Thorin (night of the mating flight)
***

Thorin was waiting in Merissa's apartment for her when she arrived back
after talking to Shawnee.

"How is she?" he asked.

Merissa shrugged, "She's got a lot of things on her mind. I'm worried about
her."

He nodded, "I'm sure Saul can fix it all in the morning. He always does."

"Maybe," she moved lean against his chest and he smiled and wrapped his
arms around her.

His hand gently caressed her back as he held her. He couldn't believe she
loved him and wanted to be with him.  He thanked whatever gods had caused
such fortune to shine upon him, as he moved to kiss her, enjoying the sweet
taste of her lips.

She gasped as they broke away. She smiled devilishly and took his hand
pulling him toward her bedroom.  He chuckled, "Insatiable."

She smiled, "You started it," she said softly.

"I can't help it when I'm near you."

They reached the bed and he grabbed her waist pulling her on top of him as
he fell backwards. His kisses searched out hers as he made her forget
everything but him.

***

When he awoke, she was still sleeping, laying spooned against his chest. He
smiled happily as he pulled her tighter against him, breathing in the smell
of her hair. He lifted his head and gently began to plant light kisses on
her shoulder and her neck as his hand ran over her hip.

She moaned deliciously as she reached one arm back around his head, her
fingers tangling in his wavy light brown locks. "I thought I was the
insatiable one," she whispered turning her head as his lips sought out her
cheek .. her chin .. then her lips.

His hand moved with purpose from her hip up her stomach until it was gently
caressing her breast. Her breath caught in her throat and he smiled lifting
himself as she twisted underneath him, "I love you, Merissa," He breathed
as his mouth moved to cover hers.

T'jellan
***

>T'jellan shook his head in contempt at the dragonrider. "Wrong, Saul. You
didn't offer enough." Then he walked out leaving Saul to stand alone.

The big red-head was fuming as he left Saul alone in Barry's apartment.
Stupid, pig-headed man! Well, if he wasn't man enough to give Shawnee what
she needed he knew there would be others that would. She was an attractive
woman and surely some young man would be worthy of her. He sighed thinking
if only he were a few years younger.

Whiteriver's wingleader would be turning 40 in a little over a month and
had never had the time or inclination to settle down with a woman. He'd
enjoyed their comforts time and again both in mating flights and at other
times as well. But few displayed the intensity of emotion that he saw in
Shawnee, and he knew she deserved everything she wanted .. Saul was foolish
not to give it to her.

He passed K'leev's apartment and saw young Mara sitting forlornly outside
on the ground. He frowned and headed over to the girl. "Good morning Mara."

She looked up at him her eyes a bit puffy from a not so long ago bout of
crying, "Good morning T'jellan," she said meekly.

"Is something wrong, dear?" The tiny 10 year old never could be called a
happy child, unlike her younger sister, yet the tell tale signs of crying
were more then enough to cause the red-head some concerns. Especially
considering who her father was.

She shook her head, "No everything's fine."

"Then why are your eyes swollen?"

Mara looked away, but didn't answer.

T'jellan frown again, "Is your mother home?"

Mara looked up at him, "Yes .. but she's busy."

It was the uncomfortable look in the young girl's eyes that persuaded him
to ask the next question. "Doing what?"

Mara looked briefly back toward the entrance of the apartment, "She's ..
well, my father came home .. and well, he took her into their room .."

T'jellan colored, "Nevermind, Mara, I shouldn't have asked. But tell me
this .. did your mother want to go?"

Mara gave him an odd look, "She would never refuse him .."

***

T'jellan knocked on Trinale's office door.  

"Come in," he heard the Warrenlady's voice give him permission to enter.

Trinale looked worn out as he opened the door to look at her. He'd heard
about the all night rescue of Lorilie. He regretting adding more hardship
onto her already tired shoulders, but this couldn't be helped, "I have to
speak to you about K'leev."

She groaned audibly, "What has he done now."

"It's not pleasant .. but it seems he has taken a fancy to Shawnee, one of
our newest dragonriders."

Trinale nodded, "Saul's Shawnee."

T'jellan growled, "Not anymore, but that's another story .."

"What do you mean," Trinale asked, "What happened? Is it .. because of the
mating flight?"

T'jellan shook his head, "Don't fret, Trinale. The mating flight has
nothing to do with the problems between Saul and Shawnee. But I really need
to talk to you about K'leev."

"Of course," Trinale said, but her face left T'jellan wondering if the girl
believed him. But he had more important things to discuss then Saul's
selfishness.

"K'leev tried to pursue his attraction to the girl, bye forcing his
attentions on her."

Trinale's eyes widened, "He tried to rape her?"

T'jellan nodded, "I arrived in time to stop him."

