Saul
***

>"This won't take long, will it?  And what do I hold onto?  The dragon, or
>you?"

Saul chuckled softly in her ear, "No this will not take long,  Sweet
Ashelle. As far as what to hold on to," a deep rumbling chuckle ran through
him again. "You just hold onto that knob in front of you .. but do not be
afraid, I will be holding on to you."

His arm slipped around her waist as he reached to grab the reigns. <Home
Fayloth.>

<Are you sure?> Fayloth teased him, <With your sweet words, I'd have
thought you wanted to go somewhere quiet with this one.>

<Hmm, an interesting thought, dragon.> Saul chided him, <I don't think
Shawnee would approve.>

<She may not approve of you wrapping your arms around the girl either, or
whispering enticing words into her ears.>

Saul sighed, <Just go home. You do not understand Shawnee.>

Fayloth snorted and launched into the air, with the tiny opalescent Areena
close behind him. Saul turned his head to watch as the warrens runt dragon
flew circles around the big blue. He chuckled wondering how Th'rin was
taking to that!

He leaned closer to the girl in front of him, "Are you okay," He said
loudly into her ear.

She smiled and nodded.

"Next stop .. Whiteriver!"

Instantaneously the outskirts of Killaglen vanished, replaced by the
heights of Whiteriver Warren. The mist from the waterfall shimmered in the
moonlight and Saul felt the girl gasp slightly at the beauty of it. He
grinned. The waterfall was definitely his favorite part of the Warren ..

Suddenly his attention was drawn away by Fayloth's cry,  <Areena!!>

He turned to see the tiny pale dragon spiralling toward the ground much
faster then she should have been. He could see her rider dark form clinging
to her neck tightly. <Fayloth?>

<She's caught in a bad air stream ..> Fayloth said, his voice thick with
worry. The blue dived after the tiny dragon and Saul found himself tightly
gripping the girl in front of him as they dove with the dragon. He thanked
the stars he'd securely fastened the saddle to both the dragon and the girl.

Before the brillant blue reached his query, the tiny dragon pulled her self
up and regained control. She settled to the ground with only a tiny bump.
Fayloth pulled up abrupty as well and settled a few feet from her putting
his face close to the little dragon. Saul could imagine the dialogue
already. Fayloth was certainly giving the female a peice of his mind.

Saul  undid the strap on the saddle and helped his passenger down, "Are you
okay?"

She nodded, unable to speak. Saul turned to Th'rin who was frantically
looking at Areena's wing. He moved over to the young healer, "What
happened?"

"I don't know .." he said with a pained voice, "I .. I think she was too
tired.. I shouldn't have let her fly so much.."

"Do you need help?"

Th'rin shook his head, and Saul turned back to Ashelle, "Then I'm going to
take Ashelle to the searchling barracks."

Th'rin nodded absently.

<Fayloth, How is she really?>

<A bit shaken but she's okay. She's just not had enough flight experience
and the air stream took her by surprise. She's not injured.>

Saul nodded and moved to Ashelle,  "Follow me. It's getting late and I'm
sure youre tired."

***

After dropping Ashelle of in a comfortable room, Saul headed home. <How is
Areena?>

<She's fine. She finally talked Th'rin into letting her fly back up to
their apartment, but he wouldn't get on her back. He climbed the stairs.>

Saul chuckled as he climed on his dragon back and the two flew up to his
apartment.

Shawnee had apparently tried waiting up for him, for he found her in a
robe, sound asleep on the couch. He grinned and moved over kissing her
gently.

She woke to his kiss and smiled, "You're home .."

He nodded and knelt down next to her, "I missed you .." He grabbed the belt
of the robe and pulled it loose allowing the light fabric fall away from
her naked body. His lips gently kissed her protruding belly, "And you too,"
he whispered.

Shawnee giggled. "You'll have to wait a couple more months to kiss your
daughter, love."

He shrugged, "Guess I'll have to settle for kissing her mother." He suavely
moved to pick her up and carry her toward their bedroom, but tripped in the
process, landing both of them back on the couch. Shawnee chuckled, but Saul
looked at her with wide eyes, "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

"No, you didn't. But perhaps I'd better walk. I think perhaps I'm getting
to heavy for you sweep me off my feet."

