Marcus had always loved flying, and flying with Vartex was a joy. At just
around 12 feet long, Vartex was tiny compared to his clutchmates, but he
was fast, and could turn so sharply that he's prompted accidents, causing
dragons to run into each other when Vartex simply wasn't there to tag,
having turned back on himself and climbed out of reach.

They were well ahead of the hatchlings of Vartex's brood, and Marcus knew
that he would soon be assigned to a wing and given patrol duty. He looked
forward to it, but his thoughts always returned to Abby, whenever he was
apart from her, and that distracted him from his speculation on a wing
assignment.

He was working just off the practice fields, helping to fill the coal bins
when Vartex called him.

<<I am itchy, can you come oil me please?>>

<I'll be right there dear.>

He pulled on his shirt and wiped his brow, far to hot to work in the all
black he had taken to wearing since he joined with Vartex, heading off at
a trot to the where Vartex was sunning himself near Abby's apartments.

He retrieved a pot of the lightly cinnamon spiced oil that Vartex favoured
and started to rub him down with it. Vartex gave an incongruously loud
rumbling purr at the attention.

<You're a big silly> Marcus teased.

<<Feels good...Ooh, over there...No left...Mmmm there...>>

Marcus chuckled silently and glanced up as Violet landed carrying
Danielle. He scowled at Vartex.

<You set me up> he thought to Vartex accusingly.

<<Yep, and it worked!>> grinned the young dragon.

He glowered at Violet briefly who looked incredibly pleased with herself,
then tunred his attention to Danielle.

> She dismounted and walked quietly over towards the two."Excuse me" she
> said. "I have something I need to say. I hope you don't mind."
> 
> Marcus just looked at her expectantly so Danielle rushed ahead. "I owe you
> an apology. I mean, I have caused you nothing but trouble since your
> arrival here, with my throwing myself at you, and the accusations, and
> all....really I screwed up." Danielle hung her head. "I am sorry."

Marcus sighed, so much had happened and he could feel in himself that he
was a different person somehow.

*It's okay, and I'm sorry for breaking your nose.* he signed, then smiled
briefly *Not like we have much choice really with these two.*

Danielle smiled and adopted an expression that Marcus iterpreted as
relief. 

*I need to finish Vartex so I can get home to Abby.* he smiled, returning
to oiling Vartex.

"I'm glad everything worked out for you Marcus." she called after him.

*I'm glad you and Trap made up*

Danielle blushed, and borrowed some of the oil to start working on Violet
who apparently had become jealous of the attention. They worked for about
an hour side by side, not really saying anything, just sharing company,
and cammeraderie.

After time they parted their ways and Marcus hugged Danielle for a long
moment, before she climbed onto Violet and lifted into the air. 

<Thanks shorty.> he chided Vartex.

<<Hrmph>>

Marcus returned to he and Abby's quarters and told her of his day, and
what had transpired between himself and Danielle, then, like each evening
since they had become mates, they proclaimed their undying love for one
another silently, and strenuously til late in the evening.

		*	*	*	*	*	*

NRPG: Okay, it covers most of what's happening. Not terribly inspired, but
RL is dragging me back some. Sorry if I slow down.


.__________________________________________________.__________________________.
|@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@**^^""~~~"^@@^*@*@@**@@@@@@@@@|	   Rob Hines Jr.      |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@*^^'"~   , - ' '; ,@@b. '  -e@@@@@@@@@|	  rook@iquest.net     |
|@@@@@@@*^"~      . '     . ' ,@@@@(  e@*@@@@@@@@@@+--------------------------+
|@@@@^~         .       .   ' @@@@@@, ~^@@@@@@@@@@@|Marcus	-Telnor       |
|@@~ ,e**@@*e,  ,e**e, .    ' '@@@@@@e,  "*@@@@@'^@|Oldreth	-Whiteriver   |
|',e@@@@@@@@@@ e@@@@@@       ' '*@@@@@@    @@@'   0|Ens. Bishop -USS Victory  |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@',e,     ;  ~^*^'    ;^~   ' 0|Lt. Jarvis  -USS Valiant  |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@~"~@@e@@@   .'           ,'   .'  @|Lt. Vega    -USS Daomcles |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@@'    '@@@@@ '         ,  ,e'  .    ;@|Lt. Elkins  -USS Suffolk  |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@' ,&&,  ^@*'     ,  .  i^"@e, ,e@e  @@|Lt. Angelus -USS Calypso  |
|@@@@@@@@@@@' ,@@@@,          ;  ,& !,,@@@e@@@@ e@@|Cmdr. Wolfe -USS Javelin  |
|@@@@,~*@@*' ,@@@@@@e,   ',   e^~^@,   ~'@@@@@@,@@@|Capt. Remy Devereaux/SFENG|
|@@@@@, ~" ,e@@@@@@@@@*e*@*  ,@e  @@""@e,,@+-------+--------------------------+
|@@@@@@@ee@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@" ,e@' ,e@' e@@@@@| members.iquest.net/~rook/sfeng/  |
|@@For:@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@" ,@" ,e@@e,,@@@@@@|www.amug.org/~grothes/weavers.html|
|@@Wintermoon & Vartex@~ ,@@@,,0@@@@@@@@@@@| graham.princeton.edu/jeffj/asr/  |
|@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@,,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@|      www.indy.net/~dlands/       |
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'