[Satinka]

Satinka watched her hatchmate and laughed in her mind.  Still, she itched
abominably, and Chance's legs weren't strong.  She could feel the aches that
Katla wouldn't admit to.  Trefoil was getting huffy... but 'Tinka thought
that it was kinda fun.  The oil felt wonderful, that was certain.

Soon, too soon, it was over, and Katla promised to be back soon.  'Tinka huffed.

<Our humans need to eat too,> Levka coiled up in place, verdigris hide
gleaming in the sun.  He was purring lightly with contentment, when a tiny,
awkward ball of fluff walked out of the shadows.

<Hey, Lev!  Look at that!>

Levka cracked an eye open lazily.  <Look at what?>

<Over there...>

It was a small, foodish smelling thing.  'Tinka thought it had four legs,
but wasn't sure, since it had this long *stuff* all over it... rather like
the smooth, soft, flowing stuff that grew from Chance's head... only the
color was wrong.  Levka didn't move, but he did open both of his eyes.  The
little creature moved toward Levka, stopping near his claws, rubbing itself
along Lev's forearms...

And it purred.  It wasn't loud, like Lev, but the little thing *purred*.

Lev stared down at it, facinated.

----
[Derry]

Derry had lunch with his parents, who had not yet gone back home.  His
mother, in particular, was enjoying the chance to visit with people she had
seen only rarely since her marriage.  He tried to avoid her eyes, knowing
that she would see his roiling emotions and insist on talking about it.  It
was with a certain amount of relief that Derry heard -- yet another! --
demand for food from Levka.

"I'm sorry --"

Anis laughed.  "Go... hatchlings are bottomless when the first shell.  We'll
see you later?"

Derry nodded, and ran back out toward the hatchling barracks.  He passed
Aradia and stopped for a moment, remembering something Levka had said during
the moment...  "Aradia?"

She turned and looked at him, her eyes shuttered.  He stopped, stumbling
over what he wanted to say.  Derry sighed, resolving for bluntness... "I
don't think you're a freak, or that Pa'gan is an animal.  I just wanted you
to know..."

Levka sent him another demand for food, and Derry sprinted toward the barracks.

<...>

By the time he had fed -- and pampered -- Levka sufficiently, it was the
middle of the afternoon.  Levka, who seemed to have somehow acquired a small
coterie of kittens, remained pooled in a large patch of sunlight.  Derry lay
next to him, fighting his demons.  Had Trinale been using him as a sheild,
as he assumed, or did she care...

<Why don't you just ask her?>  Levka's mental voice was mildly impatient.

<Because...>

"...because that's too easy."

Chance's voice, on the other hand, was both amused and sympathetic.  "What?"

"'Tinka and Lev talk a lot.  I guess you'd better get used to it."

Derry pushed himself up, leaning back on his elbows.

"What do you want, Chance?"

"I'd like for you to be happy, Derry.  Don't think that I don't know where
you spent the night..."

"Nothing happened."

Chance shrugged.  "Maybe not, but I know you, big brother.  It wouldn't have
happened if you didn't at least care for her."

"What has Lev told you?"

She waved a hand dismissively.  "Not much, just that something went on that
he and 'Tinka couldn't figure out... something that had to do with human
mating rituals, or something..."

Derry choked.

"But you've been in a blue funk since you came in this morning, Der -- and I
think it has to do with our pretty WarrenLady.  Go talk to her.  You don't
usually have a problem with that."

"Blunt, as usual."  He glared up at her.  Chance laughed.  Derry stood.
"Okay, okay."

Katla hugged him.  Derry leaned into her strength -- and then headed for
Trinale's office.  He knocked on the door.

"Who's there?"  Her voice was cautious.

"Your Knight-Protector, m'lady.  May I beg entrance?"  He heard her laugh.

"Come in!"  That was a good deal more cheerful.

"So, how is it going with your new hatchling?" Trinale smiled up at him, her
beautiful eyes alight with mischeif.  Derry groaned.

"He's always hungry... How can they eat so much?....and so often?!"

Trinale laughed. "get used to it, it'll last a few weeks until they stop
growing."

Derry sighed.  "That's what mama said...  But she never said anything about
having to feed them 20 times a day."

She rolled her eyes and Derry grinned.

Trinale walked around the desk and sat on a chair near Derry and then took
his hand in hers. "Look, we need to talk...about last night..."

Derry interrupted "Don't worry, I won't hold you to what you said. I know
you needed someone last night and I was the closest."

