Her eyes fluttered open and Tahlaya momentarily forgot where she was. As 
her eyes became accustomed to the gloom, she remembered. A smile crossed her
face as she turned to her sleeping mate. His chest rose and fell
rythmically. Turning on her side, and resting her elbow on the blanket, she
placed her head on her up turned palm. She wanted to reach out and touch the
warm skin, to kiss those loving lips. She watched as Ash'chenon slept soundly.

"I wonder when the last time you slept so deeply was, my love," she whispered.

A rasping sound made her look up and saw Wyndamenth looking at her, eyes
swirling.

"Shhdonwakhim."

The sky blue dragon cocked her head to oneside. Tahlaya put her fingers to
her lips and asked the girls to tell their little sister to not wake Ash.

*Little...* lisped Eclipse.
{...sister!?} Sunburst carried on from where her other half had left off.

{* You are joking? She's a big girl now!*} they said in unison.

{She wants to know if we like it when you and Ash mate?}

*She says she does!*

<Oh no!> Tahlaya groaned. <Isn't she a bit young for that sort of thing?>
thankful it was dark and Ash was still asleep so he couldn't see the colour
rise in her cheeks.

The girls chuckled and she heard a faint clicking sound coming from
Wyndamenth. Tahlaya swore she was laughing quietly.
Smiling at the young dragon, she watched as the great eyes drooped shut and
Wyndamenth lay her head back on the sand. 
Sliping out from beneath the blankets and stumbling to her feet, she felt
bloated. Running her hands over her belly, she was sure she could feel a
small mound. Struggling into her clothes she noticed that her pants were a
little tight fitting this morning. 

"I guess I'm going to have to get used to this for a while," she muttered to
herself.

Bending over the sleeping man, Tahlaya placed a kiss on his forehead. She
held her breath as he turned over, a quiet snore escaping from between his
lips. Breathing a sigh of relief, she made her way out into the pre-dawn.

She could see the shadows of several dragons huddled round the still form of
Sabbith. The tarpaulin that had been errected round him had been pulled over
him, the guide ropes not being able to take the strain of the red dragon's
female admirers, as they nosed their snouts underneath.

The dew from the grass made her boots damp and she shivered slightly as she
trotted over to her girls. Crouching down between their heads, she gently
stroked the red snout of her friend. Tears welled in her eyes as she crooned
to the still beast.

"Don't die Sabbi, Kay needs you. We all need you!" she placed her head on
the long red snout and kissed the crimson scales. "We love you, Sabbith!"

The girls gently nudged her and, still weeping silently, she asked them to
take her to their apartment.

The girls landed gently on the ledge.

{* Call us when you are ready, *} they cried as they leapt into the air and
spiralled back down to the green. They wormed their way back into their
rightful place, with the head of their cuddle partner between their necks.

Tahlaya moved round her rooms lighting lanterns as she went. Shucking off
her clothes she stood infront of the large mirror in her bedroom and stared
at the figure reflected back at her.

Her breasts seemed fuller, heavy. Running her hands over her belly, she
could not only feel the swell but she could see it too. Instinctively she
caressed the bump protectively. Inside she was carrying a child. She smiled,
but then the tears started to well up again.

Who was the father? 

Deep down she hoped it was Ash. Not that she would have minded it being Kay
or Dameon. She loved both men in different ways, but she somehow couldn't
see herself being mates with either of them. They were her closest friends,
but Ash... Ash was different. She liked the way he made her feel; he was
proctective, but not suffocating. He was strong but vulnerable.

{And you like the way he mates,} giggled Sunburst.

Once again Tahlaya blushed. Taking her eyes from her naked body, she
collected a clean towel and made her way to the bathroom.

                        **********

"Sit there," she told the black puma cub after she had collected Avid from
Ash's apartment. His tail swished violently as he padded behind her.

"Tabita!" she called walking over to the ovens in the warm kitchen. The cat
followed her and, growling, grabbed an unplucked chicken from the counter.
Tahlaya swung round only to see cat and bird disappearing out the door.
"Oh great! I thought Ash had got you trained!"

