>>At those words, Cricket appeared above them and then landed. Trinale 
>>laughed softly and whispered quietly to Pa'gan "I don't believe she liked 
>>being left behind. Maybe Reekor can convince her it wasn't a slight to her."
>
>        I think he can, Pa'gan smiled in reply.
>
>        <Reekor>, Pa'gan thought to his friend and companion, <Cricket got
>her feathers ruffled by our leaving without her. Think you can calm things
>down?>
>
>        <I can if you quit bothering me.> Was Reekor's reply along with a
>rush of annoyance.
>
>        <Thanks my friend and don't forget to let her know that we plan on
>giving Trinale the ride back if things go well.>
>
>>
>>Trinale took another sip of the liquid in the cup. "This is very good, 
>>very sweet. What else do we have?"
>>
>>Pa'gan unwrapped the packages to show cold chicken, strawberries, grapes, 
>>bread, and cheese.
>>
>>Trinale suddenly realized how hungry she was. She dug in. Her mouth 
>>stuffed with a handful of grapes she looked up at Pa'gan and giggled. "I 
>>hope you don't mind. I am starving!"
>>
>>Pa'gan laughed also, a deep full bodied laugh. "No, of course not! I am 
>>glad you are enjoying yourself." He himself reached for some of the 
>>chicken. "I see Cricket has calmed down" as he nodded towards the two 
>>dragons curled up near each other.
>>
>>Trinale nodded. "Now, you said you have some questions about the warren 
>>and customs?"
>>
>>Pa'gan nodded. "I have been roaming most of my life and I now need to 
>>learn your customs if I am going to stay here."
>>
>>Trinale continued to eat as she talked. She looked at Pa'gan and he 
>>looked genuinelt interested. "Well, I told you before that we are sworn 
>>to protect the nations that tithe to us from Wraiths and wild dragon 
>>attacks. Those who are members of the warren are provided food, shelter, 
>>and basic clothing for their services, whether they be that od 
>>dragonrider, cook, cleaner, babysitter, or whatever. Anything special is 
>>bartered or paid for."
>>
>>Pa'gan nodded. "Everyone has been very accomadating and friendly to me so 
>>far"
>>
>>"Well I hope so!" Trinale exclaimed. "I like to think we are a very open 
>>welcoming, warren."
>>
>>Pa'gan laughed again. "You are. Although a number of people do seem 
>>startled by my heighth"
>>
>>Trinale laughed. "Well, you have to admit its impressive!"
>>
>>Trinale stretched outon her back. "This is so wonderful, just being able 
>>to get away." She then turned on her side and looked up at Pa'gan. "Well, 
>>what other questions did you have for me?"
>>
>
>
>        "Well .....I had something happen today that has never happened
>before, a...um ...how can I put this.....a lust come over me and it affected
>Reekor too?" Pa'gqn more questioned then stated.
>
>
>Trinale smiled. "Oh...the mating flight! Well, when a female dragon goes 
>into heat, usually about twice a year she roars a challenge and all the 
>male dragons within range, usually chase her. Only one wins. Well, this 
>is one time when the minds between our dragons and ourselves becomes a 
>little fuzzy. We are controlled by our dragons passions. Now, eggs are 
>only the result if a Queen flies."
>
>
>        "Another question I have is the tradition of picking mates and how
>many are allowed? You see in the culture I was brought up in", Pa'gan
>explained, "finding a mate was a rather short but we were allowed more than
>one mate."
>
>
>"Well, here at the warren, because of the way dragons fly and mate, 
>dragonriders tend not to be monogamous. Some people choose mates to live 
>with because they love each other, but it is known that if you are a 
>dragonrider you can't promise monogamy. Passions are uncontrolled when 
>dragons fly to mate." Trinale blushed slightly, remembering the one and 
>only time Cricket had been flown, and thus, Trinale's one and only time also.
>
>
>        Pa'gan listened intently to everything Trinale had to say and
>absorbed it. His thoughts began running into another direction at the sight
>of the reclined lovely young lady, but he forced himself to bring his
>thoughts back a bit more to the mainline reason they were here.
>
>
>Trinale watched the tall man and his expressive face. She also found 
>herself watching his body as he moved. She shook her head slightly to 
>bring her mind out of the reverie as he asked another question.
>
>
>        "Now you said some things were done by barter or I had to pay for
>them.....is there a way to earn money in the Warren?"
>
>
>"Sometimes, if you have a craft to sell, although the more common method 
>is bartering, as in bartering services or items." Trinale said.
>
>
>        "Is there a place in the Warren for me to practice my beliefs? A
>garden or such. I mean this glade is wonderful but it is a bit far at
>times." Pa'gan asked.
>
>"Well, there are my gardens if you would like to use them, althoug 
>Cricket has a horrible habit of crashing in at times as she loves to 
>smell the flowers." Trinale giggled.
>
>(You love the flowers too, Trinale!)
>
>(I know, love. I was just teasing)
>
>Trinale continued. "Thorin has a small herb garden off to the side of it 
>also, for use in his healing."
>
>
>        Pa'gan chewed his food in thoughtfully and smiled at Trinale. The
>sun was beginning to get low in the sky and he knew it was time to get
>going. Though he wished this could go on for some time more. He smiled again
>as he drunk down the last of his mead.
>
>
>Trinale sighed. This had been so enjoyable, getting away from things. She 
>wished it could go on like this for a lot longer, but she knew she had to 
>return to her duties. 
>
>        He could feel the sense of resignation from the young woman. He knew
>that she too had realized how late it was getting.
>
>        Pa'gan stood and offered his hand to the young woman. As she reached
>for it and was helped to her feet Pa'gan bent low and lightly kissed Trinale
>on the back of the hand. His eyes raised and he smiled as he again stood to
>his full hieght. "Thank you, My lady.....for both joining me for this meal
>and for answering an ignorant man's questions."
>
>Trinale smiled. "I have enjoyed the time, and really hate to see it come 
>to an end. Hopefully we might be able to do it again sometime.
>

