>Poldera paused in midflight, telling the dragon <Follow me and my rider.
We'll take you to the warren.>

>>We're following.<

>Getting her answer, Poldera turned herself around, and started flying back
towards the warren.  Both she and Tanya glanced back to make sure the wild
dragon and rider were following; they were.  *I do believe there's going to
be a little commotion when we show up* Tanya thought dryly.

><You know, I believe you're right.  But at least they were warned.>

Suddenly, a black shape darted by them, whizzing past Poldera.  Tanya gave a
little cry as Poldera instinctively shied away, throwing Tanya somewhat
offbalance.  She grabbed the saddle and got herself situated again.  *What
was that!?* she asked.

<It was the newcomer and his dragon> the dragon all but growled.  <You want
me to bite his tail?>  There was an anticipating note to the thought, and
Tanya wisely kept her amusement to herself.  *No, little bird, let them be.
Hopefully, they had a good reason.*  They better have, she thought to herself.

The wild dragon and rider eventually pulled along side Tanya and Poldera,
eying them with what seemed like suspicion.  Tanya felt like shouting at the
rider, but held her tongue; she didn't want to risk a showdown.  The dragon
Reekor was just a tad bigger than Pol was, so it wouldn't be wise to set him
off.

And anyway, the rider was kind of cute.

She blushed somewhat at the thought, but it was the truth.  She had always
liked tall, dark and handsome men, although this man might be pushing her
perception of tall!  More like huge than tall.  But still, he was
attractive; everything was just on a larger scale.

Tanya knew she was still growing though.  Last week, she had had to throw
away a pair of her favorite pants because they were too short, even though
just a couple of weeks before they had been fairly baggy.  She wished she
had measuring tape; last she had checked, with her aunt, she had been around
5'8".  She didn't know about now though; she figured she had grown at least
three inches.

<Reekor just informed me that there actually WAS a reason to their little
escapade> Poldera thought, bringing Tanya out of her thoughts.  <He wanted
to make sure we weren't hostile, so he tried that little stunt.>

*Well then* Tanya thought, thankful that she hadn't let her anger make her
do something rash.  *Tell Reekor to please not do that again; I almost fell
off.*

<You did!!?>  Pol thought, her 'voice' somewhat anxious.

*Well, not really, but he needs to be more careful.*

<Oh.  Whew!  Okay then, I'll tell him.>

Before Pol could say anything though, the man on the dragon began to laugh,
causing Tanya to turn incredulously.  *Whatever are they laughing at?* she
thought.

<I have no idea.>

The expressions on their faces must have amused the rider, because, after
glancing at them, he began to laugh harder.  Tanya carefully schooled her
face and turned forward again, but couldn't hide a blush.  He's got a
wonderful laugh, she thought.

*Pol, inform them that we're almost there.*  The dragon relayed the
information to the ebony dragon, and the laughter ceased.  Tanya fought an
urge to look over, continuing to stare straight ahead.  *Pol, could you also
inform Saul, or whoever is in charge while Trinale and Marissa are away, to
meet us in front of the dining hall?*

<Will do.>

Tanya glanced over at her partner, noting the sad expression on his face.  I
wonder what he's thinking, she thought, her heart reaching out to the
unknown rider.  He had such a depressed expression on his face, like he'd
lost someone he had loved.  Maybe he has, she thought.

She looked foward again and saw the warren in sight.  Making sure she was
still being followed, she headed to the dining hall entrance and carefully
landed.  A few heartbeats later, she heard the black dragon alight beside her.

There were already some dragonriders there on the small field.  Tanya
dismounted and approached one dragonrider, a man who looked to be in his
twenties, and handsome to boot.  

<He's Saul> Poldera thought, her amusement flowing through the link.
<Fayloth's rider? Remember?>

Tanya ignored her dragon's amused tone and went to stand in front of the
dragonrider.  Not knowing what else to say, or how to introduce herself, a
stranger, she got down to the point.  "I was riding Poldera outside the
warren and found this dragon and its rider.  He seemed to be heading this
way so I brought him with me.  The dragon is named Reekor, and the rider is...."

<The rider's name is Pa'gan.>

"Pa'gan," Tanya finished.


NRPG:  Okay.  Tag Saul.  I don't know too many people in the warren, and the
warrenlady and her junior are gone so....
Sarah
Lyonnia/Dianthus *Telnor Warren*
Tanya/Poldera *Whiteriver Warren*
Isolinde/Faile *Cleft Warren*
Laris *Telnor Warren*

Cynedra/Jakob*the dog*/Louie*the ferret*