< back in Ashelle's room - night time>
 
> "Shel, won't you sing another song for us, please?" Nayte asked her.
> 
> Ashelle started to protest but the others joined in Nayte's plea.

  She was feeling happy.  She had the wonderful flash of insight that
even if she *didn't* Join to a dragon, she could certainly stick around
and sing for everyone.  They seemed to enjoy hearing her singing, and it
wasn't as trying as singing at the tavern.  At least her audience wasn't
drunk!
 
> "Ok, just one more, then we'd better head to sleep." Ashelle agreed and
> her voice rose in song.
> 
> Caitlin stepped in the room halfway through the song, wanting to see who
> this beautiful voice belonged to. Ashelle stopped as soon as the older
> woman entered.

  'Shel looked up, startled more than anything else.  She dearly hoped
that her singing wasn't being heard anywhere *else*, or the room was going
to be very crowded!
 
> "I am sorry, did we disturb you?" Ashelle apoligized profusely.
> 
> "Oh no, please continue." Caitlin replied. As Ashelle hesitated, Caitlin
> introduced herself. "My name is Caitlin and I am one of the riders here. I
> heard your singing and wanted to see who such a beautiful voice belonged
> to."
> 
> "My name is Ashelle, Saul brought me here this evening."

  Then she blushed softly, most of the compliments she'd gotten from the
patrons of the tavern were often mixed with other offers of 'tips' and
other rewards for after she was finished.  She wasn't used to getting a
compliment just for the sake of honesty.
 
> "We left the door open, like we were supposed to." Nayte chimed in.
> 
> "Left the door open...?" Caitlin was puzzled.
> 
> "Yes, so noone thought we were doing something..." one of the others piped
> up, blushing.

  Giving her other 'guests a glance, 'Shel found herself chuckling as
well.  So far, the others that she'd met were fun, and enjoyed her sining
as much as she did.  Maybe she could ask that nice rider, Saul, if there
was another place at the Warren that she could sing for the riders at.
 
> Caitlin's face was puzzled, then she started to laugh. "You don't have to
> do that! Here at the warren, we believe you all are adults. You will soon
> join to dragons of your own and be fully a part of this world. If any of
> you want to be with someone else, then feel free....as long as you both
> consent."

    Nayte glanced over at Ashelle, his gaze traveling from feet to eyes,
and smiled.  Well...she *was* pretty.  And he had the feeling that not
only the males in the Barracks would notice, but many of the riders as
well.  Ashelle was a nice addition to things, and she certainly had a way
with a song!
 
> "Now, can we get back to singing?" Caitlin asked, her own voice rising and
> continuing with the song she had interrupted.

  Ashelle grinned, and let her voice change just a bit, rather than taking
over the song, she started singing in a slightly offset key, to compliment
Caitlin's own quite pretty voice as she sang along.

  She started wondering if anyone else was going to show up.  This was one
of the most enjoyable evenings she'd ever spent anywhere!

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> < The Next morning - Ashelle meets Trinale >
 
  Ashelle woke early, and for a few moments was totally lost.  Where was
she??  Then the memory of the previous night rushed back and she smiled as
she headed for the shower.

  Her company, and meeting another rider, Caitlin, had made her first
night most pleasant.  She wondered where she'd go to get any sort of
breakfast.

  After getting dressed, she was trying to decide what to do next when
there was a knock at her door.  Moving to answer it, she was pleasantly
suprised to see Caitlin standing there.

  "Good morning, Caitlin.  I was about to start asking many questions
about where to go and what to do next.  Seems you beat me to it."

  Caitlin smiled at the newest Searchling, and nodded.  

  "Actually, I came to take you to meet the Warrenlady.  She likes to meet
all the Searchlings as soon as possible after they arrive."

  'Shel blinked, and looked at her clothes.  Oh dear.

  "Umm...I'm not exactly dressed for it..."

  Caitlin grinned and shook her head.  "You're dressed fine, Ashelle.
She's the Warrenlady, not a queen.  You don't need to dress up.  Shall
we?"

  Ashelle nodded, and looked more than a little nervous.  Meeting the
Warrenlady!  What was going to happen to her next?!  Well..at least she
would be meeting someone more mature and experienced..after all, kids
weren't leaders, were they?

  She followed on Caitlin's heels as she led the way to a closed door, and
took a deep breath.  She almost wanted to start singing again, if only to
get rid of her nervousness.  Did she bow, curtsey, or what?  Well...she'd
do what she felt polite, and go from there.  Her shyness was kicking in
again.  She was still suprised that she'd talked as much as she had the
night before.  She usually didn't talk much at all.

  Then Caitlin knocked on the Warrenlady's door.

> There was a knock on her door and when she called "Come in" her mother
> entered, followed by a young woman.
> 
> "Trinale, I wanted to introduce you to Ashelle, a new searchling of Sauls.
> She has the most beautiful singing voice." Caitlin said.

  Again, Ashelle felt a blush creeping up her face.  And quickly dropped a
curtsey.  Then she looked up, and her jaw dropped.  *This* was the
Warrenlady?  Wow!  She was as young as she herself was!
 
> "Welcome to Whiteriver, Ashelle" Trinale responded warmly, "Do you have
> everything you need? Do you need a tour of the warren?"

  Finally finding her voice, Ashelle halfway nodded.  "Thank you, M'am.  I
sort of do.  Saul brought me back here last night, and I only had what I
wore to the tavern, and a few other things that I'd carried with me in a
small pack."

  Blushing softly, she added, "I could use some breakfast, if you please?
But I don't know where to go.  And a tour would be greatly appreciated.  I
suppose I do need to get to know my way around.  May I ask you a question
though, please?"

  Trinale nodded, wondering why Ashelle had looked so shocked when she
first had introduced herself.  "Certainly."

  Ashelle grinned.  "Is there anywhere around the Warren that I could sing
at?  Saul said when he told me that he was Searching me that he wanted me
to come sing for the Warren.  If I don't Join, I'd like to have something
to do that I enjoy.  Singing is it."

[Tag: Kat!]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeanette
Ashelle/Oaklah-to-Be * Whiteriver
Sarilyn/Lunath * Xylian


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                  "Comfy as a Kitty on a Carpet"