>A few moments later, she was deposited safely, if a tad roughly, onto solid
>ground once again.  Ripping the blindfold from her eyes, she turned and saw
>the huge green with its blonde rider taking off.  The man waved once to her,
>then the pair disappeared, teleporting back to wherever they began.
>
><Lyonnia!!!>
>
>Whirling about, she saw a huge sky blue blob racing towards her, followed by
>other blobs.  As they neared, she saw that the blobs were dragons, with
>Dianthus leading the pack.
>
>*Di!* she yelled, racing towards the approaching dragons.

In less than a minute all of the dragons were there with her, along with
their riders.  Lyonnia flew to Dianthus, wrapping her arms about the dragon
as best she could.  *It's okay now darling* she comforted, feeling her
dragon's heart still beating wildly.  *I'm prefectly okay.*

<You scared me!  I couldn't find you!>

*It's okay, sweeting.  I'm okay; I'm here now.*

She turned and saw H'nry dismount and head for her.  Suddenly, she was
enveloped in a huge hug and, surprised for a moment, hugged him back after a
moment.  "Thought we had lost you," he said as they stepped away.  "Stupid
me, I got into a fight with him, thinking you were safe.  But he had only
brought us him."  He pointed to a red haired boy sitting on Dalanth.
"Thought he was you," he said sheepishly.

Lyonnia smiled and said, "It's okay.  I was fine."

"Well, I didn't know that at the time.  For all I know, he could have killed
you or worse....."  He broke off here, not needing to say what he meant.

Lyonnia shuddered.  And I may have let him, she thought bitterly.

H'nry mistook the shudder though and hugged her shoulders.  "Well, we have
you now, that's what matters."  He gave her a little shake, smiling again,
and told everyone to mount up as he headed back to Dalanth.  Lyonnia mounted
Dianthus and laid herself against the blue dragon, reveling in the feeling
as she took off.  *You know, I like it better up here then down there* she
thought, refering to Dianthus' talons "down there".

<I like you better here too> came the thought, and an image of Lyonnia
caught up by a huge green monster flashed across her mind.

*I know, sweeting* she thought, then pictured the warren clearly in her mind
and they teleported back to the warren.



When the group landed, Lyonnia was hussled off to see Ophelia, who prompted
her to tell all her story.  Lyonnia related all that had happened, but left
out a few parts, skipping the kissing scene and the question about Tera; she
wanted to talk to Gab'rin about that first.  When she finished, Ophelia gave
her a dubious expression.  "Are you sure that's all?" she asked.

She hated lying but answered, "Yes ma'am."

"Okay.  Thank you Lyonnia."  Ophelia seemed to be lost in thought and
Lyonnia, who knew a dismissal when she saw one, left quietly out the door.

She immediately sought out Gab'rin, wanting to ask him a few questions
before she said anything to Tera.  She found him at the dining hall, and
pulled him aside.  "I need to ask you something," she said.

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me about Tera?  Does she have any enemies or something like that?"

Gab'rin looks confused, but told her, "Well, I don't know about enemies, but
she's looking for her brother.   He joined a dragon here at Telnor a while
ago, but recently died.  Tera doesn't believe it though."

Lyonnia felt a sinking sensation in her stomach, but kept her face neutral.
"So, she has no enemies that you know about?"

"No, not that I know about.  Lyonnia, what's wrong?"  His face had become
concerned.  "Why are you asking me these things?"

Lyonnia looked around and, seeing they were alone, said, "I didn't tell this
to Ophelia. I wanted to talk to you first.  The Shadow asked about Tera.  He
wanted to know about her."

She saw Gab'rin's face get red with anger and, guessing his thoughts,
hastily told him, "I asked him about the attack a few days ago.  He seemed
as surprised as I was, and a little angry as well.  I don't think he knew
about it."

His face stayed angry but didn't get any worse.  "Thank you for telling me
this," he said.  "But you should have told Ophelia too.  She may have known
something."

Lyonnia blushed, embarassed.  "I know, but at the time.....well," she said,
shrugging, "At the time, it seemed best to talk to you first."

"I appreciate that." He excused himself, saying, "I need to go see Tera."  

Lyonnia watched him go, an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach.  Tera
and the Shadow? she wondered.  Could it be......


Respectfully submitted

Sarah