J'red:

<Oh no, there she is -- again!>  Why every time he turned Cali was there.

<Lute says that her rider wants to talk to you>  Firefly noted.  <She
thinks that you need to stop avoiding her.>

<Oh, right!>  J'red was glad that he would be accompanying Derry and his
sister rather than searching with the trainer.

Thoughts of Cali made J'red's face burn.  Trying desperately to banish
those thoughts only seemed to make them more intense.

<Then why don't you just mate with her again?>  Firefly wondered.

<What?>  Amazed that his dragon was following his thoughts, J'red tried to
find a place to hide.

<Lute thinks it would be a great idea -- I like Lute>  Firefly informed
his rider.

<WHAT?  You aren't discussing THIS with Lute!?!>  J'red's heart was
beating so loudly he was sure everyone around him could hear, as he ducked
behind a group of laughing dragon riders, avoiding (so he thought) being
seen by Cali.

<Lute's rider thinks you are being very silly -- and so do I!>  Firefly
grumped at J'red.  He just didn't see what the big deal was.  <After all
it was *my* first mating flight, too, and you don't see me going about
avoiding Lute!>

<It just isn't the same for humans!  You just don't understand.> J'red
slipped out the back of the dining hall, and fled around to the green to
meet up with Derry, Katla and N'lin for their second day of visiting some
of the more interesting parts of the cities, to spread the word about the
reward.

*****
NRPG: Tag Jill, Bridget
*****
(upon returning)

There she was again!  J'red saw a quick escape into the tackroom.  It was
becoming a full time occupation avoiding Cali.

He sighed, as he breathed in the warm smell of oiled leather.

Suddenly light lanced across the darkened space as Cali pushed open the
door, "J'red?  We need to talk..." she said as she entered.

J'red's heart raced, and he felt the heat rise in his face.

Cali smiled casually as she approached him.

J'red wanted to bolt!  <Ack, Help!>

<Lute says her rider just wants to clear the air, my rider> Firefly
soothed.

"J'red, we can't keep avoiding each other, you know?  Whiteriver isn't
that big a warren..." Cali began.

"I love you, Cali!"  J'red suddenly blurted, blushing perfusely.  "and to
do the honorable thing... Cali..."  J'red hurredly dropped to his knees,
"I want you to become my ... mate!"

<There, I've said it!>  J'red's flushed face and shiny eyes turned
hopefully towards Cali.

<oh, yes... you've said it....but why??>  Snorted Firefly with surprise.

*****
NRPG: Tag Les!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
   /^\      /^\              \^=^/            Submitted  By
  /  `._   /  `._            | `,O'--^-^:     Arlene Jacobs
 ( : :  `.(  : : `.         /|'.^.)___.''     -=-=-=-=-=-=-     
 | : :`. `:_ : : `|_       /`. '.)               Merissa
  \/^|._ _. \_  ._ _\_   /`. '.')'             Junior-Queen
     \/. :-._`|  .: |_\/`.'_.-.).\     __       Rider  of
        \/. ..,`.\__/.,'^\...'-)  )__/^;;)     Chrysthal of
          ^\/ ._,_... |   \.,--)______/     Whiteriver Warren
            <> \/ | .. (   \._)___ __       -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
                __| ., '\________(,;;)           Andahar
                |. /^\')______)                  Rider of
            __/. / . \)______)\                  Bohoc of
 _/\_/\__/\/..  ( ... )______)_)___           Cleft Warren
<__|__|__|__|___(__|____;;; ____;;;) aej     -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Arlene E. Jacobs" <jacobs@wsnet.com>
Visit my Home Page: http://www.neosoft.com/~acoustic/arlenejhp.html