*You going to come out from under there eventually?* Cali asked lazily
*You'll wash yourself away if you're not careful.*


She looked towards the base of the falls, and saw her dragon's head just
emerging from the curtain of water formed by the outflow of the White River.
Lute swam lazily away from the pounding water, and lay basking in the centre
of the lake.


*It's nice under there.  The water makes such lovely music too.*  Lute said
dreamily *I like being here....*


*I like it here too.  It's quiet and peaceful and there's no-one to
interrupt my reading.* Cali rolled onto her back, staring into the blue bowl
of the sky.  *There's so much going on with the Hatching being so close.*
She watched the clouds race by overhead, her imagination making shapes from
them.... here a dragon, there a hugely distorted face....


*It'll be over soon anyways.*  Lute said, as she left the water and shook
herself.  The spray of droplets hung trembling in the air, forming a
rainbow....   *If you're going to oil me now would be a very good time.*
she prompted her rider  *I'm sure I notice a few rough patches while I was
washing my hide.*


*Huh!  That's just an excuse and you know it.* Cali put the book she'd been
reading on the grass, and picked up the fragrant oil she'd brought with her.
*You don't need an excuse you know.  I like to oil you.*


*I find it very soothing.*  Lute responded, and rolled onto her back as Cali
poured some of the oil onto her hands and began massaging the soft hide of
her underbelly. *I think I will snooze while you do that.*


*Snore would be a better word.*  Cali giggled softly  *Last time you snored
so loudly that Da wondered where the 'growling' was coming from.  He thought
I taken leave of my senses and was sharing my apartment with a  wild animal!*


*Wild animal?  I'm a pussy cat!*  Lute sent amused


*Where ever did you get that expression?*  Cali exclaimed  


*One of the children in the Warren, I think.*  Lute thought back  *Or it
could have been one of those from Killaglen.  I forget which.  Why?*


*I didn't think it could have been from any of the other dragons.*  Cali
told her  *Can you remember which place it was?  If you 'heard' a child in
Killaglen then we really ought to see if there's chance that the child has
dragon affinity too.  Of course if the child is already in the Warren.....*


*You've missed a bit... there just under my wing...*  Lute raised her wing
to make it easier for Cali to reach  *Hm!  I'm almost sure it was in
Killaglen.  Maybe you should talk to Dandy's rider when we get back.  Or
maybe Fayloth's rider.*


*You may be right.  One thing for sure... I won't be talking to Trinale
until after those eggs are hatched.  Cricket has her in such a state that
she doesn't know which way is up....  I'm grateful that you don't lay eggs.*
Cali finished oiling the last rough patch of hide and then kissed Lute on
her muzzle.  *Come on lazybones... let's get back to the Warren and see if
we can find Saul or L'rian.*


Lute heaved herself to her feet, and waited while Cali gathered her
scattered possessions together.  She put everything into her pack, and then
climbed onto Lute's back ready for the short trip back to the Warren's green....


<..>


"Saul!"  Caliban called, as she spotted the man emerging from the Hatching
ground  "Lute told me something interesting this morning.  She apparently
'heard' one of the children when we were in Killaglen a few days ago.  I
wasn't sure... but doesn't affinity and the ability to talk with the dragons
usually go hand in hand?...."


Submitted by


Caliban & Lute


NRPG  Just a short post to get Caliban into the action.  :) :)   

Kat... If you don't mind I thought I'd make Killaglen the nearest small
village to the west of the Warren.  <g>
-- 
Les

the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  CMO    USS Javelin        T'beth  Counsellor     USS Magellan 
Lillith the Mage         Broken Lands      Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands
                          Caliban, Lute's human,  Dragon Lands
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands