<Caliban>


>"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 profusely.  "and to
>do the honorable thing... Cali..."  J'red hurredly dropped to his knees,
>"I want you to become my ... mate!"


She looked at him horrified eyes.


"You don't... you CAN'T... mean that!!!"  she managed to blurt out.  


She groaned inwardly as his face fell, and a hurt look shone in his eyes.  


"You can't love me J'red.... it's not possible... you don't even know me!.
Please get up, you're making me uncomfortable."  she reached down to pull
him to his feet.   


He grabbed her offered hand and held on to it tightly even once he was back
on his feet.  "Oh but I do."  he looked at her adoringly as he said it
"And I want to do what's right.  Please say you'll be my mate Cali ... I
know I can make you happy."


*This can't be happening!  Make him stop Lute.*  she pleaded with her
dragon.  *Get Firefly to tell him he's needed elsewhere.  Be sick.  Set
fire to the tack room if need be.... anything!  Just make him stop.*  


*Firefly and I find this most entertaining*  Lute told her with a snort of
laughter.   *Why would we want to spoil the fun?*


Directing a stream of mental curses towards her laughing dragon, Cali
turned her attention back to J'red.


"But I don't love you J'red."  she told him as gently as she could.  "I'd
just make you unhappy."


"You wouldn't" he declared.  "And you could learn to love me."


"J'red!  We don't even know each other...."


"Yes we do!"  he grabbed her hands and kissed them  "What about the other
night when we...."


"That was our dragons, J'red!"  she snatched her hands away and held them
behind her, and began backing towards the tack room door.  "It's just
something that happens.....We had no control over that at all."


"No" he disagreed, shaking his head  "I love you.  And we could soon get to
know each other properly.  I could take you to meet my parents...."


With a  squeak of dismay, Cali turned and fled....


**********
<Lute>


*Why do you think humans get so confused about mating?  Why can't they just
be honest and admit it feels good and leave it at that... instead of
getting all upset and trying to find excuses for something that's perfectly
natural?*  Lute asked Firefly as she watched Cali sprint towards the bright
lights of the dining hall.  *Do you think it's because they have such
small heads... there's not enough room inside for a decent sized brain and
their thoughts get addled?*


*J'red's thoughts about your rider have been very confused since I won your
mating flight.*  Firefly told her as he snuggled against her side and
twined his tail with hers.  *He wants to mate with her again... and then he
avoids her!  I think the only way to understand a human completely would be
to *become* one for a while.*


*Ugh!!* Lute yelped  *What a horrible thought!*


Both dragons shuddered at the very idea, and cuddled closer together for
comfort


**********
<Cali - T'jellan's quarters>


She held him close as he cried out his disappointment that Shawnee could
never love him, that Saul should be the one she wanted.  When he finally
drifted into drunken sleep she smoothed the damp hair back from his brow,
and arranged him as comfortably as possible on the bed before removing his
boots and covering him with a light blanket.


She left a small lamp burning on the dresser, and placed a pitcher of water
and a glass on the night table... just in case.  With a final sympathetic
pat on the cheek, she closed the door softly behind her and made her way
back to where Lute was waiting to take her home.


<Morning>


 *Levka and Fayloth say there is a chance they've found the hatchlings.*
Lute told her as she saddled up for the day.  *They're going to go in a
very small group to see if these are the right ones.  Why would Levka's
rider worry about treading on this human's toes?*   


Lute sent her a clear image of the overweight Lord Fowler with a slim Derry
balanced precariously on his toes.  *He's not heavy enough to hurt the
man....*


Cali giggled at the image and tried to explain that 'treading on someone's
toes' wasn't always to be taken literally.  *It means they're thinking of
doing something that Lord Fowler might feel it was his place to do.  His
land and his people... therefore he should deal with it.*


*Humph!*  Lute huffed in disgust  *Why can't humans ever say what they mean!*


*And why are dragons so literal?*  Cali countered  *C'mon Lute...*  she
climbed up into her saddle and patted the dragon's neck.  *Let's get down
to the others before they go without us.*


