[Trinale's garden, day after the wraith attack, before lunch with Moira
and Oldreth]

>Xanthia smiled at her "It felt so good to take a bath together...so since
>this felt right, it was okay, right?"
>
>Trinale nodded, but also frowned a bit as she realized she wasn't getting
>through to Xanthia. She decided to be blunt.
>
>"Xanthia, I just don't want you to get hurt. If you eventually want to
>mate with Oldreth, then thats alright...just don't do it unless you want
>to, ok?

"Mate???" Xanthia looked at Trinale in confusion. She felt panic rising
up inside of her and began opening and closing her hands at her sides,
trying to find comfort in the action. "I don't understand..." her voice
trembled.

"It's okay, you don't have to if you don't want to. It's just, Maxima
said he gives you good feelings, and the way you are acting..."

"Good feelings, yes, I don't know what they are but they feel good..."
Tears welled up in Xanthia's eyes as she became overwhelmed with
confusion.

"Xanthia, sit down," Trinale sat on the ground holding Oberon on her lap
and patted the grass next to her.

Xanthia looked at her, her crystal blue eyes glistening with confusion
as she sat down. Trinale took her hand, and on reflex Xanthia tried to
pull away, but the warrenlady shushed her and firmly maintained her
gentle, comforting grip on the healer's hand.

"Listen to me," Trinale said gently, "Those feelings, they are good, but
they are sexual feelings." She studied Xanthia's face, looking for some
sign of comprehension. "Have you ever felt 'good feelings' before,
Xanthia?"

Xanthia shook her head in vigorous denial, red locks flying in all
directions.

"Well, it happens to everybody sooner or later," Trinale continued.

"I don't want to talk about this now," Xanthia announced, "I don't want
to think about it." Her voice shook as she felt her anxiety rise,
knowing that the more she thought about it, the more upset she would
get. Maybe, if she ignored it, the good feelings would go away.

"We can talk about it later, I guess," Trinale sighed.

"Can I go now," Xanthia asked, a note of urgency in her tone.

"If you want."

Xanthia picked up Oberon and walked as fast as she could to the dining
hall. She then remembered Moira, and that she was to have lunch with
her. Lunch would be good. A good meal, that would help her feel better.

*****

[Next morning,]

Xanthia picked up Oberon, feeling much in a hurry. Wintermoon told her
that Oldreth wanted to see her. She felt a mixture of glee and
trepidation, an odd sensation indeed as she wondered what he wanted with
her.

Th'rin was somber as he handed the boy and the baby equipment over to
Xanthia.

"What's wrong?" Xanthia asked.

"B'ril's funeral was last night," Th'rin said, as if that was all the
explanation needed.

"I know," Xanthia said, her tone devoid of any emotion. It was a
statement of fact to her.

"He was my friend."

"I'm sorry," Xanthia said, not knowing what else to say.

***

Xanthia bounded into Oldreth's apartment. "You wanted to see me?" The
question came too eagerly.

"Yes," his eyes twinkling with amusement, "Sit down, please."

Xanthia set Oberon on the floor with some of his toys and then did as
she was told, her face lit up in eager childlike anticipation; of what,
she was not sure. 

Oldreth knelt down beside her, bringing himself closer to her eye level.
"You are a Bear nomad, and you were raised in Tillharnon."

Xanthia nodded vigorously.

Oldreth continued, "You have this dagger, and you do not know what it
means, or any of the nomad ways."

Xanthia nodded again, more uncertainly this time. Xanthia put her hands
protectively over her dagger.

"It is your right to know these things, to learn the ways of your
people. I would like to teach you these ways. Would you like that,
Xanthia?"

Xanthia threw her arms around the large man's neck, "I'd love it!" she
cried. He smelled good, she noted, and his arms felt good around her.

<Mmm... Good feelings... Wintermoon says you give Oldreth good feelings,
too. Are you going to mate?>

<I don't want to think about that,> Xanthia snapped.

*****

NRPG: Tag Rob! Let the lessons begin. ;)

Kris, do more with the discussion with Xanthia about B'ril's death, if
you want.

Kat, obviously Xanthia's still confused, and afraid to face her
feelings. How frustrated is Trinale with this? ;) Will she attempt the
discussion another time or pass the buck to someone else?





                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      Danika/Kalindeth of Daere        )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia/Maxima of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;

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