[Katla]

Katla groaned and came awake, muscles screaming from the previous day's
over-use.  She flopped over, vaguely recognizing that the sky outside had
taken on shades of liquid silver and rose, and considered chopping both of
her legs off... at the hip.

< Don't do that! >  'Tinka came awake instantly at the stray thought.  < If
you did that, you'd never be able to ride me again. >

Katla buried her face in her pillow to stifle rueful laughter.  << I wasn't
seriously considering it, my love.  Are you hungry? >>

< No. >  Satinka cocked her head at her.  < You're in pain. >

<< There's a surprise. >> Katla sat up, keeping her moans to a minimum.
<< It's nothing that can't be taken care of by a couple of muscle 
relaxants and a massage...  I wish Derry were here, but I doubt that he 
returned to his room. >>

< No, he slept with Levka last night. >

<< Not Trinale?  Did they have a fight or something? >>

< No, I don't think so.  Trinale was having trouble sleeping so she went
and slept with Cricket. >  'Tinka's voice was wistful.

<< What's wrong? >>

< Oh, nothing.  It's just that Lev says that it's nice when his and
Cricket's humans get together and you... >

Katla choked, flushing furiously.  << Ah... I see.  >>

< And he gets to snuggle with Cricket.  I like Cricket. >

<< It's not like you don't spend time with her. >>

< I know.  She is good to be with, and she likes me. >

Katla laughed.  << What's not to like? >>

< Isn't there any human you'd like to be with?  'Foil's rider likes you. >

Katla sighed.  << I know.  I like him too, much like my little brother. >>

< So you would be with him? >

She leaned back against the pillows of her bed.  << No.  Humans don't...
not with... um... hatchmates... >>

< Why not?  Levka is a very handsome dragon... >

<< Gods!  No! -- I... Not Lev, 'Tinka.  I couldn't... Not with Derry... >>
she shuddered.

< Odd.  Lev says that's what your hatchmate said.  You humans are very
strange. >

Katla shuddered again.  << What a ghastly thought.  Is it time for everyone
to get together? >>

< Soon.  Fayloth says that his human is up, but has to see to it that
Shawnee is distracted.  I've told Cricket and Lev that you're awake. >

Katla nodded, rubbing her legs furiously as the pain finally settled down
to manageable proportions.  << I'll get dressed and get some food... >>

Katla frowned at her room.  << And I'm tired of the Barracks.  When we get
a chance, I want to find an apartment for us.  It would be nice to have a
kitchen, or something. >>

< Oh!  How wonderful! >

Satinka was thus distracted from the topic of humans mating in general and
her human doing so in particular, which was a good thing, in Katla's
opinion.


-----

[Derry]

<* Time to get up, my lazy human. *>

Derric groaned slightly and opened his eyes to stare into Levka's.  One
advantage to Lev being grown was that Levka wasn't about to sleep on him,
now, and snuggling up between the dragon's forelegs was both a comfortable
and warm way to spend the night...  And comforting.  He'd been terribly
tempted to wake Trinale when he and Lev had come to the Hatching ground
after speaking to Saul, but she'd looked so tranquil.  A princess in a
silver bower, surrounded by flowers...  He'd just sat, looking at her,
marveling that she really wanted to be with him at all, let alone loved
him.  He'd fallen asleep, cradled against Lev.

<* And now, you will get up.  Your sister is awake and asking about whether
we are ready. *>

Derry sat up.  <~ Fine, get insistent. ~>

<* Anyway, your mate -- *>

<~ She's not my mate... ~>

<* ...is awake and is coming over here. *> continued his dragon, as though
Derry hadn't said anything.  <* And why isn't she your mate?  You want her
to be, she wants to be... At least Cricket thinks so.  Why don't you talk
to her about it? *>

Derry stood.  <~ I haven't asked her, so we're not mates yet.  It's more
complicated than that, anyway... ~>

Warm arms wrapped around him and he returned the embrace.

"Good morning," said Trinale as she kissed him lightly.  He smiled and
nuzzled her neck for a moment.  "Why didn't you wake me?"

"You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you."  That she'd looked
like an enchanted princess in the moonlight was more accurate, but he
wasn't sure if she would like the more extravagant praise... she hadn't
before.

"Well, the others will be gathering soon, shall we go?" Trinale changed
the subject, looking away from him.  Derry frowned slightly as she moved
slightly away from him.

"Saul needs to distract Shawnee, it will be an hour or so." Derry replied,
frowning slightly as she pulled away a bit.  "What's wrong, Trinale?"

"Nothing," her soft voice and downcast eyes announced that the statement
was a lie.  "Lets go get breakfast then."

