<Caliban - morning of Aradia's funeral>


Cali and Lute were up long before the sun and were ready and waiting when
the torch was put to the pyre.  As the flames leapt high, Cali thought back
to the other funeral pyre, numbed by the two deaths in such a short space
of time.  Well Pa'gan and Aradia were joined now in death, she thought
sorrowfully, and although she'd not known either of the two very well, her
heart still ached with the loss of them and their dragons.


When the ceremony was over and the pyre beginning to burn out, she followed
the rest towards the dining hall, and although  it felt 'wrong' to her to
be making merry at such a tragic time she joined with everyone else in
celebrating Aradia's life.  She took a tiny sip of the mead that was passed
around and paid her own tribute to Aradia in silence.  What was there to
say about someone she'd known for just a few weeks.  She never did me harm?
 It didn't seem adequate,  so she kept her peace and determined to better
know the next stranger that came to the Warren.


She slipped away as soon as she decently could....


<..>


She didn't wanted to disturb Th'rin, so she had Lute ask Areena about the
first flight with her rider on her back the previous evening, and then
checked the dragon's wing muscles and ligaments for signs of stress.  When
she found nothing, she patted Areena's shoulder.


*Tell her she and Th'rin are to practice flying for at least an hour a day
from now on.*  Cali told Lute when she was satisfied that all was well with
the small dragon.  *But she's to let Th'rin know at the first sign of any
strain to her wing muscles.*


Lute passed the message on and Areena bobbed her head in understanding, a
dragonishly gleeful grin spreading across her face.  


*She says 'I told him so'*  Lute chuckled  *She's very pleased with herself.*


*She's good reason to be proud.*  Cali said


With a final pat for the preening dragon Cali mounted Lute and flew back to
the dining hall.


<..>


She spotted J'red ducking behind a group of chattering riders from the
corner of her eye.  


*Damn!*  she mumbled to Lute as she entered the dining hall in search of
the riders that would be resuming the search.  *The man is still avoiding
me like the plague!  See if you can get Firefly to talk some sense into him
for me Lute.  He can't keep this up much longer or I'll have to make an
issue of it.*


*Firefly says his rider's mind is filled with your image and if his
thoughts are anything to judge by he would like to mate with you again.*
Lute told her presently


*What!*  Cali exclaimed, so startled by her dragon's words she tripped ,
and would have fallen flat on her face if Saul hadn't put out a hand to
catch her.


"I'm sorry!"  she apologised quickly  "Lute said something....."


"The perfect way to get my attention"  Saul grinned broadly as he steadied
her. "Throwing yourself at my feet!"


She made a face at him.  "Let's get Shawnee's attention shall we?"  she
said as she gently tapped the woman on the shoulder.  


>"Are you going to be all right to join in on the search today?" she asked
>and then looked at Saul to see his reaction.
>
>"Where are the others?" Shawnee asked surprised to see that the other
>searchlings that had gone the day before had not yet gathered for the
>search today. A worry line crossed her brow, "They aren't giving up yet ..
>are they?"
>
>"Of course not, Shawnee." Cali assured her. "They are actually going to be
>helping in another way."
>
>"How?" Saul asked.
>
>Cali didn't have time to answer as Trinale stepped up to the group, "Did
>you tell them yet?"
>
>"I was just about to," Cali told her. "But as long as you're here why don't
>you."
>
>Trinale nodded. "Katla and Derry have agreed to put up money to help find
>Ojean and Cill."


<..>


Cali could tell that Shawnee thought the day had been a waste of time.
Neither Doshayne, nor any of the adult dragons in the search party had
sensed anything of Ojean.  


Cali, too, found the day to be frustrating.  But she was surprised at the
one who seemed most affected by the fruitless search.  T'jellan! .... and
for all the wrong reasons too.  Each time Shawnee's face was filled with
disappointment, the big man clenched his fists and fought against
comforting her.  Cali saw Saul look sideways at T'jellan a time or two so
she knew it wasn't just her imagination.


<..>


The weary group finally settled on Whiteriver's green a little before dusk.
 Saul helped Shawnee from her saddle and then placed a gentle arm around
her shoulders to comfort her, before drawing her away towards their
apartments.  T'jellan throw a stricken look at Shawnee and Saul's
retreating backs before hurrying the other way as if all the devils in
seven hells were chasing him.


Cali watched him go with a thoughtful frown, then shrugged to herself.  She
had problems of her won to be concerned about.  She caught sight of J'red
ducking into the tackroom with his face averted.


*And there's one of them!*  she told Lute.  *Wish me luck sweetheart... I
think it's time to beard the lion in his den.*


*But he is human.*  Lute said in a puzzled tone  *Not a lion....*


*Never mind love.*  Cali soothed the dragon as she silently pushed open the
tack room door.  *It's a figure of speech.*


"J'red?"  she called softly into the darkness  "I think you and I need to
talk."


<Tag Arlene>


<Later>


It seemed to be her night for invading lions dens it seemed....


She hesitated for just a moment, and then rapped smartly on his door.  She
was unsure what kind of reception she'd get, but after the way he'd almost
given himself away on more than one occasion today she felt that she ought
to say something to him.  


There was no answer to her knock, so she rapped again.


"T'jellan?"  she called   "It's Cali.  I know you're in there.  Come and
answer the door."


There was a crash followed by a muffled curse, then the door was opened a
crack and a bleary eye peered out at her.


"Let me in T'jellan."  she said, grimacing as the alcohol fumes carried on
his breath, hit her in the face



"Whadja wan'?" he asked belligerently  "Go 'way lemme die in peace."


 "I don't think you want to discuss it out here."  she said, indicating a
youngster loitering at the corridor junction.  "Let me in...."


He made to close the door, but she pushed against the panelling and he
staggered back into the room on unsteady legs.  The youngster who'd been
watching shot her a knowing grin then strolled away as she slipped through
the gap, and closed the door quietly behind her.  


She took the half empty bottle from his hand and placed it on the untidy
dresser top, before pushing him gently into a nearby chair.


"I think you and I need to talk."  she announced for the second time that
evening.


Submitted by

Caliban & Lute

 

NRPG  For the life of me I can't remember which of you NPCs T'jellan...
so... Tag Barb or Kris!

-- 
Mint,  the voice and soul of

Timi Caplain  FO  USS Javelin      Caliban, Lute's human  Dragon Lands  
Lillith the Mage    Broken Lands    Minty, Kirimith's rider    Dragon Lands
                 
Naomi, QueenRider to Amethyst, Norwall's WarrenLady,  Dragon Lands

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