"By the gods," Trinale raged, "I'll have that man banished for this."

T'jellan nodded, his face somber. He'd known this was a possibility. K'leev
was a good dragonrider .. one of the best combat riders in his wing. But
that did not make up for what he had done .. nor what it seemed he
continued to do to his family. Mara's swollen eyes flashed through his
memory. That man certainly had to pay.

Thorin
***

<Thorin, are you finished pleasuring Chyrsthal's rider now?> the tinkling
voice of his small dragon asked.

<Mmmmm,> he responded, still basking in the euphoria of his Merissa.

<I just want to make sure, because there is a bit of a problem.>

Thorin's eyes opened, <Is someone sick?>

<No, it has to do with your father.>

Thorin frowned, <Then I do not want to hear about it.> He closed his eyes
and snuggled closer to his love.

<But Thorin, this is important. He tried to mate with Doshayne's rider and
she did not want to.> Areena insisted. <Cricket's rider is very upset
because of this. Bruteth may have to leave the warren now.>

Realization entered Thorin's mind and he sat up quickly, startling Merissa.
"Th'rin?" she asked.

"Something happened last night with my father." He explained briefly, the
turned his attentions back to his dragon.

<He tried to rape her?>

He could sense confusion from Areena, <What is rape?>

<Mating with someone against their will.>

<Why would anyone not want to mate? I know you enjoy mating with
Chrysthal's rider. And Chrysthal and I enjoy it as well. Is there something
wrong with that.>

<Areena! This is different.> he thought in frustration.

<I don't understand why? I simply do not understand you humans.> She
sighed, <But anyway, Cricket says Bruteth may have to leave the warren with
his rider. They may ask him to leave .. forever.>

<Banished?>

<Yes.>

Thorin looked at Merissa who had a smug look on her face. When she saw him
looking at her she smiled, "K'leev leaving will be the best thing for the
warren, and for us."

He frowned, but didn't answer.

"Th'rin?" She asked, "What's wrong?"

"I never wanted to see him banished." Thorin said the word sounded vaguely
evil as he spoke it.

"But why? After everything he's done to us?"

"But he's still my father," Thorin's hazel eyes met hers, "I've got to talk
to Trinale."

"But .."

He grabbed her hand, "You weren't here before, Merissa," he said gently
pressing her hand to his face. "Before my mother died. He was a different
person. I .. I think her death made him .. angry."

"That doesn't excuse him trying to rape Shawnee!"

"I know," he said, "But I can't just let him be banished without saying
something. Please understand .. I have to."

T'jellan
***

>"I'm not mad at you," she said and moved to hug him, pressing her cheek
against his chest. "If it hadn't been for you last night...."

T'jellan felt a flash of heat rise through his body at her gentle hug.
Gods, didn't Saul know what he was giving up!

>"And you have the nerve to say you're nothing like me!" the sugar sweet
voice of Owlean was heard from behind the. "Already got yourself a new man
to do for you huh daughter. You move pretty quick."

The Whiteriver wingleader flushed with anger, Shawnee didn't need anyone
else giving her grief. He moved his body in front of Shawnee, and then
turned to the woman.

>"You're not welcome here," he said. "Your daughter and her siblings have
made their home here and there are a lot of people who care about them. Try
to take the kids from her and you'll be facing the whole Warren."

>"So... have you appointed yourself her new protector?" the woman asked.
"Well we'll see what happens when I tell my story to the person who runs
this place. Then we'll see what happens."

>The woman turned and walked off then. Both of the riders could tell
T'jellan's word had given her something to think about.

>"She won't give up," Shawnee turned to raise her eyes upward to meet his.
"She'll just go back and think of something else. What am I going to do. I
can't let her take them. I just can't!!"

"Don't worry Shawnee.. We'll think of something," he told her. He wouldn't
see Shawnee hurt anymore. She'd been through enough between K'leev and her
mother .. and now Saul on top of everything. "But now put a smile on your
face. You wouldn't want the kids to think something is wrong."

He could see she wasn't convinced, but she nodded and tried to set her face
so as not to upset the kids. T'jellan could see what a strong women this
young thing truly was. She deserved better then Saul! Even though he
considered the handsome searcher a friend, he also knew the man's failings
.. and Shawnee deserved better.

Regards,
Thorin & Areena
T'jellan & Grunth
***
NRPG: Arlene & Kat, Thorin will ask for leniency for his father, whether
Merissa approves or not. T'jellan will of course ask for banishment as
would Saul.. though I haven't decided when he'll be back. I'm sure K'leev
has dragonrider friends who would also ask that he simply be given a
warning or something like that.. as will his mate Racine.

Kristen

*********************************************************************
  |\  /^~~^\  /|
 -qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp------------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/