to keep nudging her to concentrate.
Tahlaya had decided that she would speak to Opheilia about her.
She was still too young  and Tahlaya was worried that the  girl would
not be able to cope with looking after herself.

			**********
Hatching barracks.

Tahlaya, Tera and Eliana sat talking when Kay joined them.
>He gave them a friendly wave and then settled down to give 
>his dragon Sabbith a good oiling. Some time later as 
>their talk was breaking up, Kay 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.*
He soon had the three girls laughing. It was good to see some of the
stress disappear from Eliana. A party would do them all good.
A voice called for Tera and she was told that someone was here for
her.
She said that she would be back soon and promtly disappeared.
<Girls, where is Cloud's rider?>

There was a pause as Sunny and Ipsy spoke to the storm coloured
dragon.

{He is in his office,} replied a sleepy voiced Sunburst.
*But Cloud said he wants to go swimming, so they will join you later.*
{* Why can't we come? *} two voices mingled in her mind.

<Because you both need your rest. Do you realise *how* much you grow
when you sleep?>

{*Of course we do.*}
*Do you know how much it makes us ache?* replied the slight lisp of
Eclipse.

Tahlaya mentally nodded. She had woken several times over the past few
days with odd aches.

She made sure that Eliana had a ride to the beach and went in search
of Tera.
She found her in the arms of Ga'brin. She snuck up behind them.

>"Well I was going to tell you that there was a dragon 
>and his rider out side ready to take you to the beach," 
>she said, her face breaking out in a knowing smile upon 
>seeing who Tera was with. "But I think I'll go back and 
>tell them to find another passenger,"  She smiled at 
>Ga'brin then turned and went back the way she had come.

She went back to her room to check on her girls, grabbed a towel and
wrap.

{* Have fun with Cloud's rider.*}

The throaty laugh of Eclipse and the lighter giggle from Sunburst
filled her mind and she smiled.
Distracted, she didn't  see Thomas heading towards her till it was too
late. She ran straight into his arms.

"Hey watch where you are going, you could knock a man off his feet
like that 'Laya. Well you would anyway, " he grinned at her.
"Do you need a ride?"

"Would you like to help me first?"

"What with?"

			**********
The beach party

"Are you sure we need all this food, 'Laya?" Thomas complained as
Tahlaya handed another basket to him.

"Have you eaten? And don't you find that being by the sea and swimming
and dancing and having fun makes you hungry?"

"No and yes in that order. Oh these look good. Did you make them?"
Thomas mumbled as he bit into a flakey parcel of meat and spices.

Tahlaya slapped his hand.

"OW. What was that for?"

"You should have eaten earlier. No wait till we get to the beach," she
scolded the older man.

			**********

The food and wine was received with thanks by the assembled crowd.
There were lots of new faces and names to remember.
Tera came over to her.

"And where is that handsome man that you don't know if you did or
didn't do anything with?"

Tahlaya nearly choked on the wine she was drinking.
Shocked, she spluttered, "How the hell did you know?"

"How do you think I know?"  Tera tapped her temple.

In unison they both laughed, "Dragons!"

Storm arrived just as Ga'brin and Tera started playing.
He put his hands over Tahlaya's eyes and kissed her neck.

"Shhhhh, you great oaf," she giggled, "I want to listen to these two,
not your panting breath in my ear."

"Now that's not what you said the other evening."

She turned to the tall man, firelight catching his eyes, making them
dance. She blushed. So they had made love, or did they? She was still
unsure and she wasn't about to ask Storm if they had.

He wrapped his arms around her and settled down to listen to the
music.
When Tera and Ga'brin finished, they watched as other stripped off
down to their under clothes and went screaming into the dark water.
The dragons could be heard in the distance, squeals and roars abound.

"Shall we join in the fun or would you prefer to sit and watch?" 

Tahlaya needed no second asking as she stripped down to her
underclothes. She would have gone naked but thought, for the sake of
modesty, she should remain part clothed. 
She saw Eliana talking to someone she couldn't make out. It could have
been H'nry, but his back was towards her.
One thing she didn't miss was Storm's roving approval of her body.
'Did we or didn't we?' she wondered to herself.

Without warning Storm scooped her up in his arms and ran towards the
water, splashing L'sein, B'rin, Laria, R'chis in the process. They in
turn started to cut the water with thier hands, spraying the couple in
foam.

			********

She introduced Storm to Kay and asked the deaf lad why he looked so
sad. He signed that he found it difficult to talk to more than one or
two people as he missed half the conversation..
Storm suggested that maybe he should relay  the conversation to a
dragon and that they in turn pass it on. Then he should get the feed
back from other riders via the dragons.
Kay thought about it and said he might give it a try.

Nrpg: Kris just an idea :)

As the evening wore on, couples disappeared into the darkness and
Storm said that he should be making his way back to his office. He
still had some paperwork to finish before his patrol.

