>Kay looked at Kattibrie, his eyes filled with concern, *What is it?*
>
>She shook her head and tried to ask the man, but he told her he couldn't
>say and it would be best if they waited in the waiting room. Unable to do
>anything else, the two moved to the waiting room, their hands tightly
>locked. Neither knowing what was going on until the keening started.

Kattibrie clutched the package she had in her hands, the parcel which
contained the birth control she had been given by Sarrine. She had already
taken the one pill, the Morning After pill, and knew it would be working
soon. She remembered from the first time she took one.

But her thoughts were not on the baby she was trying not to have, for Kay's
sake, but on Laya and her small infant Solara. She prayed to all the gods
that the two would be okay. Neither one of them said a word as they sat and
waited anxiously.

Then a keening was heard throughout the warren. It was terrible, a sound
that ripped through the soul, and being warrenborn didn't seem to make it
easier on Kattibrie.

<Laya's hatchling is gone!> Calishandra told Kattibrie sadly.

The junior queenrider was in shock. Why??? It made no sense at all. She
wrapped her arms about Kay and buried her head into his chest, sobbing.

Kay stroked her auburn hair as his own tears fell, not knowing what else to
do.

When Kattibrie had calmed, she looked up at him with red rimmed eyes.
*Why??* she signed.

Kay shook his head, *I don't know. Come now, let's go home.*

Kattibrie and Kay stood up to leave when Kay got a panicked look on his
face. A moment later, Kattibrie knew the cause when her queen contacted her
in a panic, and all the dragons roared in outrage.

<WRAITH!> the silver and gold queen cried out.

>"A wraith! Where?" Kattibrie asked in panic.
>
>*In the medical building ..* Kay signed, *Get out of here now!*

Kattibrie shook her head, she wanted to be with him.

<Listen to Kalewyn, my heart! Don't risk yourself!> Calishandra told
Kattibrie.

>She grabbed his hand and pulled him to follow her. He shook his head. *I
>have to help. Go on!*
>
>"Kay, please."

<Let him go. You can't protect him from everything,> the young but wise
queen interjected.

<But I don't want him getting hurt!>

<He's a rider, my heart, fighting wraiths is his job.>

>*I'll be okay, hurry up.*

Kattibrie said a silent prayer for Kay's safety as she saw him turn and run
in the direction of the morgue.

<Hurry! Get out!> Calishandra protested.

Kattibrie turned and ran out of the med center, following the throng of
people who were also making the escape.

******

** A little later, after the attack is over, in front of the med center **

"You're safe!" Kattibrie bubbled as she saw Kay come out of the med center
at last. She ran toward Kay and hugged him tightly to her, her tears of
relief moistening the front of his shirt.

She pulled back from the embrace and took his hand in her empty one. "Lets
go home, please," she pleaded. You can tell me all about it at home.

******

** Later, up in Kay's apartment **

Kattibrie took in every word as he told her of his valiant battle with the
wraith and the rescue of poor Dalanth. He was most excited about the healer
woman from Telnor who was helping L'sein, and who also knew how to speak in
sign.

[[NRPG: Kris, feel free to write that out if you want, I am sure Kay has a
lot to say about all of it.]]

She then remembered her new medication, and went to the kitchen to get
herself a glass. Carefully she measured out a portion.

Kay got up and followed her to the kitchen. He pointed to the glass and
signed, *What's that? Are you sick?*

*No,* Kattibrie explained, *I went to see Sarrine today.... about getting
birth control.*

*You weren't before?* Kay asked.

Kattibrie shook her head solemnly, *There was no need before.*

[[NRPG: Kris, if Kay wants to know, she will tell him about the Morning
After pill, too.]]

******

** Next morning, dining hall **

*Do you want to come with me to see off Healer Lakoda?* Kattibrie asked
Kalewyn as they sat eating their breakfast in the dining hall.

Kay nodded emphatically.

*We need to hurry then,* she smiled, and drank down the last of her hot cocoa.

******

** Outside the med center **

Kattibrie clasped the petite healer's hands in hers. "Thank you for
everything you've done here."

*Yes, thank you!* Kay signed emphatically.

"If you had been a day later..." Kattibrie's voice choked up, she didn't
want to think about the possibilities.

"Well, let's not think about that," Lakoda said, smiling at the young
queenrider.

Kattibrie started to nod in agreement when a strange feeling came over her.
It felt like the feelings that Kay gave her when they were in bed together,
but more intense. It was overwhelming, and out of control.

Suddenly a silver and gold queen streaked through the sky, crying out her
challenge to all the males.

<You're not worthy, you can't catch me!> she taunted as a rainbow parade of
dragons followed in her wake.

On the ground Kattibrie was dancing seductively in a crowd of men. "You're
not worthy!" she cried in unison with her dragon. 

The scarlet Sabbith made his way to the fore, <Submit! Be mine,> he demanded.

He almost had her within his grasp when suddenly a dark green dragon
swooped ahead of the red dragon and caught the prize.

<Diemis, you are worthy!> Calishandra cried out.

*********

NRPG: Tag Barb! Have fun! ;> And tag Kris... don't you just hate me? ;>


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