Tucker hurried through the market when he heard the announcement 
of the hatching.  It seemed that the dragon eggs have started and 
everyone was pouring into the area.  Being a good theif, Tucker knew the 
Nobles would be there first and have the best viewpoints.  And that was 
where Tucker needed to be!

	"Hurry! They're about to hatch!" yelled several people outside 
the cavern.

	Tucker raced inside and, with the help of his small frame, 
squeezed up to about the third row.  Once there he decided he was in 
heaven!  Everyone's eyes were focused on this big Silver dragon and the 
numerous eggs about the sand.  Tucker used this to his advantage and 
slipped a pouch from a Noble's side into his own backpack.  The contents 
would be looked at later when he was resting in his own campsite with his 
friends, Nitecki and Lydia.  A quick glance around the audience led 
Tucker to another big prize.  A huge ruby ring sat on the fat finger of 
some Noble.  Tucker gently walked up to the Noble and put his small hand 
in her's.

	"Excuse me!" yelled the Noble as she looked down at the ragged 
boy. "I am trying to watch this hatching. Now run off and find your mother!"

	Tucker gave the lady a sad face and then dissappeared in the 
crowd.  The lady would later realize that her ring was missing.  

	The next victim was an elderly Noble gentleman who had a fancy 
jewel encrusted dagger on his hip.  As Tucker worked his way there, he 
noticed a lady near the eggs pick him out of the audience.  Could she 
know?!?  Maybe he should be carefull and not be so confident of a big 
score.  Nah!  That dagger was calling to him. *I want you* it said.  
Tucker could here it plain and clear in his mind *I want you to ride me*. 
~What!?!~ thought Tucker as he beaded in on the dagger.  *We are bonded 
and I want you* came the voice once more.  Tucker shook the voice from 
his head and looked at the dagger once more.  Just before he went to grab 
it, he noticed something strange.  Everyone was looking right at him!  
Tucker turned to run and stood looking straight into the face of an ashe 
black colored dragon!  *Hi* came the voice once more.

	"AAAAAHHHHHH!" yelled Tucker in fear for his life.  He'd been 
caught stealing before in other towns, but never have they sent a dragon 
after him!  He turned to run and ran smack dab into a man who was 
carrying a bowl of raw meat.  The man flew backwards and the bowl flew 
upwards.  When it landed, Tucker was on the ground covered in raw meat.  
The dragon hurried toward Tucker and opened it's mouth wide.  This was 
the last thing Tucker saw before he fainted.

<Later>

	When he awoke he was in a dark room.  ~A prison?~ thought 
Tucker.  *No, a home* came the same voice as before.  Tucker sprang up 
from his resting place and looked around the darkness.  *Do not be 
frightened, Tucker* echoed the voice once more inside Tucker's brain.  

	"Who are you? what do you want?" pleaded Tucker.

	*Reach deep inside yourself, lad.  We are bonded as dragon and 
rider.  We will be until our deaths, so let's not be enemies*

	Somehow, Tucker realised this and a smile dissolved onto his 
face.  ~Cool!  And we can talk through our minds?!?~

	*Yes my minute friend. We are joined telepathicaly. My name is Ashe.*

	~But why me?  I didn't ask for this.~

	*Because you are like me, an outsider.  We share the same 
differences with the others of our race*

	~I don't understand. How are we different?~ 

	*In time you will see.... in time.*

	With that the two sat in the dark apartment and spoke with one 
another in silence.  They had a lot of catching up to do from Tucker's 
earlier response.  The others had already bonded and spent the day with 
their dragons.

NRPG:  I hope I didn't mess anything up with Tucker fainting and then 
waking up that night! <G>  I didn't plan for that to happen, but it just 
did.  I'll evolve the 'outsider' thing in later posts, don't worry!  

-Kevin

Ashe and Tucker