Kalewyn
***

>"Calishandra told me what she did last night. Throwing herself at that
>man. What did she expect."

>"Neither of us know what happened last night or why... so I don't think
>you should be making any accusations until you know for sure." Tera
>reminded her.

>"Don't we," Kitty insisted. "She's always been this way, and just because
>she let herself get mated to your brother don't think she'll change her
>ways. Her kind will never change."

Kay looked down at Danielle, still sobbing in misery. Then he looked back
at the other two women. H'nry's word ran through his head, 'She will be
your patrol partner longer then she will be your lover .. it's the way she
is.'  He'd been right. Kattibrie certainly had a point.

*Where is your brother. Shouldn't he be here with her?* Kay signed to Tera.

"I don't know where he is," she admitted slowly. "Sundee says he's not in
the Warren and she can't find him."

Kay frowned his displeasure. What kind of a man leaves his mate to such
misery.. no matter what she'd done.

Danielle grabbed his arm and spoke when he looked down at her, "He left me
.." Danielle sobbed, "He won't be back .. not after what I've done."

Tera leaned down and gently rubbed the woman's arm, "He'll be back."

Kay's heart was breaking. She was so unhappy. He looked up at Kattibrie and
could see she wasn't happy that he wasn't siding with her. He tapped Tera's
shoulder, *Take her home.*

Tera nodded and helped Danielle up. She gazed pleadingly at Kay with her
blue eyes, as if beggining him to forgive her .. to understand .. or was it
something else? He just didn't know what to think. He smiled gently at her,
hoping to ease her mind somewhat. Then he turned to Kattibrie and took her
hand.

When they sat back down at the table, Kattibrie looked at him accusingly,
*You agree with Tera?*

He shrugged. He wasn't really sure what he thought. It was obvious Danielle
was unhappy .. but what had happened the night before was unclear.

Kattibrie's eyes well with tears, *Do .. do you still love her?*

Kay's dark eyes softened and he grabbed her hand, *I love you. But I can't
forget what she did for me ..*

*What about what she did to you, Kay? What about how she hurt you?*
Kattibrie looked at him closely, *Do you still love her?*

*I would never do anything to hurt you. I love you and I am your mate. You
are mine. But I don't like to see her hurting like this.*

*Like the hurt she caused you, Kay?* Kattibrie's hands shook as she signed,
*It would be just like her to flirt with that man. You don't know. But I
do. I've lived in the warren longer then you have. I've seen her with her
throwaway boyfriends. When one doesn't suit her she'd move on to the next.
Just like she left Teslin .. just like she left you .. and now she's
leaving Trap.*

*I know ..* he told her, his shoulder slumping.

*I love you,* she signed, hoping those words would make him feel better.
They both had their own insecurities to deal with, she knew. She just had
to trust that Kay would not leave her for Danielle. No, that would be more
than she could take and Kay, he wasn't that cruel.

Kattibrie herself took comfort in those three little words. She did love
him, more than she ever thought she could love anyone. But... did he feel
the same way?

He smiled, squeezing her hand briefly, then signed, *That means the world
to me. I love you, too. And I want you to understand how I feel about
Danielle. She was cruel to me at one time.. but most of the time ..* He
shrugged, *Most of the time she was very good to me. But I don't love her.
Not like I do you.*

She smiled at him weakly, "I guess... Danielle is one part of your life
I'll never really understand."

He ran a finger over her cheek, *I don't expect you to be best friends with
her .. but it would be better if you weren't so hostile towards her. What
she's done .. to me and to others .. that's in the past. It's over.*

Resigned, Kitty nodded, "I know that here," she pointed to her head, "But
am having a problem understanding it, here, in my heart." As she finished
she laid her hand to her breast. "I tried once to be understanding, and be
a friend to her," she continued, "But she pulled away."

He nodded, *I don't think Danielle makes friends easily ..  though ..
Tera's her friend. Tera might think you hate her ..* he looked into her
eyes, *You don't hate her .. do you?*

"Tera??? No... I don't hate Tera. She's my friend, too... I think."

*She's Danielle's friend.* Kay grimaced. *Family really .. Tera had to
defend her. I don't think she understands how you feel about Danielle.*

*Maybe I should talk to her?* Kattibrie signed as she spoke for clarity.

Kay nodded, *I think you should. I'd like to think that despite everything
that's happened, maybe we can all be friends, rather then split in two like
we have been. I was very angry .. at Danielle .. at Tera .. but I don't
blame them anymore. It's not their fault.*

Kattibrie nodded, though she didn't think she and Danielle could ever be
friends, they should at least be civil. And she didn't want to alienate
Tera, whose only fault in this whole mess was that she was caught in the
middle.

*I'll try,* she said, speaking the words as she signed them.

*You are an incredible person, and I love you.* He smiled. She was taking
this very well. Especially considering how confused he was over the whole
thing. Even though life in the warren was so much better then his life
before .. it sure was so much more complicated. But at least he had
Kattibrie to go through it with him.

Regards,
Kalewyn & Sabbith
Kattibrie & Calinshandra
***
NRPG: Thanks to Morgie for her input in this post !

Kristen

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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