Merissa was busily helping herself to a snack when Titania came up behind 
her.

On Sun, 25 Aug 1996, Gwendolyn Brophy wrote:
> 	"The chef has threatened death by stoning if you don't stop eating
> her berries," Titania said, approaching Merissa, who gave her a startled
> look.  For a moment, Titania frowned at her.  Her eyes, huge and dark,
> reminded her of someone.  But, who?  Giving herself a shake, the frown
> melted and she said, "You look terribly familiar."
> 
> 	After a pause, Merissa said, "I've been thinking the same thing
> since I saw you."

Merissa had felt almost a kin-ship to this stranger, just the way she 
moved...

> 	"It's odd, Merissa," Titania remarked, as they walked back into
> the sunshine.  Then, she drew to a halt and reached up.  Merissa watched
> her, puzzled, while she undid the intricate knot which held her very long
> night-black hair up and off of her shoulders and away from her face.  It
> was clear why she wore it like that almost instantly.  The long tresses
> immediately tangled themselves in the arrows poking up out of the quiver.
> Reaching out, Titania captured one lock of Merissa's hair and brought it
> up to lay across one of hers.
> 
> 	They matched perfectly, as if from the same head of hair.
> 
> 	"They even feel the same," Merissa said, fingering the intertwined
> strands.  A long moment passed during which they said nothing, both
> thinking their own thoughts.

Merissa held the two strands, again feeling a thrill run through her.  
She had to know this woman better.  Yet, she felt awkward, and wondered 
if she dared become close to her.  After all the only woman that she had 
really had any close association with, her mother, certainly did not 
foster self-confidence in her ability to maintain any close woman to 
woman bonds.

> 	"Amazing," Titania commented, beginning to replace her hair in a
> bun on the top of her head.  Once that was accomplished, she changed the
> subject, unwilling to contemplate the strangeness that existed between
> herself and this unknown.

Merissa felt the shift in conversation and silently agreed to let the 
moment go.  But she would not forget it.  So, she inquired after the 
patrol, and when Titania excused herself to go check on the people she 
had brought in from the wastes, Merissa reluctantly let her go.

She wandered around the gardens, examining the flowers and enjoying some 
fresh air.  Soon she'd have to be going to her training session with 
K'rine.  Chrysthal was already telling her that she was getting impatient.

As Merissa turned to head back to her quarters, she practically tripped 
over a young man kneeling besides some plants, gathering leaves and 
carefully placing them into a container.

"Gosh, excuse me!!"  Merissa exclaimed.

"No, pardon me, it was my fault, I shouldn't have been in the walkway," 
replied Thorin.

Merissa looked up at the young man as he stood up.  He wasn't tall,
but the way he carried himself made him seem shorter than the 5'8" that 
he was.  There was something in his hazel eyes that reminded her of a 
hurt puppy she had seen once and befriended for a while during her 
travels.  Merissa put on her best "I'm harmless" smile and said:

"I'm Merissa, the *new* junior-queen rider.  I haven't really gotten to 
know too many people here...."  She was a softy for the 
downtrodden--being very familiar with that feeling herself.

"Thorin," the young man shyly replied.  "I work in the medical facility, 
training to be a healer."  He explained modestly.

"What's that you are gathering?"  Merissa inquired.

"Oh, just some herbs."  Thorin reached down and plucked up the 
container.  "I've been working on a salve that one of the newly joined 
dragon-riders showed me." He gushed enthusiastically.  "It was used to 
decrease the swelling when applied to hives.  It really worked quite 
well, and I was trying to duplicate it in the lab..." Thorin trailed off, 
suddenly becoming self-conscious again, as he noticed how intently 
Merissa was listening to him.  "I should be getting back to it...I left 
the bunson burner on..." and he fled.

Merissa laughed silently.  She had found a soul mate.  Here was a person 
more self-conscious than herself!

<Hurry up, Merissa, Thunder says that K'rine is waiting for us!>  
Chrysthal's thoughts interupting Merissa's own musings.

<I'm on my way!>  Merissa replied.  But suddenly the earth started to 
tremble and Merissa fell.  <My God, what was That!>

<An EarthQuake!!  Are you okay??>  Chrysthal trumpeted in distress, 
feeling the fear in Merissa's thoughts.

<Yes, yes, I'm fine.  But how is everyone else?>  Merissa querried.

<I think that some of the other hatchlings are scared, Merissa.  Maybe 
you'd better come back to the caves.>  

Merissa smiled.  She new that the "other" hatchlings meant Chrysthal was 
scared and so Merissa hurried back to her baby.

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

NRPG:  Hope I didn't play anyone's characters too badly.  Gwen, when do 
they meet again?  Kris, Thorin's move next.  Kat, what do they do at 
"training" sessions?  Thanks!