<Caliban>


Cali could see the enormous effort that Katla had to make to stay on her
feet as the search team gathered round her.  Pain etched her features and
she swayed slightly as she turned to speak to Lord Fowler and Daimon,
reassuring them that their daughters were safe even if they were trapped in
a sinkhole.


*Lute ask Satinka if her rider is well enough to make the trip back to
where the girls are.*  Caliban said as the others started discussing the
best way of rescuing the three youngsters. 


*She's sulking about something and says I should leave her alone.*   Lute
said in amusement a few minuted later.  *She was really snappy when I asked
about her rider....*


*I can guess why!*  Cali looked at the exhausted Katla in admiration
*She's a plucky kid.*


**********
<Daimon>


The ground around the sinkhole was unstable and shifted each time someone
got to close to the edge.  J'red had thought to bring boards and other
equipment, and Daimon was grateful for the youngster's quick thinking...
although the young man's father didn't seem impressed by his initiative.  


He helped set up a tripod-like arrangement of poles and ropes over the
hole, and the watched as a harness was attached to the pulley and let down
into the darkness.  He fretted quietly to himself, his thoughts a whirl as
he worried over Faith's condition.. but he kept his feeling hidden, knowing
that things were progressing as fast as was safe.


Jennifer appeared first, her face grubby and tear-streaked but seeming none
the worst for her ordeal.  J'red swept her into a fierce embrace before
leading her from the cave and handing her over to their father.  The
harness was lowered once more and Lorilei was pulled to safety, and the
gently scolding voice of her sister.


"Is Faith alright?"  he questioned her carefully, trying to to frighten her
by being over anxious.


She nodded to him tearfully, and then hugged her sister tightly.  "She hurt
herself when she fell... and then we fell on top of her.  She can't stand
up and her arm hurts if she tries to move it."


"She won't be able to get into the harness by herself if she's injured."
Cali said as she struggled to lower herself into the dark pit.  "If someone
will help me...."


Daimon added his strength to the team lowering her slowly over the edge.
Then he paced the limited confines of the cave until the rope jerked as a
signal for those waiting to raise it once more.  Cali appeared from the
sinkhole with Faith secured to her chest, and it wasn't long before Daimon
was able to take the white-faced little girl from her arms.  As he hugged
Faith to him, careful not to further injure her leg and shoulder he gave
thanks to the gods that she was safe.


"We should get her to the med centre."  Cali said, waving away his words of
thanks  "It looks like she's dislocated her shoulder.  Lute won't mind
taking us back...."


>"I am sure she'll be fine" Trianle squeezed his hand reassuringly before
>he climbed aboard the waiting dragon.


He gave her a genuine smile, for once not trying to impress or flirt with
her. He was grateful for her caring attitude towards Faith, even though it
seemed that most of the trouble could be traced back to his young daughter.
Then he settled astride the lower ridge of Lute's neck with Faith cradled
safely in his arms, and waited for the short trip to the med centre to be
over......


********
<Caliban - early morning>


She yawned widely as she pushed her way into the hatchling barracks to
collect her trainees.  The search and rescue had tired her more than she'd
realised.  It had been an effort to get out of bed this morning, and even
Lute was showing signs of tired grumpiness.


She knocked on each door that she passed, and was greeted by smiling, tired
or frantic faces at each one.  Except those belonging to D'rry and his
sister, Katla.  She poked her head around both doors and found the two
hatchling dragons fast asleep with no sign of their human counterparts.


*Where are D'rry and Katla, Lute?*  she asked as she continued knocking on
doors  


*Levka's rider took his sibling to see the healer.  He did tell me  before
but I forgot to pass on the message.*  Lute sounded ashamed of her slip so
Cali sent a comforting mental pat.


*Ah!  Is Katla alright.*  Cali paused outside a closed door  *I knew she'd
overdone things last night but I didn't realise she'd hurt herself that
badly.*


*Satinka says her rider will be fine... she just had to rest for a while.
Levka's rider will join us at training as soon as he can.*  


*Right.*  Cali rapped on the door in front of her and then moved on once
more.  *Have Satinka and Levka join us on the green... we can take care of
them for the time being.*



"On the green in ten minutes."  she called to the humans who had responded
to her knocking.  "If your dragon needs feeding there are buckets of fresh
meat waiting outside.  They'll be a short break in an hour for the benefit
of human stomachs... so let's get going."


She left the barracks, and was followed reasonably quickly by most of the
trainees.  They all looked alert and ready, and their dragonets glowed with
health and vitality.  She quickly got them organised, repeating the
previous day's lessons on oiling.


