Tahlaya went running towards the dining hall as soon as she heard
about Dameon collapsing.

She spotted Danielle leaving and heading off away from the Med Centre.
Tahlaya slowed her pace, thinking to herself that if Danni was
unconcerned about Dameon he must be all right.

{'Laya, Themis can't get to his rider. He is worried that the same
thing has happend again,} Sunburst sounded concerned.

<Sunny he must be alright, Danielle doesn't look worried. If he was
badly hurt she would be at the Med Centre with him.>

* Tally, we must go to Themis, he needs us.*

Without waiting for a reply her dragon lifted off to find the midnight
blue dragon.

"Danni!" she called towards Violets rider.

Danielle stopped and waited for Tahlaya to catch up with her.

"How is Dameon? The girls seemed upset. I told them he must be fine,
otherwise you would be with him."

"Dirk and Thomas have taken him to the Med Centre,"  she seemed
unconcerned. "I think it's his heart again."

"Danielle, how can you be so detached? You mate with him for goodness
sakes. You should be with him." Tahlaya was amazed by Danielle's
coolness towards the man she had spent the last week with.

"I have other things to do besides clutter up the Med Centre, " she
was walking away from 'Laya, when the older woman, caught hold of her
arm.

"Now just wait a minute. Dameon is my partner. I haven't bedded him,
but at least I'm concerned for his well being. I thought that being
lovers meant that you stuck by each other when things go wrong. You
don't just walk away from them."

Danielle looked at 'Laya, her blue eyes angry.

"I don't expect you to understand. You are Landborn, what can you
possibley know about warrenlife? You haven't even been out on patrol
yet."

It was Tahlaya's turn to be angry.

"At least I'm willing to learn. I have to rely on Dameon when we are
on patrol, as he does me. If his mind is occupied elsewhere  when we
are in a dangerous situation, it could cause serious damage. Not only
to me, him, the dragons, but the whole warren would be effected. At
least I know where my loyalties lay. At least I'm worried for him and
his safety, which is more than you appear to be."

Before the blond girl could reply, 'Laya ran off towards the Med
Centre.

			*********

There was a group of people milling around the medical facilities.
Tahlaya knew that she would be sent away with the rest so, making her
way round to the back of the building, she entered through another
door. One that Libby told her to use when she brought over food for
the patients and staff.

Thankfully it was empty. She opened the door and peered down the
corridor. She saw Libby coming out from one of the rooms.

"Libby," she called softly.

The tiny head nurse looked around to see where the voice was coming
from. She spotted 'Laya in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" she enquired as she walked over to her
friend.

"How's Dameon?" 

Libby took 'Laya's arm and eased her back into the staffroom.

"We will know in a couple of hours. It's his heart again. We don't
know what damage has been done."

"He will be alright, won't he?" 'Laya could hardly keep the tears out
of her voice as she sat down.

Libby knelt in front of her and took 'Laya's hands holding them
tightly.
"I hope so. But he needs rest."

"Can I sit with him? Please?"

"Come with me and I'll ask," the head nurse pulled the distraught
rider up and out the door.

			**********

>Dameon began to chuckle.  He tried to sit up, but found himself 
>restrained.  

'Laya moved towards the bed as she heard her partner.

"Dameon?" she whispered, pushing a stray piece of hair from his face.

Dameon opened his eyes, trying to focus on the face above him in the
dimly lit room.

"Danni?" he croaked.

"No it's me, Tahlaya." She heard him sigh and her heart went out to
him.  "Here drink this."
Lifting his head gently, she held a glass to his lips.

"Where's Danni?"

"I don't know Dameon," she lied. "You should have said you didn't want
me as your partner. We could have swopped easily enough, dying is a
bit drastic don't you think?"

His chuckle made her smile.

"Well you know me. Can't do things by half."

() I'm surrounded by beautiful dragons. Rosie is fussing over me, and
the girls wont stop hugging me.()

<And you're complaining?>

"Themis is complaining he is being spoilt."

"The girls are being very protective, " taking hold of Dameon's hand
she squeezed it gently.

"Like you 'Laya?"

"Well someone has to look out for you."

"Shame it isn't Danielle," he said quietly, but not quietly enough.

"I'm sorry she isn't with you Dameon. Look I'll go get Libby," letting
go of his hand, she got up.

() What did they replace your brain with? () snorted Themis.

He groaned mentally to himself.
<I'm a clutz, huh?>

() I think you have hurt her feeling's, Clutz. ()

"Laya, thanks for being here," he said by way of apology.

"Hey, that's what friends are for," she smiled, bending to kiss his
forehead, a tear splashed onto his cheek.



Tahlaya
Slave to Sunburst and Eclipse.


"Two heads are better than one, except if they want to see different
movies."


nrpg.

Kat, hope I got Danielle right. 'Laya doesn't understand why she isn't
with Dameon and is really upset about the argument.

Jason,  'Laya is  worried about Dameon. She wants to help and will
always be around if he wants to talk or whatever. *grin*