>Thorin was oiling Areena's scaly hide when Aradia awoke the next morning.
>He smiled over at her. "How are you feeling this morning?"
>
>"Much better."

Her hand still throbbed, but she didn't want to worry the young healer.
However, she did notice that somehow she felt that she could go on and
continue to live another day. This was quite a contrast from the day prior.

>"Good," He grinned. "Areena was very disappointed that she did not get to
>meet her roommate yesterday."
>
>The little dragon turned her head gracefully toward Aradia her silver eyes
>sparkling a 'hello' to the young woman.

The young hatchling radiated happiness. In spite of her sadness, Aradia
couldn't help but smile in response.

"Thorin! She is absolutely gorgeous! Is she yours? Like Reekor..." Aradia
got a far off look in her eyes as she remembered Pa'gan.

>K'leev
>***
>
>K'leev barged into the medical center, "Thorin!"
>
>B'ril stepped out of his office, "K'leev please stop hollering. This is a
>place where people are not feeling well, and want some quiet."
>
>"Where's Thorin and this made up dragon, Bruteth keeps telling me about."
>
>B'ril smiled, "This way, K'leev." He could only hope this would get the
>young man's father off his back. Thorin was still oiling the dragon's
>shimmering hide when B'ril and K'leev entered. Aradia was watching from the
>other bed.
>
>K'leev's eyes narrowed as he looked at the dragon. "*What* is that?" 

Aradia sucked in her breath and bit her lip reflexively. She could not
believe the hostility that was exuding from this older man that just
entered the room so rudely and abruptly.

>Thorin, Aradia and Areena all turned to see the large man hulking in the
>door way. Thorin spoke up first. "This is Areena. *My* dragon." A smile
>spread across his face.
>
>But K'leev did not smile. "That is *not* a dragon!" He turned to B'ril,
>"It's to small to be a dragon." Then K'leev's face paled and he turned to
>look at Thorin, "What did you call it?"
>
>Thorin was a bit more hesitant, "My dragon .. Areena."

Aradia felt for Thorin. Obviously this older man held some authority over
him and intimidated him. She looked over at the hatchling who was
trembling. Obviously Thorin wasn't the only one shaken by this boor.

>K'leev look closer at the little dragon, scrutinizing her. Thorin but an
>arm around the small head of his dragon. "You're making her nervous."
>
>K'leev turned stunned eyes at Thorin, ".. her .. HER!!" He threw his hands
>in air and turned to look around the room, then back at Thorin. "You joined
>with a *FEMALE* dragon!"
>
>Thorin just looked at the man unable to figure out what the problem was.
>B'ril groaned. He should have known the dragonrider would give Thorin a
>hard time about something. K'leev suddenly began laughing. "And I thought I
>had to worry about Thorin and Merissa! Ha!" With that K'leev turned and
>left the small room.

Aradia could not help but be relieved when the rude fellow left the room.
She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and concentrated on ridding herself
of the negativity the older man had brought with him.

>Thorin looked at B'ril with questioning eyes. "B'ril?"
>
>B'ril looked at Thorin gently, "Thorin you know about cross joined pairs .."
>
>Thorin's face paled and he looked at Areena. <Thorin? Does it bother you
>that I am female?>
>
>Why hadn't it occurred to him .. he knew about cross-joined pairs. Even a
>Warren as small as Whiteriver had one once in a while. 
>
>B'ril moved toward him, "Thorin don't let what K'leev thinks bother you so
>much.

"K'leev? Is that what his name is? What is he to you, Thorin? Father?"
Aradia asked sympathetically.

Thorin nodded slowly and Aradia was glad at that moment that she had
resisted speaking her mind about K'leev. No need to add to the young man's
pain.

"B'ril is right, Thorin. Fathers, they have high expectations. Too high
sometimes and as a result their children get hurt. I think that K'leev is
one of those and you just have to keep that in mind. It does not matter
what he thinks as long as you stay true to yourself," she stroked his tawny
hair comfortingly.

"Now, young lady," the older healer addressed her, "Let's see what kind of
work our Thorin has done on you."

Embarrassed, she held out her bandaged hand. Aradia and Thorin watched
closely as the head healer swiftly and carefully removed the bandages from
her hand.

Aradia gasped and the color drained from her skin. The wound was well
stitched, but the jagged cuts betrayed her emotions of the day before. She
could scarcely believe what she had done to herself.

As if reading her mind B'ril commented, "Very expertly stitched, but that's
going to leave a nasty scar. No doubt about that."

The hand was cold and throbbed even more intensely without the pressure of
the bandages. B'ril examined the wound and the hand closely, "No signs of
infection... very good. Can you wiggle your fingers for me?"

Aradia attempted feebly, not getting much response. She cringed at the pain
the effort caused.

"Well, not much comfort to you I know, but pain is always a good sign in
these cases," B'ril commented.

"Will it come back?" Aradia asked, concerned at the lack of motion.

"In time," he patted her on the shoulder, "You really did a number on
yourself."

Aradia sighed a combination of misery and relief.

Thorin began to re-bandage the hand as B'ril left the room. He was silent
as he went about his work.

"Thorin," Aradia asked hesitantly, "What happens to me now? My tribe is
gone, and now Pa'gan as well. I've got no place to live and nowhere to go,
and my only belongings are the clothes I wore when I arrived, my dagger and
the few tools and herbs I had with me." She was instantly embarrassed at
the question and blushed brightly, not being prone to self-pity but
nevertheless uncertain about her future. For the first time in her life the
young priestess felt small and insecure. "Thorin," she continued, looking
up into the young healer's eyes uncertainly, "Would you please hold me?" 

**********

NRPG: Tag Kris!

                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (                                         )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Submitted by:                        )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_   Jacqueline "Morgan" Routier           )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      FaeRhee/Alustriel of Daere       )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Aradia/Futhark of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;