*Do we have to go with them today.*  Lute asked unexpectedly  *I would
rather stay in the Warren today.  There's lots of others going.  Do we
really need to be there too?*


*What's up love?*  Cali asked in surprise  *Normally I can't stop you from
poking your snout into everything that's going on around here.  Do you feel
OK?*


*I don't know.*  Lute confessed in confusion  *I feel different.*


*Different how?  Do you have a pain somewhere?  Do you feel sick?  Hungry?
What?*  Cali laid a hand on the dragon's neck to feel her temperature, and
was relieved when it seemed normal.  *Should I get Th'rin to give you some
more medicine?*


*Don't you dare!*  Lute was outraged  *I haven't forgotten the last time he
dosed me.*


*Then what's wrong.* 


*I would just prefer not to go too far from the Warren today. There's
plenty for you to do, and I can go listen to the new singer that Fayloth's
rider brought here last night, and then I have to clean my bedchamber....*  


Lute sighed gently and sand from her bed swirled in the air.


*Please Cali?*  she begged prettily  

 
*I'll see what Saul has to say.*  Cali told her  *If he says we're not
needed then just this once.....*


<..>


*But why?*  Saul asked her when she explained about wanting to stay at
Whiteriver for the day instead of going out with the searchers.


"I really don't know."  Cali shrugged  "But she was so insistent and she's
never asked me anything like this before.  If I can I'd like to indulge her."


"Well it just so happens that we want to keep the search team fairly small
this morning."  Saul grinned  "So you're doing us a favour really... and
you can do me a personal favour if you wouldn't mind?"


Cali nodded.


"I've arranged for Shawnee to stay here this morning too, but knowing how
stubborn she can be I'd like you to keep an eye on her to see that she
doesn't sneak off...."


Cali grinned back  "That's OK with me.  Seeya later!"


<..>


*Well that's that.*  Cali said as she watched the group that was going to
look for the kids take off and then disappear as they 'ported away.  *You
go do whatever it is that's so important that we had to miss out on the
searching and I'll go keep Shawnee company for a while and keep my promise
to Saul at the same time.*


*Don't be cross Cali.*  Lute rubbed her immense head against Cali's side
*I can't help feeling strange....*


*I know love.*  she wrapped her arms round Lute's slender neck and then
hugged her dragon tightly  *I suppose I'm being selfish in wanting to be
there when they get the kids back again.  If it's that important to you
that we stay in the Warren today then so be it.*


With a  final hug she went to look for Shawnee.


<Later.>


Cali sat with her feet dangling over their ledge and wondered about Lute's
sudden burst of industriousness.  Lute wasn't a lazy dragon, and she kept
her bedchamber spotless at all times.... but for some reason that didn't
seem to be enough for the fussy creature today.


*Hey... watch it.*  Cali spluttered as a large, partially chewed,  bone
sailed by inches from her nose and disappeared downwards.  *Remember me?
Your rider?  The one you almost hit....*


*Sorry!*  Lute told her  *But I have to get this done now.... before we
take our trip later this afternoon.*


*Trip?* she asked in puzzlement  *When and where?  And when was this
decided?  I thought you wanted to stay here today?*


Lute's head emerged from the entrance, and she gave Cali a wide grin, her
tongue lolling from the corner of her mouth.


*Tilharnon.  Tonight.  And just this minute.  Cricket's rider wants us to
meet her on the green at 5pm.*


*And what about your expressed desire to stay here today?*  Cali demanded
*Or was that just you being lazy?*


*Lazy!?  I like that!*  


Lute's head withdrew into the interior of their quarters.  Seconds later a
cloud of grit and sand wafted from the entrance and covered Cali from head
to foot.  Grumbling to herself about contrary, bloody minded dragons, Cali
went to shower and change.


<Early evening>


She was standing chatting to Merissa when Trinale arrived, followed a few
minutes later by a vaguely familiar man.


>She introduced Merissa to Lord Daltem and reintroduced Cali to him. "If
>you will ride with Cali, Daltem I will ride with Merissa, as I have a few
>things to talk to her about."