"Love..."  But she didn't hear him, as she was already crossing the sands
of the Hatching ground.  He shook his head.  There would be time enough
later... Unless she was having second thoughts about them being together at
all...


-----
[Katla]

<<mid morning>>

Saul didn't leave to join the others until he was sure that his mate was
sleeping soundly. Then he called Fayloth and had him fly him down to the
green where the others who were going were waiting.

"Is everyone ready?" he asked and looked around to see the others nodding
their heads. "Then Katla have Sakinka show us all a picture of where we're
going, and let's all pray we can bring the kids home where they belong."

Derry nodded, "The thing is the actual sale isn't until tonight. Which
means that likely they will have the kids on the move all day today."

"My sources say that they're coming from somewhere northwest, but I
couldn't get a clear idea of where they were at .. We'll have a hard time
finding these people until the sale."

"Ralengarde is Northwest .." Saul said thoughtfully.

"There's no way they could come all the way from Ralengarde." Derry pointed
out.

Saul nodded and N'lin piped up, "They could on Dragonback .."

"K'leev wouldn't do anything like that to Cill himself. I know he loves
that little girl. But it wouldn't take anything for K'leev to fly to
Ralengarde from anywhere in the lands .." Saul said, a bit frustrated, "And
normally he'd not be recognized there .."

Just then the four were approached by Caliban.

"I can't go.  Lute wants to stay home."

Katla looked at the erstwhile hatchling trainer with some surprise.  Other
than doing the sweeps, they wouldn't be able to go until evening...  But
then, hadn't Trinale said something about some party or other she had to go
to, and Cali was going with her?

"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 favor really... and
you can do me a personal favor 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!"

Katla waved at her as she left and turned back to everyone.

"Well, I suppose that all there is to do is continue the sweeps, on the off
chance that we find them before they get to the farm..."

"We will, you won't."  Derry's voice was quite stern.

"Why not?"

"You're going to have to be able to walk tonight, and I *know* you, you
overdid it yesterday.  Last thing we need is to put you in the Med Center
for a day or two while your muscles un-knot."

Katla glared at him and Saul stared down at her.

"Is this true?"

"Just ask Fayloth.  'Tinka's not hiding it."

<< 'TINKA! >>

< You're still in pain, my rider.  I will not let you go. >

Chance's mouth dropped open and Derry suddenly laughed.  "We've finally
found a leash!"

"What?" asked N'lin.

"Nobody, and I mean nobody, including father, is much good at making Chance
stop, but I bet that 'Tinka can..."

"Or I can." Saul looked at her.  "Stay and rest for tonight... or will we
have to have someone at the Med Center dose you?"

Chance glared at the three, in her opinion overprotective, males.  "I can
take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can, but we need you functional later, Katla."

"Fine."  If looks could have killed, there would have been dragon's keening
all over the Warren.  Katla sighed.  "Whatever.  What about strategy?  I
doubt that we'll be able to just waltz right in and take them."

"Do we have a list of bidders?" asked N'lin.

"Yeah, but we can't just go talk to them, as that will break the whole
thing up."  Katla replied.  "We could be additional buyers...  Surprise
bidders from Ralengarde, perhaps?"

Derry nodded.  "We could get one or two people inside that way, if someone
can vouch for us."

"I'm sure I can arrange that.  I'll probably have to be one of them
though."  Katla shrugged.  It was somewhat doubtful that Telven would
arrange an introduction for people he hadn't seen.  "I can arrange it late
this afternoon, I think."

"So, we'll wait for the bidding and then swoop in to grab the kids?"

"Whether or not they're Cill and Ojean."  Katla looked at Saul.  "We're not
leaving those children there, no matter *who* they are."

Saul nodded.

"Okay then.  You lot go and do your sweep rides.  I promise to soak in hot
water and take my meds.  Okay?"

They nodded and Katla headed for one of the tubs in the hatchling Barracks,
muttering darkly.

----
NRPG -- okay, this is a long one, see "...Late Night Rescues"

*hugs all*

Respectfully Submitted,
Jill E. Flansburg
Katla, Derry, Satinka and Levka

  Assistant Director, X-Files            Rhiannon, WarrenLady  *Xylian*
  Sterling A. Kincaid, TL, ECHO, X-Files Elswyth and Aedra   *Keldarra*
  Damien Cunningham, UD DELTA, X-Files   Katla and Satinka *Whiteriver*
  Xan X. Xavier, T1, X-Files             Zera and Mazel       *Norwall*

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			      Vasaris, the Fuzzy Dragon
       Jill E. Flansburg	    |		            vasaris@az.com
       CS HMC 1994	          |		jflansbu@muddcs.cs.hmc.edu
       History, WWU 199?          |		vasaris@divcom.umop-ap.com
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