Th'rin
***
<<Morning just after Merissa leaves>>

>"*I* think we need to talk about this later!"  Merissa motioned towards
>the waiting Ophar and Chrysthal, "I have some lords to visit today. Later,
>I promise!"

>Th'rin nodded, and watched as Merissa walked away with Jael, watched as
>she laughed with him, as he helped her up onto Chrysthal's back.
>"Merissa..."  Th'rin sighed, and headed back to check on Oberon.

The young healer didn't understand why she was as excited as he was? Oberon
was a beautiful baby after all, and he needed them.. She was Aradia's
friend too ..

Suddenly an opalescent flash landed in front of him, drawing him out of his
thoughts. <I am perfect and we are to fly a little everyday!> The little
dragon looked at him with a look of pride on her face.

<What?>

<Lute's rider said my wings are perfect and we are to fly together a little
everyday!> She gave her rider a toothy grin. <See I told you!>

He smiled, a bit sadly, <You did.>

<Why aren't you happy. Don't you see. You are a real dragonrider.>

<I am happy, Areena .. about that.>

<Your mate wasn't happy about the hatchling?> the dragon sighed feeling her
riders thoughts on the tiny human babe.

<I don't know .. she .. > He frowned, <She said we could talk about it
later ..>

The little dragon wrapped her head and neck around her rider in comfort.
Th'rin accepted it for a moment, then his thoughts turned back to the baby,
< I should get back to Oberon.>

Areena nodded, <Yes, you should. But we will fly later today, right?>

<Yes love.. later today.> Areena released him and watched him walk back
toward the medical building. She launched herself into the air. There had
to be some dragons around that she could share her bill of health with ..
She frowned, wishing Bruteth were around ..

T'jellan
***
<< Early evening when they return after search>>

The large wingleader watched as the warren's rogue and playboy headed off
with Shawnee protectively under his arm. He had to admit that it seemed the
man had settled down and was accepting the charge of making Shawnee happy.
However he still wondered when Saul would grow weary of it and hurt the
girl yet again.

He spun away from the scene even as the jealousy grew. That's what it was
.. he knew. And the sooner he called it what it was the better off he would
be. He was probably only worried about her because he wanted to be in
Saul's position. He wanted to be the one to take her home every night ..
and curl up with her ..

He shook the thoughts from his head. But they were stubborn and didn't want
to stop tormenting him. He remembered the bottle in his apartment.. He'd
been saving it  .. though he didn't know for what.  He was sure if he drank
enough of that he'd forget .. he had to ..

He didn't notice Caliban looking at him with concern in her eyes .. his
mind was on only one thing .. forgetting the obsession that has seemed to
take ahold of him.

***

It hadn't taken him long to down the special bottle .. nor the next .. one
he hadn't even known he had. He was about halfway through it when he heard
the knocking on the door. He froze, hoping whoever it was would go away
thinking he wasn't home.

No luck, as he heard the rap again and then the voice, T'jellan?"  she
called   "It's Cali.  I know you're in there.  Come and answer the door."

He threw his head back in agony .. he didn't want to see anyone .. and
promptly tipped over his chair, crashing to the stone floor and bumping his
head. A few ungentlemanly words flew from his lips as he got up rubbing the
back of his head. He walked to the door and opened it a crack to see who it
was .. he thought he remembered hearing a name.. but he wasn't sure..

>"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...."

His glassy  hazel eyes tried to focus on the child .. he recognized the boy
as his wingsecond's oldest. Probably spying on him again .. The boy seemed
to think he was some kinda hero or something .. T'jellan didn't feel like a
hero tonight.. nor did he feel up to seeing Cali right now! He moved to
push the door closed to block her out.

However, she did the one thing he wasn't expecting .. she pushed the door
in, knocking the already shaky man back. He frowned, realizing she was
coming in whether he wanted it or not! He moved back to the table, picking
up his fallen chair and grabbing the bottle of wine, taking a big swig.

>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."

"'Bout what?" he grumbled looking down at his empty hand.

"About why you're drinking yourself into a stupor. I have a feeling I know
why, but I want to hear it from you."

"I jes needa drink, tha's all."

"T'jellan, you don't drink," she said, trying to remember the last time
she's even seen him take a social drink at a hatching party.

"So I served one now .."

"Look,  I watched you all afternoon.  I can see it in your eyes," she spoke
gently, "And if I can see it, I'm sure others can to .. including Saul."

"Bah, Saul!" T'jellan spat, "He donn know wha he's got .. he counna see the
nosson his face!"

She sat back  and smiled knowingly. He glared at her, "You get that
'spression off yer face!"

"So you've fallen in love with Shawnee." It wasn't a question .. she'd seen
the look in his eyes both earlier, and once again right now. She knew she
was right.

"Whata you know .." he grumbled reaching for his bottle again. Just when he
thought he'd gotten the girl out of his head, she had to bring her up again.

"I know that Shawnee loves Saul. I know that he loves her." Cali said
sitting up and grabbing his arm, holding it tightly. T'jellen didn't put up
a struggle as his whole body went limp at her words.

"And," Cali continued, "I know that you aren't doing yourself any good by
drinking yourself blind."

