NRPG: I know where Lea's going with her post, so I'm going to go back
on my statement and backpost lunch on Day1...sorry about that. In the 
interests of moving along, Kha, I'm going to take the conversation all 
the way through so I can jump on ahead to Whiteriver. Please feel free 
to change/edit whatever if or when you respond.

**********************************
*****Telnor Day 1 Lunch******
**********************************

[[ Your mate wishes you to join her for lunch, ]] Wyndamenth coded.

++ She did? Ah, the joys of being mated...not even one day and I'm
being summoned. Will milady be at the dining hall? ++ Ash clicked.

[[ Yes. There is a new rider here, from another warren.  they are about
to eat lunch, and wanted to know if you would come. ]]

++ All right..although I wanted to see you hunt, first. Since it *is* your
first. ++

[[ Don't worry about me, I can handle myself.  Say, who is that? ]]
They both watched as a large black dragon with pupilless green
eyes landed close to them, near the feeding pens.  [[ Ah, he is the
new dragon. Veil. ]]

Well, they were close enough. Ash moved around Wyndamenth,
getting close enough to the black, peering into the green eyes,
signing ++ Tell him I'm pleased to- Gods! ++

[[ What's wrong? ]]

He knew what was wrong. He felt it from the dragon as soon as their
eyes made contact. He felt it, the disdain and...*hatred*...that was 
directed to him. He reeled back slightly, suprised by the 
malevolence. What the hell was it, a wilder?

He knew. And by the gods, the dragon knew that he knew. Somehow,
it had noticed his reaction and recognized it for what it was. For a 
moment, they stared, eyes locked, a moment of complete under-
standing. Veil *hated*. And Ash knew all about it.

Then, the great eyes hooded, and the dragon looked dimly away. 
He looked again, but there was nothing. Had he dreamed it? 
Was his imagination running wild? He didn't really have a lot of
control over his empathy, could it have been a stray sending from
someone else? Ash shook his head.

[[Ash? Ash?!?]]

++Nothing. Never mind. I'm all right. Enjoy yourself, you've earned
it today. I'll see you after I eat.++ Ash patted Wyndamenth's hide,
turning his back on the strange dragon, and headed towards the 
dining hall.

<What happened? What did you do to my rider?>

<<Nothing. He is merely disssturbed.>>

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

Entering the dining hall, Ash quickly located the proper table and
walked over. Avid, who he hadn't seen since the night before, was
busy trying to steal food from Tahlaya's plate while she wasn't 
looking. Ash looked at the other man sitting by her, and raised an 
eyebrow. He was definitely a warrior-type; the bearing, the readiness
of muscles was all there, as well as the special sheen on the hilt of
his sword that bespoke constant use. Ash's sword Viper didn't bear
that sheen, but of course the hilts were fashioned from carved jade.
Reaching down, he grabbed under Avid's jawline and pulled him 
away, reprimanding him with projected irritation. Avid growled, and
suddenly Ash's mind was filled with hunger.

"Hello," he said, patting Laya's shoulder and extending a hand to the 
new rider. "I'm Ash. Pleased to meet you. I came as requested, milady,"
he added for Tahlaya's benefit. She giggled.

"I'm Gabriel St.Knight," the man replied. "I'm certainly pleased to
meet you." 

Ash fought down nausea as Avid sent an even stronger hunger urge.
"Ah, if you'll excuse me, I think this cat needs to be fed." Although he 
couldn't see why; the puma had grown to more than three feet, not 
including the short tail. 

"I doubt it," Laya said. "He made off with a whole chicken this 
morning, right under my nose."

"Ah, you fed him then. Thank you. I'll have to up his diet a bit, looks
like."

"Pfaugh! He fed himself."

"Well, if you fed him what you had this morning, you might curb his
appetite a bit." Ash smiled and ducked, but miraculously no food
went flying his way; Laya stuck her tongue out at him instead.

When he returned, she and the blond rider were chatting animatedly 
about her dragons. Noting the faraway look in his mate's eyes, Ash
said, "So, Gabriel, you ride the black dragon with the green eyes?"

"Yes, that's Veil. Have you met him?"

"Ah..yes, we've met," Ash said, his face a study of nonchalance.

**************************************
 (at his apartment, after lunch)

"You want to do what?"

"Go to Whiteriver. Exorcise some of these memories. Look at where
Sol is...and see how things have changed. Now, do you want to go 
with me? We should only be gone a day or so..."

"Oh, love, I can't. The girls won't want to leave Sabbith, and I don't want
to leave the girls. Besides," she said, moving close to him, "I need to look
at an apartment."

"Won't the one I have do? I'll stay,then."

