From: Joey <DracoEye83@aol.com> Date: Fri Aug 2, 2002 10:35
pm Subject: [DL-T] Out of the fryin pan....
Day 5
Extremely Early Morning
Training Barracks
Fox had just gotten to sleep when Katlia's voice roared in her head. *Rider!
Rider! This dragon is being very scary. Why is he being scary? What's wrong
with him? He's scaring me * she cried.
Fox leapt out of bed, and threw some clothes on. She started to cross the hall
when Katlia suddenly screamed, the mental roar knocking Fox to her knees. Her
head pounding, she struggled to her feet and walked unsteadily into the
hatchling barracks. As she walked in, the sheer shock of what she saw woke her
up faster than a bucket of ice water. The chaos she saw was astounding and the
pain in her head wasn't helping. The entire area smelled like burnt hair, and
the sound of the door hinges swinging was almost lost behind the wailing of
distressed hatchlings.
Her mind raced as she put the pieces together like a puzzle. She looked around,
trying to figure out where to go first. As she scanned the room, she saw that a
couple of riders had passed out but were already receiving help. Katlia's
voice in her head was causing her to loose focus. All she really wanted to do
was check on Katlia so she hurried over to look her dragon over. Fortunately the
dragon hadn't hurt anyone too bad, and in terms of Katlia, had injured her
pride more than her hide.
*I was only trying to help *she sobbed, tears streaking down her muzzle. *We
thought he needed a hug. And he was so MEAN! I'm going to have a bruise and
everything! *
*I know baby girl. I know. It'll all be ok. *Fox responded, making a promise
to herself to have a few words with the crazed dragon's owner later. For now
she only breathe a sigh of relief that Katlia wasn't hurt. Fox managed to
sooth Katlia, murmuring reassurances, wiping away her tears, and cradling her
head while she rubbed her muzzle. As the pounding in her head subsided, Fox
walked outside just in time to see Eth'n land.
---------Snip from 'To sleep...?'--------
"Anyone who is hurt, please go the Med Center. The rest of you! Come with me!
We have to find Soucivi and Tanda!" Eth'n made his way to the quartermaster's
storeroom, followed by a band of confused trainees. He began distributing
torches and shovels.
--------End Snip----------
Fox walked behind Eth'n, her mind reeling from everything that was happening.
She grabbed a shovel and moved along, not really feeling the earth beneath her
feet. She was worried about two people that she didn't even know, her jaw
setting as they reached the site. As she started digging, she set herself a head
pace, chanting down-up, down-up in her head as she worked.
------Snip from 'To sleep...?'--------
Eth'n grabbed up a torch and thrust it into the opening. He called out loudly,
"Tanda! Soucivi! Can you hear me?"
"Yes! We hear you!" Tanda's relieved voice answered from some distance away.
Making a human chain from the entrance, the riders stretched out into the tunnel
in search of the two stranded friends.
Tanda and Soucivi, for their part, followed the sound of their voices, and soon
could see the torchlight reflected on the smooth rock walls. It was a welcome
relief to their light-hungry eyes. They stumbled into the waiting embrace of
their fellow trainees and were aided to the exit of the cavern.
-----End Snip--------
After the rescue, Fox headed back to her place and cleaned up. When she felt
less grimy, she went to feed Katlia, thinking to get some food herself when that
was done. As she walked through the door, she noticed she wasn't alone.
Someone was murmuring to one of the dragons. Fox's curiosity got the best of
her and she went to investigate. She watched the young man stroke Pepper's
muzzle and she felt a twang of sympathy. Unfortunately, he took that moment to
lift his head and she saw that it was Soucivi. Her temper flared and she marched
towards him, hands curling into fists.
Soucivi looked up with a questioning look on his face, only to be punched in the
stomach by a quick right. His eyes glazed over and he fell to the floor with a
groan. He looked up and saw a girl he had never seen before in his life, glaring
down at him. "What the hell is your problem?" he whispered between gasps of
breath.
"How dare you?" she shouted. "You pamper her, but won't say a word to the
hatchlings your dragon hurt?"