She pouted a little and he smiled gently, "You will never be too heavy for
me. But .." he sighed, "Perhaps you had better walk. No point in me
endangering our child's life."

She chuckled again. He helped her off the couch and they walked hand in
hand into their bedroom.

Th'rin
***

The young healer climbed the stairs from the hatching cavern to Merissa's
apartment.  The scare Areena had given him left him a bit breathless and he
decided, as much as he wanted to go to the med center, he should get some
rest first. He'd not sleept more then a few hours since the death of Aradia
and the birth of Oberon.

He took a deep breath as he prepared himself to talk to Merissa about the
baby. He felt butterflies in his stomach.. What if she wouldn't let Oberon
come and live with them? What if she really didn't want the responsibility
of a baby? How could he possibly choose between his love and his
responsibility to a tiny infant ..  He knew in the short time the baby had
been born he'd become attached to him as well, and didn't want to give him
up.

He walked in and saw Merissa waiting for him. "Are you all right, Th'rin.
Chrysthal told me what happened."

He nodded, "I can't find anything wrong with Areena .. I .. I guess she's
okay."

Merissa nodded, "She is, I'm sure of it. Are you hungry .. I can fix you
something to eat?"

He shook his head, "No .. I want to talk about Oberon. Merissa, I .." he
began, ".. I think I should take care of him. I want to .. Please Merissa
.." He moved toward her and took her hand, "Please tell me you'll consider
it."

K'leev
***<<The next day>>

Bruteth reported once again that he felt no other dragon's in the area. He
didn't mention to his rider that he'd sensed Fayloth just as they were
leaving Ralengarde. His rider had been in a foul mood and he didn't want to
make it worse. But now he was tired .. he just wanted to lay in the sun and
rest for a while.

<There isn't anyone, my rider.> he complained, <I'm tired .. even patrols
don't last this long.>

<I know Bruteth,> K'leev said, feeling a bit of his dragon's fatigue.
<Owlean seems to think they'll come after us. Though I doubt they can find
us. We're well hidden.>

<Then can we rest now?>

<Yes, let's go back to the caves. But Bruteth, you cannot lay in the sun.
You have to remain hidden from over air patrols.. just in case.>

Bruteth grumbled but complied as they teleported back to that hateful place
they were calling a home ..

K'leev walked in the door and his eyes widened as he saw a half naked and
bleeding Owlean lying bound on the floor of the cavern. "Cill!" He roared
and ran past her into the back rooms, "Cill!"

He checked all the rooms and roared as each one was empty. Then he stomped
back the Owlean and grabbed her by the shoulders, "Where's Cill!"

She sputtered, "They .. they took .."
"Where is she!!" he screamed again shaking her.

"I .. I don't know .."

Then suddenly as if seeing her injuries for the first time he frowned, "Are
you all right?"

"I'd be better .. if you'd untie me .." she coughed.

K'leev began to undo her binds, "Who did this?"

She shook her head, "I don't know .. they .. they just barged in .."

"You went outside didn't you!" he screamed.

"No! .. No .." she said, "I was getting them ready .. you know .. just in
case .. And these two men .." A tear streamed down her face, ".. they
pushed through the door .. and .. and .." She broke down in tears, and
began clutching at the tatters of her clothes.

"And what!" He hissed.

"While one of them .." her voice growled with real hatred, ".. had his way
with me .. the other took our kids .."

"So while you were whoring one,  they got my daughter!"

"NO! No! I didn't .. I didn't want them to .." She sobbed, with real tears
coming down her cheeks. He watched her for a moment, trying to decide if
those tears were real or not. He knew she cared little about her own child,
so why should she care what happened to his ..

"K'leev .." She cried again, "All my plans .. I had such plans .. we were
gonna be rich!"
He groaned, "I don't suppose you saw where they headed?"

She shook her head,  "No, but I remember what they looked like.."

She relayed to him, in a tearful/angry voice, a full and detailed
description of two men who she'd known long ago .. mostly likely dead now,
considering their line of work, but it didn't matter, he'd never find his
daughter now. It was far to late.

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
Th'rin & Areena
K'leev & Bruteth
***
NRPG: Jeanette, Saul is definitely a charming flirt. Though he's been very
faithful to Shawnee .. so far :)

Kris

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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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        \/