Whiteriver #67
12/14/97

No Show At The Hatching

"Where are they Barry?" Fawna asked the older man holding her hand as they
sat in the stands watching the eggs on the sands hatch and the tiny
hatchlings waddling around until they found the ones the y were looking for. 

"Shawnee wouldn't miss a hatching would she?"

"I didn't think so," the tailor told his small charge as his eyes moved to
look at the boy on the other side of him. "I was sure she'd be allowed to
come here and watch."

He couldn't understand it. Surely Saul would have brought her down for this
wonderful event. Wouldn't he?

"Well we'll just have to go up to the apartment when it's over and tell her
about what she missed," He told the little girl.

"Okay."

That seemed to please her and she turned back to watch what was going on. 

"Look Barry...there's Sammy and her momma," she said a minute later as her
new friend came into view. "Can I ask them to come sit with us? Please?"

Barry couldn't refused the pleading look in her sweet little eyes, so he
told her that was fine. The other little girl really was sweet and the two
had become fast friend over the last few weeks since the family had moved to
Whiteriver and opened up the leather goods hop next to him tailor shop. 

Tahsa smiled warmly at him as she took the seat next to him, while the two
little girls seated themselves in front of the adults and began to talk softly. 

"It was good of you to ask us to join you Barry," the woman said after
making sure the girls were okay. "This is exciting."

"You've never seen a hatching before my dear?"

"No. This is our first."

"Isn't Dontey joining you?" Barry asked when he didn't see the woman's husband.

"No ... he had something to do," she replied. "But I'm sure he would have
and we'll be sure to tell him everything that happened."

********   

Where was she?

Surely she wasn't going to miss the hatching? 

He had been so sure that finally he'd be able to catch a glimpse of her. It
had been so long. He'd seen the other two. The boy had turned out to be
someone to be proud of. He'd caught sight of him helping that bearded
dragonrider oiling that blue dragon. And sometimes the little teal dragon
was with them. 

The man couldn't help but notice the respect and friendship the man and boy
had for each other. One would think them father and son if one didn't know
better. It was good the boy had someone to look after him.

He'd heard about what happened to him and that other little girl, and his
body had burned with a rage he'd never thought he could feel before. Owlean
had gone to far this time, but after hearing she'd been taken to stand
before the Landbound courts for her crimes, he knew she would pay. Still...

The bearded man, he had learned from Barry was her mate. It was said to be a
love match between them. This pleased the man to no end. He hadn't been so
lucky the first time around. But with Tahsa and Sammy he'd learned what love
was. 

His thoughts turned to the little girl, as his eyes continued to scan the
crown hoping she would show up.

A real beauty she was. So sweet and loving. So much like his own beloved
daughter. He was happy the two had become friends. Sammy needed to be around
kids of her own age, and little Fawna was just the one to bring her out of
her shell. As it was she had become a frequent visitor to the leather shop
or Sammy to the tailor's. 

Where was she?

He heard shouts coming form inside the hatching grounds and briefly turned
to take a look just as a young girl with dark brown hair shouted for a pale
yellow hatchling chewing on her skirts to get away from her.

The girl was trying to get away from the hatchling, but the little beast
followed her. He laughed and wanted to tell the dark headed girl it was to
late. She was stuck with the hatchling weather she wanted it or not. Didn't
she *know* what had just happened?

"Please .. leave me alone ..."

"I think she wants you," Dontey heard someone telling her and saw the look
of fear cross over her face as the hatchling caught up with her.

"I don't want to be eaten .."

Silly girl, he frown and looked back towards the entrance. 

It was getting late. She wasn't going to show.

Dejected, he walked back towards his shop. 

Tomorrow maybe. 

Yes tomorrow. 

He'd waited this long... what was another day? 

****Submitted by: ******

Barbara (a.k.a.

Barry
Fawna
Tahsa
Sammy
Dontey
Whiteriver Warren