"No, you don't." She kissed him. "This is your moment. Yours and 
Wyndamenth's. I want you to go, if you think it will help you. Just
come back to me."

Ash chuckled. "Of course I will. I'm not leaving you, you're far too
precious to me."

"Mmmm....and don't let all those women turn your head, either."

"Do I detect a hint of jealousy, there?"

"Absolutely, love." 

"Not to worry, I am well spoken for. Promise. Although, you know,
perhaps I should stick around for a while," he said, glancing
meaningfully back at the dining hall.

He saw the flush start to rise on her cheeks, making her more
beautiful than ever. "Huh? Oh, I, uh, don't know what you mean."

"Of course, my dear. Although it's not considered polite to drool
over new riders in that fashion." He watched her blush deeper.
I'm not worried, love. I suppose you could sort of find him attractive
in some roundabout way..."

Tahlaya smiled. "Sort of?"

"That's as far as I'm going. I'm not worried, because even after you
drool in his presence, I have a pretty good idea whose bed you'll be
sleeping in."

"Your humility overwhelms me."

"It's not that...I just can't see you wanting to be mates one day and
sleeping around another. I can't say much for getting older, but there 
is one benefit: I'm much more relaxed about relationships. If you 
wanted to bed someone else, my being here wouldn't make much 
difference. If you're committed to me, then I have nothing to worry 
about...that is, if I treat you right." He ran his fingers along the 
back of her spine, making her shiver.

"Mmmm...that's what I love about you, Ash. You're so, well, easygoing."

"That wasn't quite the word I was thinking, but it will do." Just
touching her skin, feeling her responses, was doing delightful things
to him...

"When are you going?"

"Probably late this afternoon."

"So late? What are you going to do until then?"

"Practice flying and teleports for one, for another..." Ash picked Laya up
and carried her into the bedroom.

"Do you really think you need practice with *that*?"

"Who needs practice? I just can't keep my hands off of you."

"Mmmm..."

"Oh, and I need a favor. I can't take Avid with me, he would
throw a fit on dragonback. I know he's giving you troubles, and
I'll fix it after I return, but in the meantime-"

"You want me to watch him," Laya continued. "The things you ask
me to do..."

"Perhaps I can make it up to you..." Ash said as he laid her on the bed.
There was little talk after that, although Ash got the impression that
he had her heartfelt agreement.

************** 
(early evening of the day of Pa'gan's speech)

They appeared in the skies above Whiteriver warren, the
westering sun bright on their faces. Diving slightly to
avoid the worst of the dazzle, Ash'chenon was greeted by
the familiar sight of the waterfall. His breath caught in 
his throat.

++ Gods, it's been a long time. I'd forgotten how beau-
tiful it was. ++

[[ It's home to you, ]] came Wyndamenth's clicking reply. 
[[ I thought you would like it. I have to admit, though,
I like it too. ]] They spiralled down, touching lightly 
on the green.

++ Very good! You're getting much better at that. ++

[[ I only need to do it once or twice to learn something. 
I'm very smart. ]]

++ Beautiful, too. ++

[[ You're catching on. ]] 

++ I think...well, what can I say? I want to visit the 
whole warren, but I don't want to stay away that long. I 
guess I'd better visit Mnepath in the Training hall. Will
you be all right? ++

[[ Of course! I'll perch up close to that spire and 
get to know the dragons here. I'll be waiting for the 
excitement when they learn you've arrived. ]]

++ I wouldn't, I've been gone a long time. I wonder if anyone
would even remember me. ++

[[ I'd say so...I found out from the watch dragon where the
lake is where Sol died. They call it the 'Tomb'. No one goes
there, it's sort of a shrine in his honor. ]]

Gods, did she have to tell him that? Grief washed over him at
the thought of the honor paid to his dragon.

[[ Don't be upset, Ash. They honor him, as we do when we keen
their passing. It is respect...and a way to remember. Your
shrine is there, too. ]]

++ What do you mean my shrine is there ?!? ++

[[ Did you think that you would not be honored as well? ]]

++ Not the way that I left, no. I couldn't take it, went out on my own to
die. I don't deserve a shrine. ++

[[ Nevertheless, it is there. Perhaps they honor what you gave
to them before Solaris' death. Perhaps they mourn the
untimeliness of your passing. ]]

++ I still don't, and didn't, deserve it. ++

[[ I understand you already. You do, but you won't admit it. For
a human who made such an impact among others, you don't 
want to take credit. You don't want the attention. ]]

++ Matter of opinion, Wyndamenth. All right then, enjoy yourself. ++
Ash slid off of Wyndamenth's neck, reaching out to rub the 
sensitive spots behind her eye ridges. Wyndamenth fairly 
crooned with pleasure. 

