Kattibrie woke to the delicious aroma of fresh coffee. Sleepily she groped
beside her for Kalewyn, wanting to snuggle just a bit longer, but he wasn't
there.

<Good morning, my heart! Are you ready for the day?> Calishandra greeted
her happily.

<What's got you in such a good mood?> the petite queenrider asked.

<Hatchlings, my rider! I think I feel the eggs growing already inside of
me.>

Kattibrie chuckled, amused by her eager queen. Kattibrie knew it would be a
good while before eggs were laid.

<I'm sure you do,> Kattibrie replied, and then became wistful wondering how
soon a woman would feel her baby growing inside her.

<Why are you sad, my heart?> the silver and gold queen asked, concerned.
<Eggs and hatchlings are good things.>

<Yes, my Shandra, they are,> Kattibrie smiled, and pushed her own concerns
aside for the sake of her queen. For Calishandra was right, she knew,
babies and hatchlings, they should be celebrated not fretted about.
Besides, Kattibrie reminded herself, she and Kay were just mated; there was
plenty of time before they had to concern themselves with babies.

***

Kattibrie saw Kay standing there in the kitchen, and smiled even more
remembering how much she loved him. It didn't matter if they had children,
as long as they had each other, she reasoned.

She stepped up behind Kay and wrapped her arms around him, * Good morning,*
she signed into his chest.

>He turned and hugged her, giving her a quick kiss.  *Do you want to go to
>the dining hall for breakfast? I've checked and the cupboards are pretty
>bare here.*
>
>She grinned and nodded, "I told you that last night. We'll get some
>supplies from the dining hall while we're down there."
>
>He nodded absently as his mind drifted back to the marrid healer.


Kattibrie could tell his mind was not on what was going on there and now.
She frowned at him and spoke his name, "Kay..."

When he didn't react, though she was within his line of sight, she took his
face in her hand and turned it so he couldn't help but look directly at
her.

*Kay,* she signed his name and finished the thought verbally once she had
his attention. "What is on your mind... you seem a million miles away."


>*Not that far .. I was thinking about the healer from Marrid. She signed.*
>He paused thoughtfully. *Do you think there are others like me in Marrid?*
>
>*You mean deaf? There might be.*

Kattibrie smiled, seeing a bit of hope in his eyes. Much better from the
frowns of the past couple of days. She hoped that good things would come
now for them and all the bad times were behind them.

>He nodded, *Maybe we should go there and see .. sometime ..*
>
>Kattibrie smiled, "I think that would be a great idea."
>
>He smiled and pulled her into his warm embrace. Yes it did sound like a
>good idea .. Someday they would have to go ..

It felt so good to be held in his arms. There was no place she felt safer
or more secure. It felt as if he completed her.

>After a while he reluctantly let go of her .. his stomach was beginning to
>rumble and  it was clear breakfast was in order. *But now .. food.* he
>signed putting his hand to his rumbling tummy.   She laughed and nodded.
>
>Together they moved out to the dragon chamber and headed to their dragons,
>to saddle them up.

>***
>
>*Kay!* Kattibrie signed directly in front of his nose.

What was with Kay, she wondered. His mind was wandering constantly.

>He turned to look at her,  *What?*
>
>She shook her head, "You're mind is definitely somewhere else today."
>
>He released a deep breath slowly, *I'm sorry ..* he signed, *Just thinking
>about Marrid ..* It wasn't entirely a lie.. His thoughts had turned to the
>healer there every now and again. But mostly his thoughts were on Danielle
>as he wondered how she was doing ..

Again? Kattibrie thought, with a raised eyebrow.

<And he is also concerned about Violet's rider, Sabbith says,> Calishandra
told her.

Kattibrie sighed. She really shouldn't have been surprised. But the mention
of the blond woman put a pang of insecurity in the young queenrider's
heart.

<He loves you, that's why he hasn't gone to her,> Calishandra added.

Kattibrie smiled, that bit of insecurity fading quickly at her queen's
reassurances. Dragons weren't like people, they didn't lie.

He turned his gaze to Kattibrie and smiled, *Maybe we should go to
Marrid soon.. Maybe tomorrow morning.. or afternoon ..*

Kattibrie clapped her hands together, excited about the idea. Maybe talking
to Healer Lakoda would allay Kay's fears, or at least make him feel not so
alone in the world.

<And it will get you out of the warren a while. Soon I won't be able to
take you anywhere,> Shandra added.

The queen was right, but Kattibrie's main concern was Kay. Even if they
never had children, she wanted him to learn to accept himself, and his
deafness. If Healer Lakoda could do that for him, that would be a blessing
in itself.

*Wonderful idea!* Kattibrie signed enthusiastically. *Lets go start getting
ready!*

*************





                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      Danika/Kalindeth of Daere        )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia/Maxima of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;