"I gotta get her outta my head, Cali .." he slurred sadly.

"I know .. but this isn't the way."

He looked up at her, knowing she was right. He watched her for a moment ..
She was a beautiful woman .. his mind, under the effects of far to much
alcohol began to reason .. maybe ..

Suddenly he grabbed her and pulled her to him roughly kissing her. Maybe
another woman would get his mind off of Shawnee.

Cali, taken by surprise,  began to fight him off.  "Stop," she said pushing
against his check as she tried not to breath in the fumes or taste the
alcohol which seemed to reek out of him. She pushed away from him with all
her strength, and screamed, "STOP!"

She broke free and moved a few steps away from him, wiping at her mouth
which burned both from the alcohol and from the roughness of his kiss.

T'jellan crumpled, ".. sorry, Cali .." the giant man began to sob, "I jus .."

Cali groaned, "Gods, I know, T'jellan. But believe me, *that* isn't the way
to do it either .."

She watched the man she knew to be a strong, well-balanced wingleader,
crying like a baby over a woman who wasn't his, and wasn't likely to ever
be his.

Th'rin
***
<<Evening .. going to Killaglen>>

The healer was surprised when he got the message from Areena that Saul
wanted him to go on a short trip to Killaglen with him. He told Areena that
they couldn't go, because he still had to talk to Merissa. To which his
ever helpful dragon informed him that Merisssa and Chrysthal had not yet
returned.

<I have to stay with Oberon ..> he tried again.

<Th'rin ..> Areena moaned, <You've been with the baby all day .. you
promised we'd fly today. This is the perfect opportunity.>

<I .. I can't go .. not with .. Saul..> Th'rin moaned.

<You need to talk to him anyway. My rider, you have to sort out your
feelings for him. Both for you and for Merissa. Besides Fayloth says it may
help to find your missing sibling.>

Th'rin groaned, knowing  his tiny dragon was right .. so in the end, he
found himself following Saul to Killaglen.

***
<<While Saul talkes to Ashelle>>

Th'rin had headed to the back of the inn with Saul's note, with a slow and
painful step. Gods! Why had he allowed himself to be drawn into this?

He pulled back the curtain which seperated the back room from the front and
stepped in. Three faces turned to look at him, and he suddenly felt like a
germ under one of his scopes. He swollowed hard, "I .. I'm looking for
Rathma .."

"And who wants to know .." one man asked looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"I have a note from Saul .. Saul of Whiteriver."

The man motioned to the burly man in the shadows. Th'rin jumped at bit as
he hadn't seen the man in the first place. The burly man held out his hand
for the note and Th'rin handed it to him .. he worried that maybe he
shouldn't have done that .. but well .. he didn't feel much choice.

The note was taken to the table and handed to the man Th'rin hoped was
Rathma. After a few moments of reading and contemplation, he looked up at
Th'rin. "Tell Saul, Rathma will look into it."

"But.. but, are you Rathma .." Th'rin said, feeling the man's dismissal,
but suddenly worried that maybe he'd made a major mistake. "How .. how do I
know you're Saul's friend."

"I suppose you'll have to trust me .." The man said eyeing him. Then he
softened a bit. "Don't worry, kid. You  gave the note to the right person
.. I am Rathma .."

Th'rin breathed a sigh of relief and tuned to head back to the table with
Saul. He wasn't completely comfortable where he was, and was looking
forward to a friendly face. And for the first time since the night he had
kissed Saul, his thoughts about the man  were not uncomfortable.

Saul was sitting over a drink with the young singer as Th'rin approached
the table. He looked up at the healer questioningly and Th'rin repeated
what Rathma had told him.

"Excellent," Saul grinned. "Then for tonight, my friend our journey is
over. Shall we get back to the Warren?"

"Th'rin nodded, thinking that was an excellent idea. The girl's eyes lit up
and for the first time Th'rin noticed that each of her eyes was a different
color. He didn't realize he was staring at her until she turned away
uncomfortably from him. He blushed slightly and got up from the table and
headed out the door. He hadn't meant to make her uncomfortable .. it was
just that he'd never seen anyone with two different colored eyes, where one
eye wasn't sick. It was purely curiousity.

Saul and the girl followed and Saul helped her up onto Fayloth's back while
Th'rin moved to Areena. <You aren't too tired to fly home are you?>

<No.> the tiny dragon grinned happily at him. <I want to tell Chrysthal
that I'm perfect to!>

Th'rin patted her head and moved to mount the dragon. He was a bit
apprehensive about seeing Merissa. He wanted so badly for her to be as
happy about Oberon as he was ..

He watched as Saul moved from Fayloth towards him, "Th'rin .." the bearded
rider said softly, "I really had hoped that you and I could talk a bit .."

"It's okay," Th'rin said quickly, "I'm ready to get back and see Merissa
anyway."

Saul nodded, "I understand." Then he moved back and mounted Fayloth, behind
the girl.

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
T'jellan & Grunth
***
NRPG: Les .. hehe,I couldn't resist .. :)

Arlene, Th'rin will be home soon ..  :)

Jeanette, Hey did you think we forgot you :) Welcome to the Warren ...
Finally!!!!

Kristen

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       \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
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