NOTE: To me it was a little confusing as to how events went in order when
we all met for lunch, I think I straightened it out? Hope I got it right
and it's okay with everyone involved. 

{Early Morning}

Moira trailed alongside the petite queenrider and listened to her comment
on her hectic daily schedule, and found herself feeling far more
comfortable with the woman than she ever had amongst the ladies of the
guild, well, perhaps with the exception of Judith. No one could help but
like the head cook at the guild, she mothered everyone. 

Observing the people who swarmed about her and Merissa told her much about
the interaction of the dragonriders, she felt herself relax some. She
hadn't gotten a second look because of her height, nor had anyone commented
on her choice of clothing, or her hair, or especially, her eyes. People
smiled at her and went about thier business, there was no accusations of
why she wasn't doing such and such at this moment, or why she was here. 

>Merissa chatted on about her coming to the warren -- "amazing that it's 
>only been about 2 years now since I was searched myself."  Merissa smiled
>in memory, "and I was completely amazed when Chrysthal chose me!"

Moira watched the joyous look cross over the face of her companion and 
remembered her father's expression when he talked of Joining with Fazul.
She wondered briefly what HER dragon might look like, what would it be
like, then shook her head slightly at her "wool gathering ways." 

>They took their food and sat at a table.  "Once you get your dragon your
>days will be pretty full with taking care of her and flying lessons and
>fight training... and it may be that your dragon isn't waiting in that 
>next hatching, and may be in a future clutch...so until then... is there
>something that you are interested in?"  Merissa queried.

Moira blinked at that. She knew it would be some time before the hatching
and that she'd probably be put to work, she didn't mind that, but she
hadn't really thought about what would happen if she WASN'T joined. Saul
had seemed so sure. She pondered for a moment, did she have skills that
would keep her here? She certainly couldn't return to Killaglen. 

"I know how to care for invalids, and I used to help some in the kitchens
back in the guild," Moira offered hesitantly. "I also completed my base
training in all weaver skills last year, I was waiting for an
apprenticeship to open up when Saul found me. Tevel's mother seemed to like
my work quite well." Moira's brow creased in worry, would a Warren need
someone with Weavers skills?

"Then we'll take you by to see Barry." Merissa said briskly. "He's one of
the Warren tailors and we tend to keep him pretty busy, he'll appreciate
the extra hands." Moira breathed a sigh of relief. A tailor, that was fine,
she enjoyed sewing. Well, that was taken care of then. Now perhaps it was
time to deal with the question she both wanted and feared to ask. 

Moira hesitantly reached into the pouch hanging from her belt and extracted
the rolled canvas, smoothing it onto the table she glanced up at Merissa.
Taking a deep breath and steeling herself for whatever the answer might be,
she asked."I was just wondering... I know you said you haven't been here
only a few years... but do you know this dragon and rider?"

>Merissa looked at the portrait. Shaking her head she asked, "Who is it?"

>"That's my father, F'ran.  He used to ride a huge red dragon named Fazul.
>He used to come visit all the time at the Weaver Guild, but then one day 
>he stopped coming..."  Moira sighed and put the portrait away.  "I 
>believe he was from Whiteriver... and was hoping you might be able to 
>tell me what's happened to him, if he isn't here?"

>Merissa again shook her head.  "Sorry."

Moira composed her face and made light of it, hiding her dissapointment.
She reminded herself that in 12 years F'ran might have gone to another
Warren, or had other children and didn't want to deal with his bastard
daughter. 

After breakfast Merissa had led Moira to a cosy shop and introduced her to
Barry, then excused herself to attend to other duties. Nervous at first,
Moira observed Barry's interaction with a number of children that wandered
in and out of the shop and felt herself relaxing somewhat. He quizzed her
briefly on her training and seemed to delighted with her range of
knowledge, then set her to mending and altering some articles of clothing
that had been brought in.

Taking a deep breath, Moira picked up the first article of clothing and
closed her eyes for a moment. Mending had always been hard for her, she had
to be so careful to not reveal her secret. Somehow, when she touched things
that belonged to other people, she would know who owned it and sometimes
would know things about them. An image of a young man came to mind, but she
quickly shoved it away and began humming to herself, quickly stitching up
the rent in one sleeve and replacing a couple of buttons. If she finished
quickly, and distracted herself by humming, she could get through this.