Of course!  Lord Daltem. She knew she'd seen him before.  She waited while
he climbed into the double saddle she strapped onto Lute's back in
preparation for this trip, then she made sure he was securely fastened in
before climbing up behind him.  She could feel his slight nervousness even
though he tried hard to hide it.


"Relax and enjoy the flight Lord Daltem." she said as she signalled for
Lute to take to the air  "We'll be there before you know it."


<..>


>They landed and a tall handsome man appeared on the steps and quickly
>strode to greet them. "Trinale, how good to see you!" he bobbed his head
>at Daltem "Lord Daltem, good to see you again. And who are these lovely
>young ladies?"


"Merissa is Whiteriver's secondary Queen rider. Cali is our acting
hatchling trainer." Trinale introduced the handsome man to her two female
companions.  "This is Lord Wollstone."  


"Weston... please.  Lord Wollstone is far too formal."  


He took Trinale's hand and bowed deeply as he kissed her fingertips, then
he turned and offered the same compliment to both Cali and Merissa before
tucking Trinale's hand into the crook of his elbow and leading her up the
stairs and into the house.   Cali and Merissa exchanged amused looks at the
handsome Lord's success in monopolising Trinale's attention.  Then Merissa
turned to take Lord Daltem's offered arm and Cali followed them into the
magnificent hallway of the house.


*Wow!  This is some setup.*  


Cali breathed silently to Lute, sending a image of glittering crystal
chandeliers, exquisitely formed flower-filled vases, and silk covered walls
hung with portraits in vibrant colours.  


*Don't get into any trouble or break anything.  I couldn't hope to replace
even one of these beautiful things ... not even if I sold my soul to a
demon.*  she sighed enviously  


*I shall walk on egg shards.*  Lute told her solemnly  *I don't think I'd
like to be joined to a human who's owned by a myth!*


<..>


The food was beautifully prepared and presented, and almost melted in the
mouth.  The wine that was served was crisp and clean and reminded Cali of
the air high on the side of the mountains above Whiteriver.  When the last
of the main dishes were cleared from the table a silver bowl was placed in
the middle of the white cloth.  Cali was delighted to see the small bowls
of iced fruit sorbet nestling on a bed of ice shaving and it took only a
few moments to persuade her to accept a portion.....


<..>


The dinner finally came to an end, and Lord Wollstone, still deep in
conversation with Trinale, escorted the three women and Lord Daltem outside
once more.  Cali sighed with repletion and surreptitiously loosened the
belt of her pants, thankful that she'd chosen a loose tunic instead of a
fitted shirt as was her wont.  If she ever ate her way through another meal
like that one she'd need to have her clothes altered, she decided.  


Busy with her own thoughts it took time to realise what Trinale had gasped
out.... Aradia?.... before the Warrenlady collapsed,  half in Lord Daltem's
arms, half on the ground,  in a dead faint.


The redhead that Trinale had mistaken fro a dead woman, rushed toward the
scene before her clutching a healers bag. "Lay her down, put her feet up,"
she told the man holding the unconscious .



"Wait, who are you?" Merissa asked in a flustered voice.


>"Xanthia." was the short answer "I'm a healer. Let me work."

>
>"You don't look like a healer," the one with black hair save for one red
>streak said.
>
>"I am. Lord Weston, tell them."
>
>"Wollstone, Lord Weston Wollstone," the lord corrected, turning his
>attention to Xanthia. He'd been distracted by having one of his guests fall
>in a faint in his care.
>
>"Tell them!" Xanthia demanded, irked at being kept from doing her job.


"Is she telling the truth?"  Cali demanded of Lord Wollstone, forgetting
diplomacy and manners in the urgency of the moment. 


>"Yes, her name is Xanthia, and she is a healer. Corra, our local healer,
>raised her after some of those Bear nomads came and left her here. Her
>mother died in childbirth, poor dear. She's not quite right," he pointed at
>his head, "but she is intelligent and a very good healer. She won't hurt
>Trinale."


Cali looked to Merissa and received an encouraging nod, and a signal to let
the woman come forward and check on Trinale. 


