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Day 2
Evening

<SNIP From Dana's Post>
The sun was dipping down toward the horizon, glowing a rich orange as
the hue of the sky deepened in its wake.  Mae and Eth'n were oblivious
to the onset of evening, caught up as they were with each other, Mae's
hand resting comfortably in Eth'n's larger one, his steps readily
shortened to match her smaller stride.
<END SNIP>

As they passed the sideshows they stopped together to admire the performers,
just enjoying the evening and the anonymity of being in a crowd of
onlookers.  A beautiful, young dancer came out with the rustle of scarves
and the jingle of a tambourine.  Eth'n suddenly felt an elbow in his side.

"I'm down here," the smiling lips of the queenrider reminded him.

"Do you see it, Mae?"  Eth'n asked her, "that girl!"

"Well, she is rather pretty, and she's a good dancer... and if you're trying
to make me jealous, well, I'm not, so there!"  Mae teased.

Eth'n chuckled, "Sorry, was I staring?  I can see it sometimes, you know...
dragon affinity? "

"Are you saying that the dancer has it?"  Mae's eyes lit up and she peered
at the girl more intently trying to see what it was that Eth'n was seeing.
All she could see was a tiny, young girl with unruly honey-blond ringlets
cascading around her pretty face that had the largest, cornflower blue eyes
that she'd ever seen.

"Well, I'll have to take your word on it," Mae concluded.

They watched as the young girl swirled, enticingly, her scarves and veils
slowly slipping away one by one.  The tempo swelled to a crescendo and
suddenly stopped.  The silence crashed upon them, to be replaced by the
calls and grateful applause of the onlookers.

"Be right back!"  Mae stated, slipping away from Eth'n as the girl got up to
vanish behind the curtain.

****
TAG: Dana! and welcome Keri!

*****
During Lion Attack.

The girl hung on his neck, and no matter how he tried to persuade her to let
go, she only clung more tightly, terrified of the still roaring lion.

"But look, the trainers have him!  You're safe!  You can let go!"  Eth'n
cajoled.  But it wasn't until the pitifully crying mother appeared through
the crowd, that the child finally let go.

Eth'n, relieved of his burden, tore off his shirt, handing it to Mae, who
wrapped it around the wound on Forrellyn's arm.

"You'll be okay,"  Eth'n murmured to the wounded man as he and Mae helped
him to his feet.

<SNIP From David's Post>
When he wobbled, Eth'n caught him under the arm with a shoulder, supporting
his weight.  Mae gingerly added some of her own support on the other side,
careful not to cause undue pain to the lacerated arm.  Then slowly the three
made their way toward the med center, the crowd parting before them as for a
funeral procession.
<END SNIP>

Half-carrying, half-supporting, Eth'n and Mae brought Forrellyn to the
medical center.  As the staff took the brave, young man away, Eth'n noticed
that Mae was shaking.

"Are you cold?"  He asked in amazement.  It was not a cold night, and he was
not shivering despite not having his shirt any longer.

"Nnn..no..." her teeth chattered uncontrollably as the realization of what
might have happened slowly sunk in.

Eth'n gathered her into her arms,  "It's been a long day.  I know this
certainly isn't the evening I'd planned on spending with you... but, do you
think you'd like to come back to my apartment for some wine?  I think we
could both use a glass, don't you?"

"Yes... w..w..wine sounds good."  Her shivering eased, as she felt the
security of Eth'n's arms around her.  Sighing, she relaxed into his embrace
and allowed him to lead the way toward his apartment.

Warton was there, waiting to give them a lift up.  Eth'n had chosen an
apartment with an incredible view of the warren and the training green
stretched out below.  It was a beautiful sight, and a warm evening, so Eth'n
brought the bottle of wine and two glasses out onto the dragon-ledge.  There
they sat, their feet dangling over the edge, looking down, while the muffled
laughter, applause and music drifted up from the circus below.

"Thanks... this is just what I needed," Mae said with a smile after taking a
sip of wine.

Eth'n nodded.  "You've had a rough first few days.  I'm surprised you
haven't packed your things and gone screaming from the warren."

Mae laughed, "I guess trouble just seems to find me!"

"Well, I'm glad you stayed."  His eyes danced as he grinned at her,  "and
honestly, it isn't normally like this around here...."

"Don't tell me!  It's usually worse?"  Mae teased.

****
A half bottle later, and the stars seemed brighter, and the jokes funnier.
Mae snuggled in closer to Eth'n.  She could feel the goosebumps rise on his
exposed flesh.

"Shall we go inside?  I think the night's starting to get chilly...," Mae
suggested.

Rising and taking the wine with them, they moved into Eth'n's apartment.
For a bachelor's place, it was surprisingly neat, orderly and clean!  But it
certainly lacked the subtler touches of a woman's presence.  For some reason
this made Mae feel reassured.

"I haven't been here all that long, myself."  Eth'n commented after they
were settled on the couch with a plate of fruit, cheese and crackers on the
table within easy reach.  A fire burned brightly in the fireplace, and the
candles that he chose, rather than the lanterns, added just enough light to
see by, yet cast a soft, mellow glow on everything.

Eth'n told Mae how he'd been traveling around the various warrens, studying
under the best trainers, so that when his time came, he would become a very
capable trainer, himself.  "...T'rell at Daere... now he was one of the
most... interesting trainers I've ever met.  Rather unorthodox, but very
effective.  I was really looking forward to working under Thomas.  I'd heard
great things about him, as well.  At least his injury won't keep me from
picking his brain!"  Eth'n grinned.  "Now all we need are some new
hatchlings and trainees to work with!"

Mae ignored the subtle question suggested by his cocked eyebrow and grin,
about her queen's eggs, "Yes, I'm sure that Thomas will be glad to assist
you in anyway you need... other than actually flying training exercises."

"So... enough about me!"  Eth'n chuckled, "What about you?  Tell me about
yourself... and I really do want to know."

****
TAG: Dana

****
Their conversation wound down into a comfortable silence.  Mae's head slowly
came to rest on Eth'n's shoulder as they watched the slowly dwindling fire,
with the occasional pop and crackle as sap hissed and caught.

The moment was too good to pass up... and Eth'n slowly drew Mae's body
towards him by gently sliding his arm around her shoulder.  Their first kiss
was tentative, almost shy.  But as each realized that the other would not
pull back, it deepened and lengthened.  Their needs grew as their hands
mutually explored one another, enjoying the sensations that they invoked.

Mae leaned back along the couch, her long, auburn hair fanning out beneath
her head.  Her blue-green eyes sparkled with anticipation in the candle
light.  Eth'n smiled warmly, and slid his body down to join hers.

****
TAG Dana... have fun!

****
Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Eth'n, trainer, rider of Warton, of Telnor Warren.