[Derric -- Trinale's office]

Derric kept flirting with the WarrenLady, despite the fact that he
knew that he was steadily working his way into Keltian's black books.
She was a lovely little thing, with an engaging smile and a wonderful
laugh.

He and Allin unrolled the tapestry, and the colors blazed to life,
shimmering in the light.  Trinale's eyes widened as she beheld the
scene of her Queen flying over the Warren.

"Oh, Katla!  This is marvelous!  So like Cricket!  How did you ever
guess?"

He saw his sister blush, both pleased and embarrased by the
compliments.  "My mother did most of the difficult parts, but I
enjoyed making it.  I have always dreamed of the warrens."

Derry glanced at Allin, surprised.  Allin looked back at him and
shrugged.  So far as either of them knew, Chance had always been a
horse freak.  But considering how often she referred to riding as
'flying,' maybe...

Trinale then put the tapestry aside and impulsively hugged the girl "We 
will make your stay as enjoyable as possible."

Katla smiled, dark eyes shining with an eager brilliance.  "Thank you!
You've no idea how much that means to me."

Trinale laughed again and turned to his father.  "I am sorry, but we
will have to discuss tithe and such later, either this evening at
dinner or tomorrow morning.  We had a wraith attack near Killaglen
yesterday and are still recovering from it and I have many duties I
need to attend to."

"I understand, Trinale" Jerlyn knew that running this warren was a large 
responsilbility, especially for one as young as the girl before him. "I 
would enjoy your company at dinner if you can spare the time."

"I understand, Trinale," Jerlyn said, understanding shining in his
eyes. "I would enjoy your company at dinner if you can spare the
time."

"I would love to!" Trinale exclaimed "May I bring our junior Queenrider, 
Merissa as well?"

"That would be a pleasure." Jerlyn bowed deeply, smiling.

"Now let me have someone show you to your quarters." Trinale said as she 
led them out the door.

0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0=0

[Katla]

Katla sighed and flopped onto the bed as soon as she had the chance.
Her legs had begun to ache, and if she didn't want dinner to be an
agony, she was going to have to rest.  Gods, to have legs that
actually *worked* the way they were supposed to.  She had so many
compensatory things in her life, the love and respect of her father
and the grooms at the stud, but sometimes she would trade it all for
the chance to be able to walk all day without a twinge of pain.

Derry burst through the door, eyes alight with excitement.  "C'mon,
Chance, let's go exploring!"

She cracked her eyes open.  "Derry --"

"C'mon, Chance.  You *know* that this is going to be a rare treat.
How can you want to miss it?"

Katla pushed herself up, leaning back against her elbows.  "Derry, I
can hardly ride Firefly throughout the Warren, and if I don't rest
now, I won't be good for anything except passing out for dinner."

He stared down at her, suddenly remembering that she had *walked* from
the caravan to Trinale's office.  "Gods, Chance, I forgot --"

She grimaced goodnaturedly.  "S'okay.  It's not your fault.  But Meis
decided that Warrenfolk are too 'loose and licentious for a good woman
to associate with," so I'm stuck without my usual masseuse, and it's
hard for me to do it myself."

"Chance, why didn't you say something?"

"What, and have Kel staring at me with that obnoxious 'of course you
over did, you stupid, worthless idiot' stare of his?  Damned if I
will.  I love Keltian, Der -- I do -- but I am not the useless piece
of fluff he seems to think me, and I *wont* give him an excuse to go
to father and say 'see, it's just Katla the lame.'"  They were both
startled by the bitter vehemence in her voice.

"I didn't know --"

Katla sighed.  "Oh, Derry, I don't think about it most of the time,
except when I'm going out of my way to shock him.  I've got my work
training the horses, and I'm generally content.  When we're at home
I'm no less mobile than the rest of you."

Derry sat on the edge of the bed and pulled his sister into his arms.
Without warning, she burst into tears.  "What's wrong?"

For a moment she didn't answer, burying her face in his tunic.  "I
always wanted to fly, Derry.  Riding is the closest I will ever come,
and I know that.  I know that the wind I feel rushing toward me will
always come from the front, and I will never tumble through the air in
graceful gavottes, but to see all of this --"  she gestured vaguely
around "-- it's both wonderful and horrid, all at the same time.  I
don't know if father realizes how much it hurts, and how much I adore
being here... able to speak to dragonfolk, and see how they live, even
if I won't share it."

Derry said nothing, cradling her in his arms as she cried softly.
"What about if I carry you?  It's a beautiful day out, and we could go
sit outside and watch the world go by.  I could massage your legs, and
ask one of the guards to bring your crutches, so that you can at least
get a look around, and get back."

Katla stared up at him in surprise.  Derry, of her brothers, was the
most unfailingly kind and generous.  Kel always seemed to lash out at
her, and Allin seemed to be merely indifferent.  But Derry was usually
flightly and flirtatious, willing to share in spontaneous dares, yet
still holding himself at a distance.

"No need to look so surprised, little sister."  His lips quirked up in
a wry grin.  "I *do* love you, you know."

Katla hugged him hard.  "Derry --"

"Anyway, how can I meet all the cute women if I'm worrying about you.
If I don't keep an eye on you, you'll *crawl* around the Warren, and
then Kel would get *really* uptight."

Katla laughed as Derry called in a guard to carry her crutches.

"Let's go exploring!"

He hauled her up, carrying her piggy-back.  Her legs twinged a bit,
but Katla said nothing, waving at her father as they passed him by.
Kel looked slightly ill, but she ignored him and they were off.

[NRPG]

Tag, anybody!  Katla and Derric will doubtless wander around and get
themselves into trouble -- it's part of what they're best at.

Kat, they'll meet everyone for dinner -- properly dressed even!

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Katla and Derric and Jerlin and Keltian and Allin
among other people

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
			Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
Jill E. Flansburg		    |		vasaris@az.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
    DragonLands			    |		    X-Files RPG
Elswyth and Aedra		    |		Sterling Atherton Kincaid
    Keldarra Warren		    |		   SA1, Team ECHO
Katla and Satinka		    |		Xan Ximene Xavier
    Whiteriver Warren		    |		   T1, Classroom B
Zera and Mazel			    |		Damien Cunningham
    Norwall Warren		    |		   SA5, Head of Forensics
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=