K'leev
***
<<night kids are rescued by Katla and co>>

The large man had spent all afternoon and evening searching for his
daughter, returning to Owlean and the cave only when it was too dark for
the search to be much good. Both he and Bruteth were exhausted, and any
searching they did was counter productive.

"Did you find them?" Owlean asked him as he came in the door, her voice
dripping with concern.

"No." he said gruffly. The woman let out a sob as he pushed past her.  He
moved into the main room and began removing his clothes, and a smile of
satisfaction crossed her face, though he missed it.

"Come here!" he growled and she moved quickly too him, allowing him to take
out his frustration and tension of the unsuccessful search in a vicious
romp in the sheets. Perhaps 'losing' those kids had more advantages then
she knew.

***

The next morning K'leev was up even before the sun, dressing for yet
another search for his little girl.  "Don't you want some breakfast before
you go?" Owlean asked, throwing the covers away from her and wiggling
seductively.

"Later," K'leev said, "I don't wanna miss the day light."

He slammed out of the cave and Owlean scowled.

Saul
***

>"He'll be all right," Saul told her, his eyes too were following the
>youngsters as they left the hall.

>"I do believe he will," she turned and grinned. "It's because of the love
>and attention they've received from the people who live here."

>"Yes it is," he agreed and picked up her hand, bring it to his lips for a
>slow kiss. "And speaking of love and attention. I think you were going to
>thank me for something this morning."

He grinned as he saw the flush in her cheek and the burning in her eyes. He
followed along eagerly as she pulled him out of the hall .. until he heard
the roar and saw her turn to look at him, "Saul!?!"

He saw the fear and confusion in her eyes .. then in a flash it was gone
and she was dancing out of his grasp. Damn! Not now! He turned his
attention to his dragon, <Fay!>

<I'm on it, my rider. I shall prevail.> The brillant blue launched himself
into the air while Saul followed his mate. He frowned slightly as she kept
ducking away from him.

"Come get me!!" She laughed.

Saul's frown deepened as other riders started reaching for her. <Fayloth,
you've got to win.>

<I will win.> the dragon puffed proudly. <Look I am almost upon her ..>

Saul grinned as he saw the teal tail almost within his grasp. Then just as
he was about to take a bite, a burst of speed took the prize out of his
reach. Saul's eyes widened as a large dark form fell on his prize from
above. The blue streaks in the black hide were unmistakable as the vision
faded and she saw the large bearded red-head taking his pregnant mate into
a passionate embrace.

"Shawnee!" he cried, as  the two headed off for some privacy. He had to
fight to not go after them. This was the first time he'd ever been more the
mildly disappointed at losing a mating flight.  Or was it that he was upset
that T'jellan had won? He'd best be careful with his mate and their child..

Oh gods .. Shawnee was pregnant .. His eyes searched the crowd of
spectators leaving the dining hall. He spotted Clarissa and ran toward her,
"Clarissa! Shawnee's pregnant!"

"I know that, Saul .. She's been pregnant for a while now." Clarissa grinned.

"No! I mean she shouldn't be .. I mean what if something goes wrong and the
baby is hurt.."

Clarissa smiled at him gently, "Saul, there is nothing wrong with a woman
having sex while she's pregnant." She smirked, "You haven't been practicing
abstinance now have you?"

Saul frowned, and Clarissa chuckled, "Really, she'll be fine." She leaned
in close and whispered teasingly, "Or are you experiencing some jealousy."

"Of course not!" Saul huffed. Clarissa grinned and patted him gently on the
shoulder before heading off. Saul sat down in an empty chair. He knew he
was being stupid. After all he'd been planning a morning of passion with
his mate .. Now he was depressed.

And it was T'jellan .. the more he thought about it the more depressed he
became.

T'jellan
***

He tore at her clothes. He'd won! He'd beat out the handsome Saul and she
was his. This is what he'd wanted for so long. His lips on hers .. her soft
skin against his .. He ran his hand over her body, loving the feel of her
curves.

At first he'd told his dragon no. Wanting to run away and not think about
what could be his. But Grunth knew better. He knew the inner desires of his
rider and was urged on by them. And now he had her ..

The dragon lust took over as their clothes were dropped and he took his
prize ..

***

Later as the lust wore off he lay looking at her naked body. Even heavy
with child she was incredibly beautiful and sexy .. and Gods! what had he
done! A slight smile crossed her lips and she stretched and turned toward
him. His eyes widened as he felt his body beginning to respond to just the
sight of her.

He quickly turned away, not wanting her to see his growing response.
<Grunth .. why!> he questioned the sated dragon who was sleeping and did
not respond

"T'jellan what's wrong?" He heard Shawnee's voice behind him.

"Nothing .." he whispered

"Don't tell me nothing," she told him as she moved over to sit beside him.
"I can see somethings wrong in your eyes."

He looked over at her and sighed, "I .. I shouldn't have .. I mean .." He
frowned, "It doesn't matter"

"Tell me my friend," she said softly reaching for his hand. "I'm your
friend. Let me help. You've always been there for me when i've needed you,
so let me be here for you this time."

His hand burned as she touched it and he flushed, remember the feel of her
body on his, the smell of her .. Quickly he pulled his hand away from her,
"It's wrong .. I .." He turned to look at her. Gazing into those beautiful
aqua eyes, "Shawnee .. you are so beautiful .."

"Thank you T'jellan but what has that got to...." she started then stopped
as she saw something in his eyes. "T'jellan?"

He bowed his head, "I.. I've tried not to feel what I do, but .. "

"Feel the way you do? I don't understand."