        "So do I, Trinale......So do I" was Pa'gan's verble reply though his
mind continued on with a more involved image of another time.

        Pa'gan then pulled yet anotheer goblet from his pack and put a small
bit of each food into it along with a small amount of mead. "If you will
excuse me for one moment I must pay homage to the Gods and offer this libation."

        "By all means." Tinale said not exactly sure what it meant but
willing to give the large man the time he needed.

        Pa'gan turned looking around for a moment then setting his sight on
a nearby tree with a forked trunk he smiled and walked away.

        Standing before the tree Pa'gan begin a low toned chant and held the
chalis high in the air. The chant lasted but only a few moments and then the
contents of the chalis was then poured into the crook of the `Y'. Pa'gan
then bowed lowed and backed away. He turned, stood up right and walked back
to Trinale smiling.

        Trinale took it upon herself to repack everything back into Pa'gan's
back pack while he was busy and was ready upon his return.

        "Why thank you my lady." Pa'gan replied 

        Trinale blushed and said nothing but her mind was working hard on
why she had blushed. She had had dinner with other new riders in the past
but never blushed during them.

        <Reekor my friend> Pa'gan communicated with his friend, <have you
explained things to Cricket and are you ready to go?>

        <Yes.......and no.> came Reekor's reply.

        <Well we must go....it is getting late.>

        Reekor grumbled some more but he did pull himself from the cuddling
he was doing with Cricket and in a few moments was next to the the two
humans and waiting to be mounted.

        Before Trinale could say a word Pa'gan lifted Trinale close to
himself and slowly raised her and gently placed her on Reekor. Then he
slowly climbed aboard Reekor and scooted close to Trinale.

        Soon the two dragons were flying and playing in the sky of the
setting sun. Dodging and chasing, circleing, looping. At every turn Reekor
had out guessed Cricket. But soon the lights of the Warren were in view, and
though everyone was enjoying the airborne play it was indeed time to settle
down.

        Before long the two dragons were landing on the greens. Pa'gan swung
a leg over and dropped to the ground. He then reached up and gripped Trinale
by the hips and slowly lowered her down to ground. He couldn't help but
inhale quietly as her fragrence reached his nose.

        Pa'gan sighed as he looked into Trinale's eyes and took her hand.
The sun was down and the cool blanket of night settling in and the brisk
breezes was becoming cooler and cooler by the minute.

        Slowly the two walked hand in hand, passing several other couples.
Pa'gan cursed his own stature, the attention it drew. Sooner than he had
wished they stood in front of Trinale's apartment

        "I shall see you tomorrow." Pa'gan said and he once again raised the
young ladies hand to his lips and kissed it softly. He wished it was her
lips but dared not.

        He turned and walked away turning once to wave and then mounting
Reekor to return to his own apartment.


        Once at their home Reekor and Pa'gan exchanged private thoughts on
the day and the two ladies that the evening was shared with while Reekor ate
and Pa'gan rubbed him down with oils.

        As Reekor drifted off to sleep (like he usually does after a rub
down) Pa'gan showered and prepared for sleep himself. but before bed he
stood on the ledge and enjoyed the cool breeze for a short while, then
turned and went to bed.

****************************************************************************
*******


NRPG: OK folks this may seem like a long post but it is actually about three
posts in one that Kat and I worked on together. so this is from both of us.








		    |>>>                        |>>>
		    |                           |
		_  _|_  _                   _  _|_  _
	       | |_| |_| |                 | |_| |_| |
	       \  .      /                 \ .    .  /
		\    ,  /   KEEPER'S KEEP   \    .  /
		 | .   |_   _   _   _   _   _| ,   |
		 |    .| |_| |_| |_| |_| |_| |  .  |
		 | ,   | .    .     .      . |    .|
		 |   . |  .     . .   .  ,   |.    |
     ___----_____| .   |.   ,  _______   .   |   , |---~_____
_---~            |     |  .   /+++++++\    . | .   |         ~---_
		 |.    | .    |+++++++| .    |   . |              ~-_
	      __ |   . |   ,  |+++++++|.  . _|__   |                 ~-_
     ____--`~    '--~~__ .    |++++ __|----~    ~`---,              ___^~-__
-~--~                   ~---__|,--~'                  ~~----_____-~'   `~----~


         AKA: Pa'gan and Reekor of Whiteriver Warren