"Got who trained, love?" Tabita asked, wiping her hands on her apron and
then shoving a strand of loose hair from her face.

"Avid, Ash'chenon's cat," she said peering into the pots on the stove. "I'm
afraid he stole one of the chickens. God's what's that!?" she gulped as she
lifted the lid from a pan. The smell making her feel queezey.

"Are you alright, Laya?" the greyhaired cook said, taking hold of the dragon
riders arm as she stumbled away from the pan. "You've turned very pale. Here
sit down," leading her to a chair by the back door. 

Avid turned and hissed at the commotion created in the kitchen as a chair
was dragged to the door. Tahlaya looked at the blood soaked muzzle and
groaned, "I'm going to be sick!"

                        **********

After she had explained to Tabita that she was pregnant, the older woman
shooed her out with a basket of food for her and her new mate. 

"And make sure he doesn't get too involved in all this dragonny business!"
she grinned.

"I think it's a bit  too late for that, Tabita," Tahlaya said as she hugged
her oldest friend. Tabita had become her surrogate mother since she arrived
at the warren and she need someone who understood what her body was going
through.

"Now remember what I've said, don't over do things. Put your feet up when
you can and if you need to sleep, then sleep!"

"Yes, mum, " she said, kissing the cook's cheek and picking up the basket of
food, Tahlaya walked out into the dawn.

                        **********

There he was. Where he belonged, on the back of a beautiful dragon. And
that's what she was. Beautiful.
Wyndamenth's sky blue scales complimented the sunrise as she glided down to
the green. Her landing almost pefect.

 "Couldn't wait, could you?" she smiled at Ash as he slid from the neck saddle.

Taking Tahlaya in his arms, he said breathlessly, "I could, Wyndamenth
couldn't." 

They both looked at the young dragon as a series of clicks and trills issued
forth
This was something Tahlaya was going to have to get used too.

"Looks like you two have no problems up there. She looked like she
had been flying forever," she praised, scratching a blue eye ridge.

Shaking his head in a resigned fashion, Ash commented,  "She's wanting to
teleport already."

"Why not? You've got her halfway there."

"Maybe later... I've got to explain to Sandor why we're not going to 
be there today."

"Oh, I doubt that he'll be too miffed."

"We'll see, won't we?" he said gathering her into his arms and kissing her.
"What's in here?" Ash peered into the basket. "You didn't have to do this,
love, we could have eaten in the dining hall."

"I didn't, Tabita did it for us," she mumbled as she bit into a sandwich.

"That looks interesting," he said as he grabbed her hand and tucked into his
mates breakfast. His face took on a look of disgust as he tried to chew and
swallow his stolen mouthful. "By the gods... what the hell is in it?" he
said wiping his mouth.

She laughed at him, "Serves you right! It's smoked fish, apple and
horseradish. Like some more?" her face a picture of innocence.

Before he could answer, Wyndamenth clicked loudly.

"Duty calls before I eat I'm afraid. Someone wants the saddle removed and a
spot at the base of her neck rubbed and oiled. So if you'll excuse me," he
grabbed Tahlaya by the waist, pulled her close and kissed her soundly, "Ewww
you taste fishy!" 

He ducked in time as a chicken leg came flying in his direction. Chuckling,
Ash started undoing the riding straps of his dragon as his mate made herself
comfortable on the ground.

                             ******************
Med Centre sometime in the morning.

Tahlaya stuck her head round the edge of the door.

"Can I come in?" she asked

"Laya! I thought you'd never come and visit!" Tera said sitting up in bed.

Tahlaya grinned sheepishly at the blond haired women in the bed.

"How are you feeling?" she asked as she peered into the crib where Tera's
son lay sleeping.

Tera leaned across and took the tiny bundle out and handed him to her friend
as she sat next to her.