He raised his eyes to her, "I've fallen in love with you." He said quietly.
His head drooped once again, "I'm sorry .."

"Oh T'jellan. I'm sorry," she said softly bowing her head. "I didn't
know... I....you know how I feel about Saul. I love you too but as my good
friend."

He looked miserable, "I know .."

"A friend I don't want to lose," she told him placing her hand on his arm.
"You mean a lot to me. But Saul has always been the one who holds my heart."

"I know .." he repeated. He'd told himself all these things a thousand
times before. "I should have held Grunth back .. but I  ..."

"I've been told that a rider has no control over what his dragon does in a
mating flight.." she smiled to try to ease his pain. "I see now what they
mean. You couldn't have stopped this from happening."

"I could have left the warren when I knew who it was .." He cursed softly
under his breath, "I knew .. and I didn't want to go .. I wanted .." he
looked up, "I'm sorry, Shawnee. I should have been stronger."

"But if it'll make you feel any better...she paused to make sure he was
listening to her. "I'm glad it was you. glad it was someone who cared about
me just as i cared about them. I was afraid when I first learned about
mating flights...but i wasn't scared with you. Thank you."

Her words brought a slight smile to his face, "You don't hate me even
knowing how I feel. Knowing that I .. I wanted to win .."

"I could never hate you my friend," she replied.

"Let's hope your ..mate.." the word was almost strangled, ".. feels the
same way."

"If anything it's you who should be upset with me for being to blind to
notice how you felt and still went on telling you my troubles," she
insisted.

"I didn't mind," he told her, "I liked being there for you."

"I've been selfish always coming to you when things went wrong," she said.
"But I knew i could count on you always being there. Maybe I shouldn't
have. Cause I don't want to lose your friendship. It's very important to
me...

"You won't. I .. would never force my attentions," he flushed thinking that
the mating flight had done that for him, "I mean, I want to be your friend
.. I will control my feelings."

"I should be getting back now," she siad and began picking up her discarded
clothes..."Saul will be worring about me, but I want you to know that
because of you I made it through this. If it had been anyone else...."

He nodded, "I understand."

She got dressed and turned back to him. Quickly she knelt down beside him
and leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked a little stunned.

"Cause I wanted you to be very sure that I care about you and am not upset
with what happened."

K'leev
***

Four hours later, he didn't even have a lead and he was getting angry. He
was forced to admit that one dragon was not going to be able to locate one
small girl easily. He needed help. He had no choice but to return to
Whiteriver. They would help him. They had to. He didn't care if he had to
grovel to do it. He would do it .. just to make sure Cill was safe.

<To the warren, Bruteth.>

<But my rider ..>

<We have to. I can't find Cill alone. And she has to be found.>

<They won't let us in.>

<We don't have to get in. We only have to get help.>

Bruteth nodded his head and in a flash they were over the skies of
Whiteriver with two watch dragons coming straight for them.

<You can not enter Whiteriver, Bruteth. Take your rider and go!>

<We need help.> Bruteth told them circling away from them.

<We can not help you. You have been banished along with your rider.

Saul
***

>From the ground Saul, who was wondering the warrens grounds waiting as
patiently as he could for his mate to return, spotted the watch dragon
circling with a large black. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the rider.
<Fayloth is that Bruteth!>

<Yes, Saul.>

<Tell those dragon to let him land I want to talk to his rider!>

<But Saul, he's been banished.. >

<I don't care what warren law is, I want to talk to that lothesome scum!>

A few minutes later the large black dragon was circling down and Saul
stalked toward him. K'leev climbed down, "Saul I need some dragons to help
.."

"You are slime, K'leev." Saul hissed. "You and that bitch who stole two
innocent children and then ~sold~ them to become playthings .."

"What!"

"Don't play dumb with me. You're little girl is in the med center scared to
death to be left alone because of what you did to her."

"Cill's here!"

"Yes, your little plan failed. We saved those children .." K'leev didn't
stay to listen as he took off at a run for the med center. "K'leev!" Saul
howled and  chased after him.

<Fayloth get several dragons to bring their riders to the medical center now!>

By the time K'leev reached the large stone building, there were several
dragonriders standing in front of the door.  "I want to see my daughter!"
he roared.

"Don't you think you've done enough!" Saul growled.

K'leev spun on the dragon rider, "I didn't do anything but want to be with
my daughter."

"You took Cill and Ojean from their home! And then ~sold~ them to the
lowest level of human there is."

"*I* didn't sell them, and neither did Owlean!" he roared, though to be
honest he really couldn't speak for the woman. And if he found out she had
indeed sold his daugher .. her life would be over as soon as he returned to
that cave.

"I know what Owlean did," Saul said. "I've talked to Ojean ..  he told me
everything."

"I want to see Cill!" K'leev roared once again.
"You also have a little something to answer for in Ralengarde .. a once
very lovely young lady would like to see some justice."

K'leev's face paled slightly and Saul grinned, "That's right, "I know all
about that litlle escapade of yours too."

K'leev moved toward Saul and growled once again, "I don't care about any of
that. I - WANT - TO - SEE - CILL!"

<Trinale's coming.> Fayloth said. <She's not happy you let him land.>

Saul groaned slightly, but faced up to K'leev's flashing eyes, "No!
Trinale's on her way and will tell you the same thing!"

Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
T'jellan & Grunth
K'leev & Bruteth
***
NRPG: So what does everyone think of K'leev being back in the warren ;):)

Barb helped with the scene between T'jellan and Shawnee. Many thanks :)

Kris

------------------------------------
Kristen & Scott Gant
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/gant.htm