Kalewyn
***

Kay watched as the healer went up the stairs followed by H'nry. He threw a
quick look back at Ryan and had to fight off shivers that threatened to
assail him. He turned quickly and followed the others up the stairs. As he
climbed he had an overwhelming urge to see Kattibrie. After the horrible
sight he'd just seen, her beautiful face would make him feel better.

He hurried out of the med center calling to Calishandra, <Where is Kattibrie?>

<She's waiting for you,> the queen said just as Kay's eyes fell on the
auburn-headed queenrider. Her dark sapphire eyes feel on him and she held
out her arms for him.

>"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."

***

>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.

It still surprised him that she had signed to him so easily .. so quickly.
He wondered if there were a lot of signers in Marrid. "You should ask her
Kay."

He shook his head, *It's not important.*

Kattibrie frowned, "It is important. Look Kay, I know you feel like your
alone sometimes.. if there was someone else out there who could understand.
I mean I can try.. but I know it's not the same."

He shook his head again, *I'd rather not ..*

She nodded, "It's okay, I understand."

>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.*

*But ..* his hands faltered, *.. what about ..* She grabbed his hands
holding them firmly, then kissed him gently on the cheek.

"You don't have to worry about the other night. I took care of it." Kay
looked at her questioningly and she blushed, "There's a drug called a
morning after .. I .. I had to take it after .."

Kay nodded and squeezed her hand. She didn't have to say anything else.
Morning after was pretty self-explanatory. *Are you hungry?*

She shook her head with a grimace, "No ..I .. I'm not feeling very well."
Her eyes rose and met his, "The medicine .." she said by way of
explaination.

*That drug?* he asked pointing at the amber birth control mixture.

She shook her head, "No.. the other one. It gives me .. cramps." Her last
word was whispered quietly.

Kay frowned for a moment, before an idea struck him, *How about a back rub?
Will that help?*

She nodded with a grin, "I think it will."

***

The day was wearing on as the couple lay together, naked, hands loosly
entwined, staring up at the ceiling. Kay leaned up on one elbow and signed,
*How are you feeling?*

She smiled luxuriously, "Wonderful."

He grinned, *Guess we know another cure for cramps ..*

She chuckled, covering her eyes with one hand, "I guess so."

He stared at her for a moment as her hand fell away from her face. Finally
she giggled again, "What are you staring at?"

*You .. Can I paint you?*

"Like you did Laya's baby?"  He nodded, and she blushed, "Why?"

*Because you are beautiful.*

"Well, okay," she smiled, "Let me find something to wear."

*No,* he signed, *Just like you are .. right now .. on our bed..*

"With out anything on!?" she asked the color rising even brighter on her cheek.

He nodded.

She was blushing furiously, ".. umm .. okay .."

He grinned, *Wait right there .. don't move!*

***

As it grew darker, Kay set up lamps to simulate day light as he worked on
his painting of Kattibrie. As he worked, his mind was focused and he almost
missed Kattibrie as she shivered from the cooling night air. *I'm sorry ..*
he said moving to pull a blanket up around her. *I can work on this later.*

She smiled gratefully, "Can I see it?"

*It's not done,* he signed, *.. but you can look ..*

Kattibrie stood, wrapping the blanket around herself and moved around to
look at Kay's work in progress. She stared in surprise, "That's .. that's
not me.."

*Of course it is,* he signed.

Kattibrie turned back to the image of the woman laying on the bed. Even
unfinished the beauty and desirabilty of the woman could be seen. She had
Kattibrie's thick auburn tresses and slender figure .. but the woman had
never thought of herself as a great beauty .. and that was indeed what was
pictured here on the canvas in front of her.

***
<<morning>>

>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.

Kalewyn watched at Kattibrie moved away from him. He frowned as he watched
other men move toward her. Lakoda recognizing the mating flight ducked away
from the young man, knowing there would be no talking to him now anyway.

<Don't worry, my Kay. Calishandra will be mine ..> Sabbith assured him as
he tore through the skies toward his prize.

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

Kay felt the surge of passion as Kattibrie danced close to him. He reached
out to touch her, his excitement growing .. he would win her!

>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.

Kay's eyes widened as the last man in the world he would want to see
kissing Kattibrie moved in front of him and began doing that very thing.
<No!> he cried.

<I'm sorry, my Kay. I was not worthy.> Sabbith thought back to him,
settling into a depressed stupor.

Kay watched unable to move as Traplin lifted the slight queenrider up into
his arms and moved away. Kattibrie was running her hand through the man's
hair .. she was enjoying his kiss .. his touch!

Kay took a step back as his worst nightmare was happening all over again!
It was just like with Danielle .. Just like when he and Danielle were mates
.. just like when she left him ..

A sob strangled in his throat and he turned and ran away from the crowd of
other men who were dissappointed at losing .. but none of whom felt his
world was ending like Kay did. He'd lost .. and know Kattibrie was gone..

Regards,
Kalewyn & Sabbith
***
NRPG: Okay so the boys got a bit of a fragile ego :)

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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