"I can't stress the importance of having supple hide enough."  she shot a
glare at a straggler as he sneezed his way into the group facing her.
"Patchy hide invites parasites, infection, and chafing from saddle straps
so it's very important that you check your dragon for signs of flaking or
dryness regularly."


She left them to feed and oil their charges while she took care of Satinka
and Levka's hunger.  She'd just placed large bowls of meat in front of the
two when Lute spoke to her.


*There's something amiss with Trefoil's rider.*  she said  *He can't seem
to stop sneezing.....*


Regretting her earlier irritation with the man, Caliban walked over then,
concern written on her face.  


"Nalin, why don't you go to the Med Center and see if they can help," she
said kindly.


He shook his head.  "I'll be..*achoo*..*sniff*.. fine."


She sighed quietly.  "You are going to the Med Center right now, and that's
an 
order," Cali said firmly.


"But.."


"Go," she said pointing.  "Someone will take care of Trefoil for you."


She watched him leave reluctantly then sighed... she now had three extra
dragons to cope with!


<..>


"OK."  Cali called a short time later  "Now we practice saddling and
unsaddling our dragons."


"We're going to be flying??"  one of the group asked her happily


"Sorry... not today!  And not tomorrow either."  Cali grinned at the rueful
faces "They're still not big enough yet... but that doesn't mean we can't
get them used to the feel of the saddle on their backs.  And you have to
get used to setting the saddle properly so that it doesn't pinch or injure
your dragon, and so that it won't slip and dump you midflight."


"A bit like saddling and riding a horse in many ways."  D'rry said as he
hurried up  "My apologies for being late...."


"Lute explained."  Cali waved the apology away  "I've made sure that both
dragonets have eaten.  How is Katla?"


"In pain."  he said wryly  "But she's too stubborn and pigheaded to let
something like this put her out of action for very long."


"Hm.  I'd like to talk to you about her training when you can spare a
moment."  Cali said thoughtfully   "If you'd join me when we break for
lunch... that's if you haven't already made plans of course?"


<Tag Jill!>


************
<Daimon>


He'd finally drifted into a light doze as the sun was beginning it's climb
over the horizon.  Faith's screams as they pulled her dislocated shoulder
back into position and strapped it tightly to prevent it slipping were
still echoing in his ears as he dropped off.. and the sound haunted his
restless dreams.


<..>


The squeak of the door as it was pushed open brought him awake and to his
feet.


>"I am sorry to have bothered you, but I wanted to check on Faith." Trinale
>said softly, trying not to wake the little girl.
>
>"Its no bother, I just dozed off for a while." Daimon replied.
>
>"B'ril says she'll be fine" Trinale said.


He nodded quickly.


"She's got a horrible bruise on her hip, and her shoulder will be sore for
a few days." He smoothed the damp hair away from his daughter's flushed
cheeks, a relieved smile on his face.  "But it could have been much much
worse than it was... she's very lucky.  I'd like to thank you for the
effort everyone put into finding the girls... and also for *not* laying
*all* the blame at Faith's feet the way Lord Fowler has."


"He wasn't very happy man when I spoke to him last night."  Trinale said
"But he was worried about his daughter too."


"I think I can understand that."  he said with a wry smile  "How's Lor..."


Daimon stopped talking as Faith moaned in her sleep, and he soothed her
gently, settling her before turning back to Trinale, apologising for his
distraction.


"I'm sorry... I was going to ask how Lorilei was this morning?"  


"She's fine.  A little upset that my parents have restricted her to the
warren for the time being.  I'm sure they'll let her come and see Faith
later though."


"Thank you."  Daimon smiled  "I was worried they'd tell her to stay away
from Faith.  She and Lorilei have become good friends since we've been here
and I'd hate to have that friendship taken away from her.  She's never had
many friends...."  he continued regretfully  "We've moved around to much
for that."


Faith moaned again, and he sat down on the edge of the bed, her hand in
his, a soft look in his eyes.  Trinale watched for a few seconds and then
prepared to leave.


"There are things that I need to see to."  she told him  "But I'll make
sure that Lorilei comes in later today.  Perhaps I can find the time to
come back later...."


"I'd like that."  Daimon told her  "And perhaps... if you're not too
busy... we could have dinner together?"


<Tag Kat!>


Submitted by

Caliban & Lute
Daimon & Faith



NRPG  I'm planning a mating flight for Lute in the near future... Those of
you with male characters/npcs who might be interested..... let me know and
we'll work something out.  Thanks


-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO   USS Javelin       T'Beth  CMO/Coun  USS Magellan
Lillith the Mage     Broken Lands     Minty, Kirimith's rider  Dragon Lands 
                          Caliban, Lute's human       Dragon Lands  
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/