[[ I'll be watching for you if you need me. Now and forever, my new
rider. ]] The dragon reared back in a sinuous snakelike movement
and took off. Ash watched as her form dwindled, then walked to the
training hall. 

And there he was. Mnepath. Looking older with his greying hair ,
but still as strong and confident as ever as he moved through a
sirado'ka exercise. Mnepath, the weaponsmaster; a blademaster
from the Guild of Swords, he was the one who took Ash in when his
parents were killed. The one who recognized his potential, brought
him to the Guild at just the right time in his life. The man who was 
responsible for almost everything that was good in his life...and he
was still here, tirelss as ever.

"Kii is the special bond, the state of mind when the sword becomes
the extension of one's self," he quoted from so many years back.
"Once kii is achieved, all is in harmony; the adept becomes the 
master of his surroundings, by understanding all that is within him
as well as around him."

Mnepath's sword dropped to the floor with a clatter. The sound was 
abnormally loud in the large room. The weaponsmaster turned,
confronted him...

"Is this a ghost I see? Why do you trouble me out of my memories?
Ash'chenon is long dead."

"Presumed dead...Da." He rarely called him that. "I have returned."

They stared at each other across the short gulf, a moment that
stretched...

...and then they were together, Mnepath hugging the taller Ash to him,
pounding his back, his voice hoarse with emotion. Ash could feel the
joy in the man, and his moment of fear, the fear of rejection, was
past. 

"Gods, it *is* you! Out of nowhere you come to me. I thought you dead,
boy." He held Ash out at arms' length. "The face has healed well...but
you've lost weight, I didn't think that was possible for you. You look 
like the weapons you prefer to wield: thin, strong, and deadly. Where
in the hell have you been?"

"In the wastes." Ash's face fell. "I had to go. I couldn't take the sympathy,
it was worse even that the guilt."

"I know why you left. I didn't agree with it, but each man has to follow
his own destiny. You've been in the southern wastes all this time?"

"No...I spent most of my time among the Landbound. A soldier, guide,
anything. Just as long as I didn't have to stay anywhere or be around
people."

"We searched for you, boy. Didn't you know that?" Mnepath's fingers 
dug into his arm. "We searched for you...and searched...and searched.
It was as if you had vanished into the winds."

"It is easy to lose oneself in the wastes."

"So, you've been gone this long...what brought you back?"

"I had to complete the cycle. My path brought me places I hardly expected.
I have another dragon, who I ran across in Telnor warren. She 
brought me here, only a week out of the shell. She's a headstrong one."

"She? You joined a female?" Suprise twisted Mnepath's features. 
"Incredible. Then how did you join to Solaris?"

"No...no. I did not join to this female, I came across her as a hatchling.
She had lost her rider, and was too young to teleport. I gave her a 
reason to live."

"Yourself, of course."

"Of course. I like Telnor. So many changes occured in so little time...
I have a mate, now. She lives there."

"Where is she? I want to meet her."

"Can't...Tahlaya had to stay at Telnor, her dragon has to stay there
for the moment." Ash raised up a hand. "I'll explain later. It's a long
story."

Mnepath grinned. "I have plenty of time, my work day is empty. Come,
we'll go to the dining hall. I'm sure you'll raise a few eyebrows."

"I expected that." Ash grinned. "It will be good to see Deanna again."

"Ah, Ash," Mnepath said, putting a hand on his shoulder, "Deanna
 is no longer with us. She perished in a wraith attack." Ash was 
stunned. Deanna gone? He had had a crush on her in his teens...
and he never even had a chance to say goodbye. Another 
acquintance gone; he had lost many friends over the years, but
this one hurt.

"Trinale is the new warrenlady."

That shocked him back. "Trinale? Little Trinale?" He held a hand out 
at waist level. Mnepath grabbed it and raised it to the proper height.

"Not so little any more. She has done a lot of growing up lately."

"I should say so. It will be good to see her, too...and others I haven't
seen in a while. There's no reason to run, now...no more sympathy
from the others...I have a dragon again."

"I still don't see why that drove you away, but the important thing is
that you're back. Although I assume it's only a visit, if you have a
mate at Telnor."

"Yes, I want to leave tomorrow open. I want to travel to the lake, see
this shrine that was left to him. I have to do it, to say goodbye.
I never have done that."

"Come, Ash. Let's go to eat." They walked into the large expanse of
the dining hall, the aroma of hot food wafting out to meet them...

___________________________

Here he is! Anyone who wants to, go right ahead. I'll be doing a post
of Ash at the lake, but beyond that he's open to meet. Thanks for having
me. :)







Allen Veazey
wolf@dbtech.net
	
	"I'm not really bad, I'm just drawn that way."
			--Jessica Rabbit