Tahlaya lay with her head to his chest as Cloud teleported them back
to Telnor. 
They landed on the green. Dismounting first, Storm turned and helped
Tahlaya off Cloud

"When you have started flying, would you let me help you look for
appartments?  Lark can be a bit difficult at times and I would hate
for you and the girls to get a raw deal."

"That would be great, but I've got to get a saddle yet. H'nry said
there is no point in getting one made till they've stopped growing. We
are using some of Vithraena's old ones. They work, but it starts to
rub after a while. And boy do the girls complain."

{*No we don't!*} came the indignant reply.

She smiled up at Storm and kissing him on the cheek made her excuses
and left.
He watched as she ran across the moonlit field to her charges.

			**********

The first joint flight.

"Now remember," called Thomas, "hold tight and let your dragon do the
work. If you start to feel any aches or twinges land imediatley. I do
not want any strained muscles or torn ligaments." He looked round the
nervous  and excited faces.

<Remember our first flight?> rumbled Ranger.

<How could I possibley forget, my love. You nearly broke Myst's arm,
landing that close to him.>
Thomas felt the deep laugh and he smiled.

"Ok. FLY!"

Tahlaya closed her eyes and breathed deeply as she felt her dragon
leap into the air. Their wings unfolding and stretching. It took two
attempts to get up and into an air stream.

Tahlaya was speechless. She looked around her. Her hatchmates were all
in the air. A multicoloured patchwork spread out across the sky's
above Telnor.

The thrill that ran through her body and the girls was fantastic. She
could see all around her, not only with her eyes but that of her
dragon's. She was begining to get used to blotting out her sight and
relying on that of Eclipse and Sunburst.

<You are perfect my loves. I'm so proud of you.>
Her heart ached as if it would burst. She had never in her life felt
like this.

{* And we are proud of you, Tahlaya*}

They worked in formation , practiced take off and landings. By
lunchtime they were all tired but happy.

"There won't be any practice tomorrow. The reason being you will all
be too busy looking at appartments. But I expect you all to be back
here the following day at our regular time. I will be assigning you to
your wings and partners. Now go  feed, wash and oil these clever
humans!"

The dragons gave roars of dragon laughter at that comment. The thought
of them trying to oil a skinny human with no thick hide had them all
rumbling at their riders.

			**********
House hunting

Storm helped her move her things into her new home. It was bare, but
she didn't mind. The kitchen was large and well equiped. The sitting
room was comfortable and the bedroom was spacious. She was looking
forward to furnishing it, but first things first. Tahlaya had a few
personal things that needed attention.

			**********

<Sunny can you ask Sundellath's rider to come over please.>

*Why do you always ask *her* to ask the messages?* grumbled Eclipse.
{Because I don't muck the message up like you my dear Ipsy.}
*I don't!*
{Do too!}
*DON'T*

<Girls stop this. Eclipse, I ask you as often as Sunny, now stop the
bickering.>


Ten minutes later Tera arrived.

"What is it 'Laya?" came the bright and cheerful voice of Tahlaya's
friend.

Tahlaya came out of the bedroom and said, "What do you think?"

nrpg:
Barbara feel free to comment if you want to. :)

			
			**********
The first Patrol.

<Don't go straight to the practice field girls. Can you drop me off
away from prying eyes?>

*You're showing off,* commented Eclipse.

{I think she has every right to Ips.}

Thomas was acting Alpha wingleader, as Retala still wasn't up to
taking charge. She was still a bit weak from her operation.

<Ranger will you ask the girls where their rider is please?>

Thomas was concerned as 'Laya was always punctual.

The double headed dragon landed without thier rider.

<She will be here soon.>
<Ranger, did Eclipse and Sunburst say where she was?>
<No, but she will be here soon,> came the amussed reply.

Everyone was wondering what was going on.

The wing looked up and down the field and the only person they saw was
a rider that they didn't recognise.
As she got closer, Tahlaya could hear the gasps from her comrades.

Tera smiled.

Thomas let out a low whistle as Tahlaya made her entrance.

Gone was her long hair, replaced by a whispy short style. It made her
look impish. She was wearing dark green buckskin trousers that were
tucked into matching boots. Resting just above her clevage was a
silver double headed dragon on a leather thong. Her top was a
billowing shirt under a tight fitting green buckskin bodice, cut low.
Slung over her shoulder was a tan riding jacket. On the back was an
embossed gold dragon with two heads.

Tahlaya now felt like a dragonrider rather than a baker.

"Sorry I'm late," she grinned as she took her place next to Dameon.

Tahlaya Dragonrider, Alpha Wing, Telnor.

"Two heads are better than one, except when kissing."

nrpg:

Lyn, at last I hear you say :)
If it rambles a bit please forgive me.
It was damn hard work trying to get who was where and when  :)
I think I'm up todate

Welcome Sarah.
I'm sorry I haven't posted with you yet. But I will :)

Barbara, Finally got something together. I hope that 'Laya and Tera
become good friends.

Jason, watch out 'Laya is on the prowl *evil grin*

Frankie, 'Laya is ready for her lessons anytime F'gon is.