She was startled as some time later Barry stepped in front of her, gently
taking the pants she was working on from her hands and shooing  her off to
the dining hall for lunch, telling her to wander around and familiarize
herself with the warren, make a few friends, and come back tomorrow
morning. He looked pleased with the work she had done, and a few deep
breaths once outside the shop cleared her mind. Her stomach growled loudly,
urging her to hurry faster. 

{Lunch Time}

Moira watched as Xanthia and Oldreth unloaded diaper bag and various other
baby acoutrements and prepared to go and fetch some food when Oldreth
suddenly smiled at her."Why not come talk with us while we get something,
I'm sure Xanthia would appreciate a hand with Oberon."

Moira stood, a little flustered. She never knew how to act when people
directed thier attention to her, and she certainly wasn't used to people
smiling at her. "Of course.." she paused....Rider Oldreth? Just Oldreth? No
one here seemed to set on titles. She left it at that and gestured for
Xanthia to walk in front of her, then followed. It was much easier for her
to carry Xanthia's tray while the redhead held the baby, and she had wanted
another pear anyway. They made thier way back to the table. 

Moira wiggled her finger's at the baby that Xanthia held, smiling as he
blew a spit bubble and giggled. He didn't look much like Oldreth, other
than the size, but babies never really looked like anyone at first. "You
must be very proud." She commented, glancing at Oldreth. 

>"Thank you!" Xanthia said. He's mine and Th'rin's... and Merissa's too."

Moira glanced up, momentarily confused. How could this baby have so many
parents? Vaguely she remembered asking her father why he didn't live with
her and her mother and recieving a long explanation about Warren customs.
It was all rather fuzzy, her only clear memory was of her mother afterwards
telling her to keep it to herself, babbling it about the Guild would just
earn her trouble. 

"Merissa, she's the queenrider, I saw this morning. You share a baby
with her?" Moira asked, trying to clarify the situation. She glanced
towards Oldreth and then back to Xanthia. "And this is Th'rin?"

>Oldreth seemed to be too preoccupied in something to follow the
>conversation.

>"No, this is Oldreth, he's a queenrider, too. He just got here
>yesterday. He's a Bear nomad. Oberon is my baby and Th'rin's. Th'rin
>delivered him from my sister."

>"Merissa's your sister?"

>"No, Aradia, silly! She and Pa'gan were Bear nomads too, but they're
>dead. She was dead when Oberon was born."

>"And Th'rin's Oberon's father?

>"No, Pa'gan is! Th'rin and Merissa are fosters!"

>"Fosters?"

>"You know, they raise him... Like Corra was my foster, but better." 

Moira's head was spinning, but she thought she was beginning to understand
the bit about fosters, this must be the baby that Merissa "lost" last
night. The baby's mother was Aradia? Perhaps that was Merissa's sister, but
the mother was dead when the baby was born? Most confusing!

>"Perhaps I'd better help," Oldreth offered, seeing Moira's confusion. He
>pulled out a chair for each of the ladies and helped Xanthia settle
>Oberon in the high chair. He sat down in the remaining chair and
>continued, "From what I've learned in my short time here, Aradia and
>Pa'gan were two Bear nomads who came here some time back."

>"Their dead now, like the rest of their clan," Xanthia interjected, "But
>Oldreth's not dead, different Bear nomad, the White clan."

>"Yes," Aradia and Pa'gan died, but Aradia was with child at the time of
>her death. But the babe was strong," he gently squeezed the boy's hand
>between thumb and forefinger, "and Th'rin, who's a healer here,
>delivered him from his dead mother's womb."

Moira felt like a light had suddenly gone on, it was beginning to be clear
now. Xanthia had been explaining it, just in a very roundabout way. 

>"Xanthia, here, wasn't raised with the nomads, she was left in the city
>to be raised."

>"Tillharnon," Xanthia interjected.

>"After her mother died in child birth. Xanthia's parents were Bear
>nomads who were in town for trading, when her mother's labor started too
>soon. Xanthia is Aradia's half sister, she looks just like her except
>the eyes..." he scrutinized her carefully, recalling the picture. "And
>those eyes are a lot like Pa'gan's"

>"Do you think that I'm Pa'gan's sister too?" Xanthia queried.

>The large blond man shrugged. "It's possible, under the circumstances,"
>he chose his words carefully while continuing to study her eyes, "Yes, I
>suppose it is possible for you to be related to Pa'gan, maybe even be
>his sister."

