<Minty - Early evening at Whiteriver>


"I can't believe it."  Minty told Diana a little later   "It was the last
thing I expected... I thought it was a case of stomach flu combined with
missing David.  Just wait until I tell David....."


Diana smiled as she looked at Minty's shining face, and then wished her luck.


"Maybe it will help make up for..."  Diana started


Minty shook her head quickly, remembered pain filling her violet-blue eyes.
 Nothing could ever replace her lost son... She pushed the thought away
quickly, and concentrated on tightening the straps of her saddle.  She
didn't want to fall off in mid-air...not now.


"Did they find the three children that were missing?"  Minty asked Diana,
changing the subject.


"Not yet.. though they can't be that far away."  Diana told her  "I did
offer our services to help hunt for them, but since we don't know
Whiteriver that well and it's beginning to get dark and they couldn't spare
someone to come and look for us if we get lost...."


"I get the picture!"  Minty laughed lightly, and swung herself into the
saddle.  


Diana mounted Zena's back gracefully. The two Marrid riders were preparing
to give their dragons the order to depart for home when the peals of a
mating challenge filled the evening.  Both turned towards Whiteriver's
green in time to see a streak of silver rapidly disappearing into the sky
followed by a multicoloured ribbon of pursuing males.


*Cricket.*  Kiri answered her query, lazily  *It looks as if it will be a
good flight with many eggs.*


Then Kiri and Zena launched skywards at their riders urgings and headed for
Marrid and home......



<..>


They appeared over  Marrid seconds later, and Minty directed Kirimith
downwards.  She was looking forward to a long hot shower before bed... and
maybe even something light to eat now that she knew she was feeding two.


Suddenly Kiri's descent stopped, she fanned her wings violently as she
fought to gain height again.  The manoeuvre snapped Minty's head back on
her neck, and her teeth clicked closed, the smarting sting of her bitten
tongue bringing tears to her eyes.


*Hey."  she cried crossly as Kirimith rose high into the air, refusing all
Minty's attempts to steer her downwards once more  *Wha....*


*PLAGUE!*  Kirimith sent in a panic  *There is a plague here!  Dragons are
sick...*


*Oh gods!  NO!*  Minty felt her heart leap in fear  *You're wrong Kiri...
you must be wrong.  How could you know?*


*Raynod and the watch dragons sent warning....*  


Kiri was circling above the Warren now.  Minty looked across to where Zena
was also circling but the distance and the falling night made it difficult
to tell just what Diana might be thinking.... though Minty could guess at
the fear in her face.


*Zena says we should land away from the warren.*  Kiri said more calmly
*Her rider thinks we should stay away from home until we know how bad the
plague is and how it is spread.  You will have to walk....*


*I'm not made from china, Kiri.*  Minty assured her  *A walk won't hurt me.*


*But what of your hatchling?*  Kiri pressed  *You should take care of him.*


*Him?*  Minty asked  *It might be a girl Kiri!  And I'm sure a walk isn't
going to hurt the babe.*


*Him!*  Kiri said firmly  *Zena says we should land beside the lake that
you went to when you were running from Porthios's rider.*


Minty shifted uncomfortably at the mention of D'nar and her atrocious
behaviour that night, but she stiffened her back and gave Kiri the order to
land near the lake's shoreline.  There was no way she was going to risk her
dragon contracting the plague... a few uncomfortable memories was a small
price to pay.


<..>



The lights of the warren were welcome and they picked up their pace as they
drew nearer.  The journey that would have been a matter of minutes on
dragonback took the two women close to an hour.  By the time they reached
the warren they were hungry and tired... and full dark had descended.  


With out even needing to discuss it they both headed towards the med
centre.....


<..>


They were surrounded by grieving, tear-stained faces.  Diana stopped an
orderly to ask the cause.


"Ssarian had a fatal heart attack."  he told them sadly  "There was nothing
that anyone could do to save him."


Minty remembered all the times the healer had been kind to her, allowing
her to stay by David's side when he was sick, and a tear trickled down her
cheek.  The man hurried on, and the two went to find someone who could tell
them what was going on, how serious the plague was, how it was spread and
how likely their dragons were to contract it.


<..>


"... but.. but.. she's fine."  Minty stammered after being told that it was
likely that Kirimith too would affected but the disease sweeping through
the dragon population.  


She sat down heavily and listened in disbelief as they explained to her
that every dragon that had been anywhere near the cave where they'd found
the rogue rider had been taken sick so far.


"But Kirimith's fine."  she insisted  "She's hasn't even shown any signs of
tiredness."


*Kiri? How are you feeling sweeting?*  Minty asked desperately  *Any signs
of fever?*


*I told you  I feel fine Minty.*  Kiri answered patiently, puzzled by the
fear she could sense in Minty's thoughts  *I'm hungry... but I don't feel
sick.*


"Kiri says she's fine."  Minty said aloud  


"Let's hope she stays that way." Lakoda said as she reached for Minty's
wrist to take her pulse.   "And how are you feeling?  Any fever etc?"


"I'm OK now"  Minty answered  "I've been feeling nauseous the last few
days..."


She caught the look Lakoda exchanged with her assistant, and snatched her
hand away form Lakoda's grasp.


"I'm not sick!"  she said quickly  "I don't have a fever and I feel much
better now that I know the sickness I've been feeling was caused by my
being pregnant!"


Submitted by

Araminta, Kirimith's rider


NRPG... This is just so that everyone at Whiteriver is aware that Kirimith
*might* be a carrier of the dragon plague that's sweeping Marrid.
Apologies to those of you who get it twice.
-- 
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/