Trinale shook her head. "No, I meant what I said. I have feelings for you,
its just that they are such new feelings, I don't know for sure what I am
feeling." Trinale sighed, knowing she wasn't making any sense. "Look, I
guess what I am saying is that I know I feel something for you, but I need
to do some soul searching before exactly what. I mean, look what happened
last night because of misunderstood feelings."

Trinale looked into his eyes. "Am I making any sense?"

He nodded, his eyes somewhat sad.  He knew how he felt -- or seemed to feel,
but Trinale seemed to be caught in a place where there were no certainties.
His lips moved... a brave effort that was almost a smile as he turned her
hand in his, brushing a delicate kiss across her knuckles.

"Aye, lady.  You make sense enough... more than my sister does, anyway,
though that's not a difficult feat."  He tried again, and the smile was more
real.  "Don't worry, Trinale... I won't push... what with Lev demanding food
every couple of hours, I won't have the energy to, anyway..."

She laughed a bit at that.

[Tag Kat, anything to add?]

----

[Katla]

Katla watched her brother walk off and she sighed.  She honestly liked
Trinale, finding much to admire in the young woman.  From the bits and
pieces she'd picked up the previous night, Katla would not have been
surprised to find that the WarrenLady had found herself vacillating between
men who were suddenly showing a real interest in her.  Chance shrugged.
Derry was more than capable of handling himself, though she hoped that
Trinale would not be too hard on his heart.

<Mmmm.  I'm tired.>  'Tinka, who had easily doubled in size since hatching,
and grown measurably since the morning, sat, shimmering, in the late, golden
light.

<Then go to sleep.  Lev is napping.>  Katla glanced over at her brother's
dragon, stifling a giggle at the four or so kittens and six full-grown cats
that had found their way into various positions aournd Levka's body.

<Will you be okay?>

<Mmmm.  Yes.  I think I'll go riding.>

Satinka sat up.  <Without me?>

Katla ran a gentling hand down 'Tinka's neck.  <With Firefly.  She doesn't
deserve to be ignored just because I have you.>

<Firefly is more important?>

<No.  But she has been my friend since she was born.  Anyway, she helps me
get around on the ground, love.>

'Tinka snorted.  Katla laughed.  <Don't be jealous.  I don't love her more
than you.>

<How could I be jealous of *food*.>

<'Tinka... Firefly isn't food.  She's our friend.  And I won't have you
talking like that.  Firefly is an important part of my life.  If you love
me, you have to accept her too.>

With that, Katla turned and left, leaving a very surprised Satinka behind.

[...]

<Chance, Chance!>

Katla was heading back into the Warren after a short, rather lesiurely ride.

<What?>

<Chance, some of the hatchlings have gone missing!>

<WHAT?!?!>  Images of rogues and insane bravery tickled at the edges of her
mind.

<Not dragon hatchlings, silly!  Human hatchlings...  One belonging to Lord
Fowler and one related to Cricket's rider...>

Katla had met Lord Fowler's daughter a couple of times on picknicks and
other outings.  <When?>

<I don't know, but Trinale has asked that a number of riders go out and look
for them.>

<The children will be on foot, probably...  Ask Lev to tell Derry, and ask
if Derry will meet me at Trinale's office.  Derry is an excellent tracker,
and we may be able to find the girls closer to the ground.>

Katla rode to as close to Trinale's office as she could get, sliding off of
Firefly and pulling her crutches from their sheath on the saddle in one
smooth motion.  Strong hands grabbed her and pulled her up, as Derry, moving
at almost a run, headed for Trinale's office.  Trinale was standing there
with Daimon and 

"Shall we go?" said Trinale.

Derry put her down, and she curtseyd to Lord Fowler as gracefully as she could.

"Our dragons just told us...  Lady Trinale, Lord Fowler, Daimon -- is there
anything we can do?  We've still got the horses and can start a ground
search as well..."

[Tag]

------
[NRPG] Just wondering if D'n'K can help :)

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Katla and Satinka
Derric and Levka
Jerlyn and Anis


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
			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
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
                                  XFRPG
 Assistant Director, X-Files        |          Agent Sterling Kincaid, SA1
 Agent X. Xavier, Trainer 1         |         Agent Damien Cunningham, SA5
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                               DragonLands
 Elswyth and Aedra, Keldarra        |                     Relyth, Keldarra
 Katla and Derric, WhiteRiver       |                        Zera, Norwall
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