> "Liked it?  She's in love with the singer..."  Cali saw Merissa's look and
> explained about her dragon's love of music and singing.  "Come and meet her?
> She's just outside."
> 
> Cali led the way, and soon she was introducing Merissa to Lute.  
> 
> "She's so big."  Merissa said as she stood looking up at Lute  "I hadn't
> realised dragons were this big."
> 
> *Is she coming back to the Warren?*  Lute asked impatiently
> 
> "If you've things to collect, now would be a good time."  Trinale reminded
> her  "I'd like to get back as soon as I can."
> 
> "I'll be two minutes..."  Merissa hurried away.

Merissa quickly went to get her traveling pack.  She'd left it with one 
of Lord Fowler's men with a promise to be back later...now she knew she 
wouldn't have to keep that promise.  Ride on a dragon.  What was she 
thinking.  That dragon was huge!  

`I must be crazy to be going', she thought.  `They must be mistaken about 
my having an "aura"--what ever that is...but it'll make a great song, and 
to attend a hatching....'  She collected her belongings from the soldier 
who was already quite besotted, and hardly protested when Merissa 
explained that she had a more pressing engagement.

> <Following day>
> 
> Cali had spent the morning showing Merissa round the Warren, and introducing
> her to people.  She was friendly, but Cali could sense a withholding in her
> attitude... except when it came to her music... and then she came alive.

Merissa followed Cali around the Warren.  It amazed her that the caverns 
could be so large, and that they were fairly empty.  She took mental 
notes of everything she observd, so that when she wroter her song she 
could add all these details.  She might even become "famous" among the 
bard folk if it were good enough.  She didn't make too great an effort 
with the people that Cali introduced her to, after all she was sure she 
wouldn't be staying...

> The trumpeting of a dragon interrupted their conversation.  "What on earth
> is that?"  Merissa wanted to know.
> 
> "Come on... quick or it will be all over!"  Cali started running towards the
> Hatching ground   "The eggs are hatching....."
> 
> Merissa gave a quick gasp of surprise and took off after her, entering the
> ground on her heels.  She just stood there for a few seconds, not sure what
> to do.  So Cali gave her a quick push in the direction of the rocking eggs....
> 
> Submitted
> Caliban & Lute
> 
> NRPG  There you go Arlene... go get your dragon!
> 

Merissa stood mesmerized.  The hall was larger than she expected, but 
oddly she could only focus on the Silver Dragon who seemed suddenly to be 
aware that she was there.  Merissa walked forward in a daze.  Near the 
Silver Dragon was a large egg.

The egg was rocking furiously and as it cracked Merissa could see a very 
pale lavendar eye blinking at her.  She "heard" music--actually a single 
note like the ringing of a goblet when struck.

The metalic purple dragon head popped up and Merissa felt the note go 
through her as she stared into the eyes of *her* dragon.

*Merissa, I knew you'd come.  I'm Chrysthal, and we are one.*  Merissa 
felt a love and acceptance that she had never known from any person.  She 
felt "whole" and the ache that she didn't even know that she had inside 
was filled.

"Chrysthal" she breathed.  

*I'm hungry, Merissa*

"Of course you are!!" and Merissa barely noticed the person holding out a 
bucket of raw meat.  She took the bucket and fed Chrysthal, as if in a 
dream, and she knew she had finally found a home.

______________________________
Submitted by
Arlene (aka Merissa of Whiteriver Warren, rider of Chrysthal)