[Katla]

Katla's voice was quiet and almost clinically detatched.  "Gods, Trinale, 
couldn't you at least have told him you weren't interested in him before 
taking up with someone else?  He promised to wait for you to figure out what 
you felt.  He hasn't pushed, he has respected your wishes... Couldn't you 
have given him the same courtesey?  I know he told you he loved you, didn't 
he deserve to know you hadn't chosen him instead of letting him languish?"

"Oh gods!" gasped Trinale "I have ruined it, haven't I?" Tears came to her
eyes. She was coming to grips with what growing up meant, and it hurt.
Last night, had been wonderful...but if she lost any chance with Derry
over it, she knew she'd regret it for the rest of her life. Daimon was fun
and handsome, and she cared about him...and he was a terrific lover, but
it was Derry who she wanted to be with and see constantly. "Katla, I can't
explain what happened last night, but I care about Derry...in fact I think
I am falling in love with him!"

Katla groaned.  What a mess!  "You've got to tell him, Trinale."

"But he's avoiding me!"  Chance saw tears welling up and beginning to spill
over.  "I don't know what to do...  I just wanted... wanted..."

Katla lifted a hand, reaching out to comfort the distraught girl, but she
ran off before Chance could do anything.

Katla winced and ached for them both.

------
[Derry]

Derry walked along the buffet table, but didn't see anything he wanted to
eat.  The thought of food, in fact, nauseated him.

<You must eat, my rider.  You won't grow if you don't eat.>

Laughter bubbled somewhere in his chest for an instant and died.  He took an
apple and walked out of the dining hall.  Levka said nothing, but Derric
could feel the grey-green dragon's disapproval.

<I'm not hungry.>

<Why are you so sad?>

He thought of Trinale -- her beautiful eyes, sweetly curved body, and
vibrant personality -- and fought the barrage of confused images of her in
Daimon's arms -- Pa'gan's arms -- Aradia's arms...  Why had he even
bothered?  He had been born outside of the Warren... the values he had been
raised with were different than hers...  While he could -- with difficulty
-- accept the reality of mating flights, he had never considered that she
would... would...

He couldn't even think the words.  Levka's confusion was bright in his mind
as the pain reared up.

<She mated with Daimon, was that wrong?> Levka asked, puzzled by the
agonized posessiveness ripped through Derry.  <Why can't you share?  Is
mating so important?>

<I -->  Derry found his dragon sunning himself in the company of an
ever-growning army of cats.  He cleared himself a space next to his dragon,
leaning into Levka's comforting warmth.  A pair of brave, silvery-grey
kittens leapt into his lap and then onto his shoulders, curling up to sleep.
Tears leaked slowly from his eyes.  <It's not the mating, Lev, not exactly.
I thought she might care about me, maybe as much as I care about her, and
she doesn't!>

Levka curved his head around and lightly wuffled his rider's hair.  <What
does that have to do with mating?  Fayloth says that it is pleasurable, as
do your memories, but what has that to do with love?  You love Satinka's
human and I do not think that who she mates with would affect that...>

Derry choked.  <No.  But she is my sister -- my hatchmate, if you like...
Like you and Satinka.>

<I would mate with Satinka, for she will be a beautiful dragon, and that has
nothing to do with...>

Derry started, horrified.  <Oh, no, you won't.  Then I'd -- I'd... No.
Humans do not mate with their siblings.  The very thought...>

Derric shuddered inwardly as Levka's disappointment flooded him.  <As you
wish, my beloved human.  But I still do not understand.  Why would Cricket's
rider mating with Faith's sire mean that Cricket's rider doesn't care about
you?  You have mated with a number of humans.  Does that mean that you
cannot care about Trinale?>

<That was in the past!>

<So is her mating with Daimon.>

Derric groaned softly.  Last night was hardly 'in the past,' but Levka had a
point.  Trinale was so young... she had so little experience...  If he
understood her request to be left alone to figure out what she was
feeling...  How was she to tell the difference between lust and love without
experimentation... He'd always known that his dalliances weren't serious,
but... 

<Trinale is crying.>  Levka's mental voice was accusing.  <Cricket says that
her rider is crying because of you!>

<I didn't say anything to hurt her!> Derry protested.  <I said very little
to her at all!  I would never hurt Trinale!>

The gods knew that that was true.  It was disgusting, and he almost hated
himself for the feeling, but he didn't want Trinale to be hurt.  He still
loved her, wanted her...  The hole in his heart was gaping, bleeding -- but
it wasn't her responsibility, he didn't want to to feel any guilt or pain
for choosing someone else.  She'd never said anything beyond that she
thought she cared for him.

Levka regarded him for a moment.  <Go to her after practice.  Talk to her!>

<You sound like Chance!  She was the one who -->  He stopped that thought.
It wasn't Katla's fault that he'd fallen teeth over toenails for the young
Warrenlady.  <I'll go talk to her, but I can't promise anything.>

Levka grumbled, but didn't reply.  Derry looked down and suddenly realized
that he'd eaten his apple, and hadn't tasted a thing.  Gently dislodging the
tiny kittens who murred unhappily in their sleep as he and Lev got ready for
practice.

<Will you let me fly?>  The hope in Levka's voice was pathetic, and Derry
smiled.

<Yes.  But you'll have to wait until Cali says it's okay to fly with me.  I
won't harm you!>

<I can carry you, I know I can!> Levka begged.

<Not until Cali and Lute say so.>  Derry hugged his dragon.  <I've seen
animals ruined by pushing too far too soon -- people too...>

Trinale's terrified eyes and demand to be protected ripped through his
memory...  Too much, too soon...  Her fear and confusion...  Too far, too
fast...  Would it have been easy for her to go to bed with Daimon, or would
it have been an act of courage?  Her trust had been violated before...

Derry went to practice, severely contemplative.

<...>

Practice over, Derry went to the showers, unilling to go to Trinale covered
in dirt, oil, dust and sweat.  He spent some time on his clothes -- casual,
but slightly dressy.

"Going to see Trinale?"

Katla stood in the doorway, her eyes shuttered.  He knew that Trinale had
said something to her, but Chance wouldn't say what, even if he'd asked.
Katla could gossip with the best of them, but she did her best never to prod
where she knew she would find pain.

Her dark-eyed regard was filled with compassion, and she crossed to him,
kissing him lightly on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked, and she just smiled.

"It's because I love you and you're my brother.  You look good, and you've
futzed around long enough.  Go."  She pushed him toward the door.

He pressed a kiss into the crown of her head.  "I love you too, kid.  I'll
see you later."

Derry walked out of the barracks and headed to Trinale's office.  He stood
outside of the door, trying to pull himself together.  He knocked on the door.

"Come in."  Trinale's voice, only slightly hesitant.  Derry opened the door
and walked in.  She stared at him, her eyes slightly red rimmed.

Derry opened his mouth, but suddenly couldn't think of anything to say.

[Tag, Kat]

---

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Katla, Derry, 'Tinka, and Lev

Assistant Director, X-Files                Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
Sterling A. Kincaid, TL, ECHO, X-Files     Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA, X-Files       Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
Xan X. Xavier, T1, X-Files                 Zera and Mazel-to-be *Norwall*

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			Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
Jill E. Flansburg		    |		vasaris@az.com
CS HMC 1994			    |		jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
History, WWU 199?		    |		vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
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