DayXX

Eleanora allowed Benâsar to propel her by the arm and head her toward the 
barracks.  She kept trying to bring her mind back to some sense of 
clear-headedness.  It wasnât working.  The only thing that she could 
concentrate on was the kiss.  Was it normal that she could still feel the 
imprint of Benâsarâs lips on hers?  Intent on his own troubles, Benâsar never 
noticed whether or not she was listening to him.  After he left, Eleanora sat 
motionless on her cot. 

He kissed her - and not some friendly big-brother kiss despite his protests - 
that had been a bona fide, take-no-prisoners kind of kiss.  His words came 
back to her.

ã... I hope you learned something form this little demonstration. ...ä

Learned something?The memory of what she felt when his lips met hers brought 
a renewal of feelings she hadnât realized she had.  Yes, she thought, she had 
learned something.  She just wasnât entirely sure what  it was....

******
Next morning

Eleanora awoke sandy-eyed and groggy from a restless nightâs sleep.  She had 
awakened more than once, sweating and shaking from dreams she was both 
excited and horribly embarrassed by.  There was no doubt in her mind just why 
she was having them now, either.  Sighing, she got up and got ready, smiling 
fondly at Cara who was sleeping soundly.  She slipped out of the barracks and 
headed into the Dining Hall.  She greeted her brother with a hug and a smile 
and they walked in together.

*How much time do you have here?* she signed.

He sighed and signed back.  *Not much.  Iâll be leaving before lunch.  I will 
let Mom and Dad know how things are going.*  He grinned.  *Dadâs gonna bust a 
gut with pride, you know.*

Eleanora ducked her head and blushed.  She hoped Leonidas was right.  It 
would make up for so much disappointment she had caused.

They lingered over breakfast, chatting and sharing news until Eleanora was 
pointedly reminded of her other duties.

<Were you planning on feeding me today?>

Eleanora rolled her eyes at the sarcasm coloring Caraâs tone.  This was 
definitely going to take some getting used to.  She smiled at Leonidas.

*I have to go now.  Cara is hungry and I have training.*  She gave her big 
brother a long hug, trying to stifle the sudden rush of homesickness and 
missing her family.  *I love you.*

*I love you too, Runt.*  Leonidas grinned and waved as she headed out of the 
hall.

It didnât take her long to find where the new dragons and their riders were 
assembling - the smell of raw meat on the morning air carried unfortunately 
well.  She headed over, catching up to Cara on the way and waited her turn to 
get one of the buckets and then began feeding Cara.  Thomas, the trainer, 
gave all of them a friendly smile and moved to help those who still hadnât 
quite gotten the hang of feeding the dragons at a controlled rate.  After a 
while he moved them into a neat semi-circle - or rather, two with the dragons 
forming another behind their riders - and began lecturing them on the care 
and handling of their new partners.  Eleanora wished sheâd had the 
forethought to bring a notepad with her - she was sure she was going to 
forget something important.

<Donât worry.  I will remind you.>

<And if its something you forget?>

<Me? Forget? Umm, maybe notes would have been good.>

Eleanora stifled a laugh as she returned her full attention to Thomas.  
Standing next to her was the rider from last night - the one who had been 
juggling the food off the tables until she - er, he? - had broken the chair.  
She had thought it was a girl, but now, seeing her? in the morning light, she 
wasnât so sure.  Embarrassed by her inability to tell, she muttered a 
half-hearted ãhiä when the rider looked her way.  Sheâd have to find out 
before she made a fool of herself with the rider.

*****
Later, same day

Eleanora quickly finished her lunch, trying not to choke as Cara regaled her 
with tales from the green where she was sunning, well bathed and oiled after 
the morningâs lessons.  Interspersed with the gossip were Caraâs own 
instructions - apparently to the dragon next to her.

<Move over, youâre blocking my sun.  ...No, no the other way.  Thatâs it.  If 
you spread your wings out, youâll block everyone.  Yes, thatâs right.  Good.>

Eleanora got up and followed Gazella out of the hall.  There were a handful 
of other riders with her, all female and all looking a bit embarrassed.  
Gazella seated them all in a private room and cleared her throat before the 
nervous giggles really got under way.  

