As they drew nearer, it was becoming apparent that Telnor was a larger 
Warren than she had imagined.  Somehow she had gotten the idea that the more 
remote warrens would be small compared to centrally-located Keldarra, but 
upon their first approach it was becoming obvious she'd been wrong to think 
so.  This seemed at least as large as her former home warren, perhaps even 
larger.

Not that she'd been there all that long, really.  Ada volunteered to 
transfer elsewhere as soon as Xye was up to the journey...  her overzealous 
efforts to make friends and impress people seemed to have gotten her off on 
the wrong foot with her peers at Keldarra.  She vowed not to make the same 
mistakes again.

Xye hadn't disappointed her.  The blue dragonet had grown quickly indeed, 
faster than most of her siblings, and so it was that they found themselves 
approaching the warren to which Ada had been reassigned.

Since this was her first visit to Telnor, one of the older riders from 
Keldarra had accompanied them to show them the way... but the trip had taken 
far longer than any of them had expected, mostly because Xye's teleportation 
range was still limited by youth and inexperience,  forcing them to make the 
journey in short hops, with rest breaks and flown stretches in between.  It 
was now well after nightfall, but glimmers of light ahead demonstrated that 
their journey was almost over.

Telnor.  Finally.

"Are you sure she's going to make it?" their escort asked, concerned.

"Of course," Ada said with a conviction that she hoped was not misplaced.  
She bit her lower lip anxiously as her mind was filled by an unbidden image 
of an exhausted dragon laying panting on a broad, flat rock.

<Remember to use words, dear one,> Ada prompted gently.

<Tired,> came the almost imperceptible response.  <Rest soon?>

<We're almost there, Xye.  Hang on.>  Ada bit her lower lip, concerned.  
Perhaps she'd pushed Xye too hard, trying to get to their new assignment so 
soon, but it was very important to Ada to be *useful*, to be needed...

<Useful,> Xye thought at her, filling her head with an image of a young 
blond woman digging a struggling sky-blue hatchling out of a pile of sand.  
<Needed.>

<I love you too, Xye,> Ada thought warmly.    Words still did not come 
easily to Xye.  Xye's mother had communicated with her young almost 
exclusively in imagery, and words were still an effort for Xye - unlike her 
siblings, some of whom seemed positively loquacious.  Still, even if her 
hatchmates grasped words more quickly, Xye had been first to take wing, and 
Ada felt proud of that.

<Dragons!> Xye murmured happily.  <Sense me near.>

<Of course, sweetheart.>  They had probably been within range of Telnor's 
lookouts for a while now.  If they had lookouts, that is.  Ada still wasn't 
sure how the particulars of Warren patrols worked.  <Tell them we're from 
Keldarra and that we're here to be their new couriers,> she added as an 
afterthought.

<Keldarra,> Xye agreed, thinking of an image of her birthplace, followed by 
uncertainty about how to convey the remnant of Ada's message.

"It's ok, we told them who each of us are and that you're coming to stay," 
the older rider assured her, apparently anticipating Ada's concern.  "In 
fact, they'll guide you in the rest of the way, if you need it.  If it's all 
the same to you, we ought to be getting back - they'll be worried back 
home."

Ada was surprised.  "You're not even going to land and rest, after such a 
long journey?"

The other rider shook his head.  "We rested several times already today, if 
you'll recall.  This has been a fairly...  leisurely... trip, you might say, 
at least by the standards I'm used to.  Frankly, I expected to be here and 
back, by now."  He smiled at her.  "Don't worry, it won't be long before 
this becomes routine.  Take care now."

"Thank you," she murmured, waving farewell as the other pair banked, flew up 
a short distance, and then winked out of sight.  She had pushed Xye nearly 
to her limits, and for what?  To make a trip others could make in half the 
time?

<Green,> Xye thought - meaning the landing spot, not the color.  She flew 
lower and spread her wings wider, braking as she prepared to land.  <Rest 
now.>

<You've done a good job today, Xye.  Remember that.>  Ada dismounted and 
looked around for someone to ask about their lodgings.  It was late, and 
some sort of party seemed to be in full swing.  Ada only got about halfway 
there when the commotion erupted.

People were pouring out of various exits, and Ada caught an acrid whiff of 
smoke.  Fire!

<Xye!  We have to go fetch water!>  Ada thought desperately.  There was that 
huge inland sea they had passed on the way - no, much too far away.  Wait, 
they had seen a stream much closer to the warren itself... yes, much better. 
  She would have wagered there would probably be a well or two within the 
warren proper, but she didn't know where, and had no time to waste 
searching...

<Fetch?> came the tired response.  Apart from her near-exhaustion, Ada could 
sense that Xye was struggling with the concept of how to carry the water.  
An image of talons clutching uselessly through the surface of a stream spoke 
volumes.

<We'll need to find a barrel,> Ada thought in reply.  <Or else rip a 
watering-trough loose from its base and carry it to the stream.>

<Rip,> Xye sighed wearily, wobbling slightly as she strode around the Green 
in search of the desired object.  Ada could tell right away it was a 
mistake.  Right now Xye would hardly be able to keep herself airborne, let 
alone ferry enough water to quench a blaze.

<Never mind,> Ada thought.  <You're too tired.>

<Sorry,> Xye thought brokenly.

<No, don't be upset.  I'm not mad at you.  Just worried about the fire.>  
She suddenly felt inspired.  <I know!  Your picture-talk.  Show the other 
dragons our idea about bringing water to put out the fire...>

The commotion got worse as several dragons joined the humans milling about 
the green.  Ada hoped someone would follow through on her suggestion, but 
the people and dragons seemed mainly to be getting in each others' way.

"You there!"  One of the Telnor riders addressed her abruptly.  "Your dragon 
is the one who is projecting the pictures to the others?"

Ada nodded mutely in response.

"Have her stop.  You're just confusing matters.  We have a plan for handling 
these situations."

"I only meant to-"

"I know.  You wanted to help.  You can do that best by staying out of the 
way."  With that the rider brushed past her and sprinted across the Green.

<Relax, Xye.  We aren't doing anyone any good.>  Ada turned and nearly 
walked right into a woman not much older than herself, soaked to the skin 
and reeking of punch.

"Oh!  Excuse me," she apologized.  "I didn't mean to..."

The woman looked at her, distracted.  "Hmm, someone else I haven't met yet," 
she said.  "Which wing are you from?"

"Wing?  Oh, I'm unassigned.  That is, I'm Ada, from Keldarra.  I'm hoping to 
become a courier."  She took a deep breath, trying to sound less flustered 
than she felt.  "And you are...?"

"Maedralyn," the woman replied.  "The junior Queenrider.  Our senior is 
indisposed for the time being, so for now I'm it...  but as you can see, I'm 
a bit preoccupied at the moment.  Please come see me tomorrow to discuss 
your proposed assignment."

Ada nodded, flustered.  "But what about-"

"Tomorrow!" Maedralyn repeated firmly, turning and directing her attention 
to the efforts of the riders who were busily attempting to quench the fire.

Ada wandered numbly to Xye's side and laid a hand on her cerulean flank.  
<Come on, let's get out of everyone's way and find a place to rest for the 
night.>

<Rest,> Xye agreed miserably.


----------------------------------------------

[NRPG:  Tag to anyone who feels like encountering the newcomer...  
otherwise, she'll just lay low until Mae has a chance to interview her under 
saner circumstances...]
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