>Xanthia bounced gleefully and clapped her hands together, "Wow, then
>that would make me twice related to Oberon!"

Moira smiled at Xanthia's delight, and found herself wondering about her
family, would her father be as delighted to find her here? Best not to muse
on might-be's, she reminded herself. 

They chatted on for some time, Moira quietly observing until Oldreth asked
her about her life at the weaver's guild. He seemed to have some
familiarity with the process and Moira felt on safe ground to discuss that
which she'd done since she was small child. 

>"Perhaps if you want, Moira, we can talk Wintermoon into taking you up 
>for a flight" Oldreth offered as he polished of the last of his >midafternoon repast. 

Moira was so startled she looked full into Oldreth's eyes, her own
widening. "Ride a queen?" She thought of how big the queen's were, in
comparision to her limited experience with Fazul and then Fayloth, and
wondered what it would be like.

>Oldreth chuckled, "Wintermoon...Queen seems kind of much don't you think?"

"I...I'd love to."Moira answered hesitantly, knowing that in truth, she
would have a hard time turning down the chance to ride any dragon. 

>Xanthia frowned, "You're not s'posed to."

>"What?" Oldreth cocked an eyeborw at the girl.

>"Queens aren't s'posed to go for rides, or fly alone, or stuff like that"

>Oldreth laughed and ruffled Xanthia's hair "Bah! Tell Wintermoon that and
>she'll likely bite you. We go where we want."

Moira felt her brown knit in a small frown. She certainly didn't need to be
getting in trouble her first day here. All well and good for Oldreth to
flaunt custom, he was already a dragon rider. 

>Xanthia didn't seem convinced, "Trinale'll tell you."
>
>"Trinale, horse dung, I forgot I was s'posed to meet her this morning."
>Oldreth slid away from the table and stood.
>
>"I should find her and talk with her." he said, and leaned down to kiss
>Xanthia's cheek, then turned to Moira, and reached down to stroke his
>fingers softly over her cheek, he crouched down to speak with her.
>"You're a nice woman, so take this as you will...Relax. Don't take all of
>this so seriously, you'll feel better in the end."

>He smiled warmly to her as he stood again and then smiled to Xanthia, and
>offering a wave, he turned to leave. People moved aside as he passed,
>clearing a path for him as he went.

Moira had nearly jumped from the chair when he had touched her face, alarm
flooding her. She stared directly atOldreth as he spoke to her, the words
not registering right away, then she blinked. He thought she was nice? Heat
flooded her cheeks as he stood and walked away, she stared after him for a
moment. What on earth had all that been about? 

She glanced over to ask Xanthia and noticed Oberon nearly out of his high
chair, seeming determined to chase down the retreating Oldreth. Restraining
the young one, she glanced back up at the red head to see her gazing into
the distance with a glassy look in her eyes. 

"Xanthia..." Moira asked questioningly, wondering if the young woman was
all right. 

"What?" the petite redhead blinked,and looked up at Moira who was
Keeping Oberon from climbing out of the high chair. "Where's Oldreth?"

"He's gone to meet with Trinale. Where were you just now?" Moira asked,
wondering if Xanthia had the wandering illness that Annara had. The child
at the weaver's guild often would suddenly stare off into nowhere, and
nothing could rouse her until she came back on her own.

"Just talking with Maxima, my dragon. Sorry." Xanthia answered, seeming
distracted. She quickly gathered up Oberon and prepared to leave. "I need
to take him to Th'rin and report to the med center. I'll see you later,"
she said, planting a kiss on Moira's cheek. Moira blinked, somewhat
surprised, but kept her composure. Waving good bye to Xanthia and the baby,
she gathered up the dishes onto one tray and pocketed an uneaten apple,
then took Barry's advice and went for a walk. 

Moira was good at not being noticed, and yet at seeing everything that went
on about her. She came to realize, after watching various people throughout
the Warren, that the dragonriders and the warrenfolk were a physically
affectionate people. She mused quietly to herself about her reactions to
Oldreth and Xanthia's casual contact with her, and settled with in her mind
that perhaps it was no bad thing after all. She certainly felt more
accepted then she ever had at the Guild. She resumed walking, making notes
of where various things were, even braving a few questions here and there,
whiling away the afternoon until dinnertime.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

If anyone wants to bump into her, be my guest....otherwise she'll just poke
about and turn in for the night <g>

Rhiannon
Moira