ãAll of you girls are landbound and there are a few extra adjustments you may 
need to make to joining a dragon.  The biggest adjustment to your thinking 
will be caused by mating flights....ä

Gazella continued, explaining a few of the more obvious differences in sexual 
mores between the warrens and the land.  Eleanora found her mind wandering - 
straying back to the kiss last night.  She didnât have to search too hard to 
figure out why, but she was a bit non-plussed that she could still feel 
everything so clearly - as though it had just happened.  Half of her mind on 
Gazellaâs talk and half on the kiss - and its implications, Eleanora came to 
a decision.  Clearly what she was feeling was desire and equally clearly, if 
she still felt this way now it wasnât just going to go away.  Since she 
wasnât in the heat of the moment, she wasnât being carried away - therefore, 
the only way to deal with this was to act on it.  Sheâd have to  pick up some 
of the herbs Gazella was mentioning.  It never hurt to be prepared - though 
how she was going to manage this was beyond her.

****
Later still, same day

Eleanora carried yet another tray of broken crockery out of Sandorâs room and 
smiled at Bârin as he headed in.

ãHow bad is it today?ä

*Pretty bad,* she signed.  *The hatching seems to have upset him.*

Bârin nodded sympathetically and headed in to babysit the blinded rider while 
Eleanora carried the tray to its stacking place and then headed over to 
Sarrineâs ofice.  On the way, she passed by a room and noticed a familiar 
figure lying on the bed.  She tapped cautiously on the half-open door and 
stepped in.

ãDanielle?ä  she called, hoping she wasnât too loud.  There was no response.  
ãDanielle?ä  she tried again a bit louder, but still got nothing.  Eleanora 
walked over and looked down at her new friend.  Her eyes were open, but 
looked as sightless as Sandorâs - focussed on nothing.  She tapped her 
friendâs arm lightly - nothing.  ãDanielle?ä

Eleanora looked up to see Sarrine watching her.  ãWhatâs wrong with her?ä

ãShe is catatonic.  Weâre not quite sure why, but the wreckage of Kittyâs 
things around her suggests that she found out at least some part of the truth 
and isnât coping well.ä

Eleanora looked concerned and reached out and patted Danielleâs arm gently.  
ãIâll come back tomorrow and we can talk then, if you want.ä she murmured and 
followed Sarrine out of the room and into her office.

ãOk, Eleanora, what is it you wanted to see me about?ä

Eleanora blushed, swallowed hard and signed.  *I wanted to get some of those 
herbs for* she paused, faltered and went on *for birth control.*

Sarrine looked sharply at the girl.  ãDo you now?ä  Eleanora nodded and 
Sarrine went on.  ãHave you thought about this?ä  When Eleanora would have 
spoken she raised her hand and continued.  ãI realize you donât want a 
lecture, but I would be failing in my duties if I didnât make sure you knew 
what you were doing.  A lot of girls come here and go a little wild.ä  
Sarrine looked pointedly at Eleanora at this, but though Eleanor was 
blushing, she met the healerâs eyes squarely.  ãOk, I see.  You arenât 
planning on using these just because you can, then?ä

Eleanora blushed even brighter - if that were possible and shook her head. 
Sarrine smiled knowingly.  ãHave a prospect, do you?ä  Eleanora only nodded.  
ãCan I ask who?ä  

*You can ask, but Iâm not telling.*  Eleanora grinned, hoping the woman 
couldnât see through her.  Of all the people to have to come to - his own 
mother!  Of course, Abby would be worse - Abby would know, for sure.

Sarrine smiled.  ãOf course.  Just curious.ä  She went over to a cabinet and 
pulled out a brown bottle and handed it to Eleanora.  ãHere you are.  Make 
sure you take a spoonful of this every morning.ä

Eleanora thanked her and escaped. 

<Youâve been gone all day.>

<I am sorry, sweetling.  I am coming to be with you now.>

Eleanora sighed happily.  She was looking forward to just spending some time 
watching Cara.  She might never tire of that.

__________________________________________________________________
Katrina

Ok, Bridget, hope that was enough of a TAG. :>  Barb, you too!

Anyone else want in on this?