>The two backed off and Xanthia felt for a pulse. Satisfied it was no more
>than a faint, she fished in her bag for smelling salts, and waved the open
>bottle under the patient's nose.
>
>The young woman coughed as she came out of her faint, pushing away the
>bottle of vile salts. Sitting up, supported by Lord Daltem's arms, she
stared at Xanthia  uncertainly.  A wealth of information seemed to pass
between the two in that initial glance, and then Trinale relaxed slightly
as Xanthia asked aloud;


"Who is Aradia?"


"A friend."  Trinale told the girl softly  "A very good, and very much
missed friend.  For a moment there I thought she'd come back to us.  But I
can see now I was mistaken.  You're like her but not like her."


And Trinale was right.... Xanthia did resemble Aradia.  Her thick red hair
was the same. her petite build and stance was Aradia to a tee.  The only
difference in appearance that Cali could see was in the eyes.  Whereas
Aradia's eyes had been a rich violet hue, this girl's were icy blue, and
there seemed to be something almost alien in her gaze.


"Not Aradia."  the girl declared.   She began packing away the herbs she
disturbed in her search for the smelling salts until Trinale touched her
arm gently and began speaking again.



*I like her.*  Lute surprised her with the interruption.  *She has a mind
that sings a different song to every other human I have met.*


*What a strange way of putting it!*  Cali said as she watched Trinale and
Xanthia talk.  *She does seem different... otherworldy almost.*


*And she will make a good rider.*  Lute said simply  


"You should come back to the Warren with us."  Cali heard Trinale say.
"You have what's called dragon affinity.  That means there's a very strong
probability that you can join with a dragon of your own.  Cali, Merissa,
Lord Daltem help me to persuade her!"


<..>


The two dragons landed on Whiteriver's darkened green.  It had taken them a
long time but finally their combined voices had prevailed and Xanthia had
reluctantly packed her few possessions and come allowed them to bring her
here.  Tiredly Cali  untied Xanthia's bundle from Lute's saddle, and handed
it to Trinale.  Then she watched as Trinale and Merissa helped Xanthia from
Chrysthal's back and led her away.


"Interesting evening."  Lord Daltem said suddenly behind.


She jumped at the sound of his voice, and apologised for forgetting him.
"Very interesting."  she said thoughtfully.  "And very spooky.  I didn't
know Aradia that well but I almost thought she'd come back when I first saw
Xanthia.  No wonder Trinale fainted the way she did."  


Cali shivered as a chill wind blew across her skin. She was still spooked
by the uncanny resemblance between Xanthia and the dead Aradia, and she
really didn't feel like being alone at the moment... 


"Would you care to join me for a nightcap Lord Daltem?" she asked impulsively


****************
<Tag James!>
****************


<Sometime after midnight>


She surfaced from a dreamless sleep to the loud call of a laying dragon. 


The walls of her apartment were vibrating with the joyful call and her ears
were singing as she rolled out of bed and ran through to Lute's quarters.  


*An egg!*  Lute bugled happily.  


Around the Warren other dragons were also calling to their partners about
an egg.


*Stop it Lute!* she yelled as she skidded to a halt just inside the
antechamber.  *You're screaming fit to wake the dead.  What on earth is the
matter with you?  Cricket can't be clutching again..... *


Lute hissed a warning as she almost stepped on a small mound in the middle
of sandy floor.  She spread her wings protectively, hiding the object from
direct view.


*What's going on here?*  Cali demanded, ducking and twisting to get a good
look at whatever it was Lute was shielding with her wings.  *You can't make
this sort of fuss in the night.  Now what have you got there?  Where did
you get it?  And why were you bugling about eggs being laid?*


*Egg... not eggs!   I laid it... it's mine.*  she said proudly.  *See!*


She dipped one wing so that Cali could at last see what she was hovering
over so protectively.


An egg!!


A single solitary cream and  yellow egg glistened damply in the pale
moonlight.....


submitted by


Caliban & Lute


NRPG  There!  That should set the cat among the pigeons!  *grins*



-- 
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

ICQ #3795960
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/5902
http://www.dragonfire.net/~Mint/