"Here hold him like this," she manovered her friend's hands and arms in the
right places. Soon the baby was craddled and supported in Tahlaya's arms. "I
thought you could do with the practice, " she laughed.

"You heard, huh?" she groaned.

"Uh huh. It's all over the warren. So tell me, who's the father?"

"What's he doing?" she asked as the baby made snuffling noises and tried
turn his head towards Tahlaya's chest.

"He's rooting," Tera said, taking him from Tahlaya.

"He's what?"

"Rooting. He's hungry."

Tahlaya watched in fascination as her friend calmly placed Trebrin on one of
her breasts.

"Would you like me to leave?" she said rising from her chair.

"No, don't worry. When you give birth you tend to find that there are more
embarrassing things in life than having a friend watching as you breast feed
a baby."

Trebrin made gurgling and sucking noises  as his mother once again asked,
"So... who's the father?"

"What? Oh... ahhh... hmmm!" Tahlaya mumbled.

"Is that a problem, Laya?" she asked quizically.

"Yes... no... I don't know," she sighed as she explained what had happened.

                            **********

The green, noon

She stood watching the two of them from a distance, holding her breath as
they blinked out from the skies of Telnor.

"THALAYA!" a voice shouted.

"Coming," she shouted back, trotting over to where the healers were working
on Sabbith.

Once again the guide ropes had been pulled from the ground as her girls and
Calishandra tried to crawl underneath the tarpaulin.

"Will you get that oversized lizard out of here!!" a muffled voice hollered
from under the collapsing canvas.

With the help from some others, Tahlaya mananged to pull the tarpaulin back
to reveal a wriggling mass of entwined heads.

Somehow Eclipse, Sunburst and Calishandra had braided themselves into golden
coloured knot, with Sabbith's head like a red jewel in the middle.

"I want them out now!" fumed the exasperated healer. "If they want Sabbith
to get better they have to go! NOW!" 

<Ok ladies, time to go.>

{But we...}
*...want to stay!* the girls crooned sadly as they unknoted themselves from
each other.

<I know you do, my loves, but the healers can't make Sabbi better if you
keep getting in the way. Now for his sake move away.>

The girls reluctantly backed out, leaving the little queen  confused.

"Oh and get the girls to tell Calishandra to go to, otherwise I'm goin to
have to give her another jab!" the harsh voice of the dragon healer boomed.

Dejected the three dragons moved to oneside and, curling up together,
watched as once again the tarpaulin was re-errected.

"Excuse me."

"Yes?" Tahlaya turned and stared into the eyes of an angel.

"My name is Gabriel St Knight, " he said bowing courteously, "My brother and
I are new to Telnor and I was was wondering where we may find something to eat."

'Oh my, oh my he has a brother!' 

"A... brother? Where is he and I can show you both to the dining hall," she
stammered.

A sad smile crossed the strangers face, "I'm sorry, the brother I refer to
is my dragon, Veil."

Tahlaya blushed and stuttered, "I... er... I mean. Oh hell! I'm Tahlaya
rider of that oversized, over stuffed, handbag over there," she pointed
towards the girls.

"Maybe your dragon could explain to my brother where he can eat?"

<Girls looks like you have another cuddle mate.>

"Let me introduce you too them."

"Them?" Gabriel raised an eyebrow at the woman. "You have two dragons?"

"Well not exactly," she said, leading the way across to the girls. "Sunny,
Ipsy this is Gabriel. Gabriel, this is Sunburst and Eclipse."


Tahlaya, human to the lizard skin handbag that answers to Sunburst and Eclipse.

Nrpg:

Welcome Tony :)
I hope you have as much fun as we do.

Kha, ok lets do lunch. I figured that Gabriel looked at the apartment before
lunch?

Barb, gossip time :)

Allen, join us for lunch? Just to stop Laya drooling her lunch down herself
*wicked grin*
oh I thought that someone ought to feed the cat. Just don't expect me to do
the litter tray! ;)


Lea
>









"Lust is pure. 'Tis Love, Lust's little sister, that is tainted."