**After Pag'an's Aria**

Nalin walked towards the crowd of newly joined feeling absolutely disgusted.  
What was wrong with that man, talking to Trinale like that?  He might not know 
her that well, but she seemed very nice.  Certainly not an animal!  Nor was 
anyone else he had met at the warren.  He just couldn't understand.  Everyone 
had been very decent to him, though he had to admitt, Pag'an was a 
rather..intimidating figure, which might set him up for some discrimination.  
But that was no excuse.  Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the 
instructor.

"Hi.  Most of you already know me... but for those who don't I'm Caliban and I'm 
going to be showing you how to care for your new dragonets."  she told them

"But I thought Kyrine was trainer?"  one of the older Warren bred riders said.

"He's sick, so you get me instead."  Cali grinned  "I don't bite and I'm not a 
hard task-master.  Just take notice and follow what I say and we'll get along 
just fine.  Now first things first... The most important thing in your life as 
of this moment is your dragon....."

She looked around at the young men and women in front of her, and smiled at the 
almost identical looks of pride and love on each of their faces.

"So can anyone tell me the most important thing in their dragonets life right 
now?" she asked them with a smile

"Us?"  someone offered tentatively

"Nope."  she laughed as she shook her head  "Their stomachs."

Nalin had to grin with the rest of them, it was all to easy to remember how 
hungry Trefoil had been.

"At this stage they're really only stomachs on legs."  She gathered the trainees 
up and started to lead them back to the hatchlings barracks  "And right now how 
many of you are getting hunger signals from them?"  Half a dozen hands shot up 
and Nalin's was one of them.  "You'll find that all they'll want to do for the 
first few days is eat, sleep and grow....."

"Cocquyt is already twice the size he was when he was hatched."  A sandy haired 
boy said as they reached the barracks.    She pushed open the doors and the 
keening hunger calls of newly hatched dragonets could be heard.  The trainees 
quickly scattered to feed and soothe their charges, with instructions to present 
themselves and their dragons on the training field in half and hour.

Nalin quickly strode over to the verdant hatchling who was trying to decide 
between glaring and pleading for some food.  Sighing happily, if a bit 
exasperated as well, Nalin sat down and tended to his dragon, looking around as 
he did so.

He smiled as his wandering gaze finally rested on Katla.  She looked like she 
was having a bit of trouble, but Nalin was confident she could handle it.  
Especially after their dance last night.  He wasn't exactly sure about 
everything she had said to some of the others on the dance floor, but he knew 
that most of them had not been very nice at all.  

Grinning at the memory, he turned back to Trefoil.  He especially remembered her 
giggling into his chest after a particularily intense encounter with a dark 
haired beauty.  He'd even put in a word on that one.

He had just finished oiling Trefoil when he saw a movement out of the corner of 
his eye.  Turning, he frowned as he realized what had happened; Katla's legs had 
given out on her.  This was going to be a real trial for her unless...

*Be right back, ok, Foil?* Nalin asked his soul mate.

Trefoil nudged Nalin gently with his head, giving him silent leave to take as 
long as necessary..so long as the hatchling didn't get hungry in the mean time.

Nalin grinned and walked over to Katla, asking, "Are you all right?"

Chance looked up into Nalin's eyes and shrugged.

"Do you mind a suggestion?" he asked, squatting down beside her and looking 
intently at the  topazish dragon.

"If you can't get to.." he paused, not knowing her dragon's name.  

<Satinka,> Trefoil supplied.

"To Satinka, then have her come to you."  Katla looked at him like he was nuts.  
"Well..um.." he waved his hand vaguely in the air, searching for the words to 
explain.  He put his hands between his knees and looked over his shoulder at the 
green dragonet, who cracked an eye in response.

*Please..?* Nalin pleaded, putting on his most pitiful face.

Trefoil sighed before hauling himself to his feet and lumbering over.

<You owe me for this,> the green hatchling said slightly threatening.

Nalin ignored him and dropped to his knees.

*Think of it this way...you get to be oiled again,* Nalin replied easily, 
borrowing Katla's oil.

Sighing again, Trefoil rolled over onto his side and presented a wing within 
easy reach of his kneeling rider.  Nalin put a dab of oil on the wing and 
Trefoil turned over again, presenting his other side.

<I thought you said I was going to get oiled again,> Trefoil complained.  <All 
your doing is dabbing.>

*Well you can stop now, I think she gets the point,* Nalin said, setting the jar 
back down.

He looked at Katla hopefully, "You see?"
*****************
Katla: hope you don't mind, but you said you have some ideas for lady Timma 
(a.k.a. dark haired beauty) which is more than I can say.  So if you still want 
to write that, feel free to have Nalin say something.

Submitted by,
Bridget Olson
Nalin and Trefoil
*Whiteriver*
Bridget Olson 
Dyanisa/ Sienra *Daere*
Inagua/Myacura *Geode*
Nalin *Whiteriver*
N'dovra Leriamtiq *Ralengarde*
Ens. Sirosa Badei *USS FARADAY*

"Life is only as limited as your imagination."*


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