Oldreth fell to sleep quickly, Wintermoon covering him protectively with
her wing. He hurt so bad, body and soul, and Wintermoon shared his pain.
She could scarcely understand what drove the man so urgently, but she
worried for him.

So much pain. She could not allow this further.

<<Help my rider. Please. He hurts so. His spirit is broken, and I can
feel him slipping away from me>> she sent mournfully to any dragon who
would listen.

<<From Menolly's Post>>
>   She wanted to talk to the scrap of humanity that was there...but he
> was out cold.  And she wasn't a healer.  She turned back to the warren,
> and moved to a spot near Wintermoon..dropping in a shocked, tired, and
> disbelieving heap...just watching Oldreth with confused and saddened
> eyes. She *should* be telling someone....but she had to know, from
> him...if he had really done what her head was screming at her not to 
> believe, and why.

Oldreth slept fitfully, his dreams riddled with darkness and pain. His
stitches hadn't opened again yet, and that at least was something, but the
events of the last few days were taking a severe toll on his body. That
would heal.

His sould was damaged far worse. What he had done without thought the
night before, burned in his mind, haunted his dreams. The screams, over
and over, deafened him in his sleep. Hands reached out for him.

<<From Morgie's Post>>
> Her skin went cold with fear as she cautiously approached the large man
> and his sleeping dragon. She leaned over to check for a pulse, noting
> curiously that his clothes smelled of burned pork. She wrinkled her nose
> and gingerly touched his neck and shrieked as Oldreth shot upright
> suddenly. 

Oldreth's heart pounded and his hand moved for the axe next to him, when
he recognized Xanthia kneeling next to him. He relaxed slightly, and
groaning, hauled himself to his feet.

<<From Menolly's Post>>
>   She remained in her cramped and quiet position for what seemed like an
> eternity.   Then a moan got her attention.  He was waking up!  She
> locked her gaze on him, and sighed softly.  And found herself totally
> unable to say a word.

Ashelle stood, moving closer, and noting Xanthia, who she'd not seen
arrive. Stricken with the previous nights events, she stood there
silently.

<From Morgie's Post>>
> "I thought... I feared you were dead!" Xanthia cried, "Why are you
> sleeping on the green?" She crossed her arms and rubbed at her skin,
> trying to smooth down the goose bumps.
> 
> Oldreth knelt in front of her to be less threatening, a sad look in his
> eyes. "I'm sorry, little sister," he wrapped his arms around her, "I'm
> so sorry."
> 
> Xanthia broke the embrace and looked at him with confusion, "What for?
> You did nothing."
> 
> He shook his head sadly and Xanthia averted her gaze, looking down
> toward the ground. As she did she noticed his empty sheath.
> 
> "Where's your honor dagger?" Xanthia asked.
> 
> "I lost it."
> 
> "Oh, well, here," she pulled hers out of the sheath, "Take mine."
> 
> "I can't do that!" Oldreth protested, "That's yours." 
> 
> "You don't understand," Xanthia teared up, "I'm not worthy, I have no
> honor!"
> 
> He turned her face gently toward him, "What are you talking about?"
> 
> "Don't you know? I stabbed a man last night! I'm a *healer*, and I
> stabbed a man!" Xanthia's small shoulders shook as she wept openly.

Oldreth frowned, casting a glance sideways, and noting Ashelle for the
first time. Her look was one he interpreted as horror, and he wondered
what she'd seen, then turned back to Xanthia, squeezing her gently.

"Little sister. You defended yourself. Your honour goes beyond a job, it
it part of who you are." said Oldreth, reaching up to stroke her hair
back.

Oldreth pressed the girls blade back into her hands, and murmured "What I
did...There is no excuse for...I gave up my honour...For revenge."

Xanthia looked up, confused, and wiping the tears from her eyes "What did
you do?"

Oldreth shool his head, his eyes brimming with tears, and casting a glance
to Ashelle. He knew somehow that she knew of his deeds. "She is witness to
my deeds..." he whispered.

Xanthia began to look desperate, as she demanded, "What did you do?!?"

Oldreth stood again, "I sold my honour for revenge."

Xanthia's brow creased with confusion, and she squeezed Oldreth's hand
tightly, "I don't understand"

He sighed heavily, swaying from exhaustion slightly, "I hope you never do
little sister. I hope you never do." 

He held his hand out to Ashelle who stood by, stunned at the admission,
confsued and hesitant. He waited for her to take it gingerly, as if
touching him might burn her, or inflict on her the same damnation he'd
taken on himself. 

Oldreth turned to Ashelle, and held her hand gently, murmuring, "I'm sorry
for what you saw..." 

He took Xanthia's hand and Ashelle's and put them together, "Help each
other, and Xanthia...Know in your heart that your honour is still there,
no single act you can concieve can take it. You must give it. And in
yourself, you must decide to give it forever to an evil, or lend it to a
good purpose. I know, in your heart, there is no darkness, so you can
never lose your honour." and turning to Ashelle, "What you have seen of
me...Is hard, it is a darkness in my soul, a hate to which I have sold my
honour. Tell the Queenriders what you saw, and let them judge me."

Oldreth settles sadly against Wintermoon, and pulls his bloody cloak
around his shoulders, holding his axe before him, "Please, let me be..."

He watched as Xanthia and Ashelle looked to the their hands that the
strange giant of a man had joined, then turned and walked back to the
Warren.

<Wintermoon>

<<Yes my rider.>> replied the platinum as she covered him protectively
with her wing again.

<I am damned.>

<<No...You hurt...It will heal>> she crooned comfortingly.

<I'm not so sure.> he thought helplessly <Tell the other wueens what I've
done, I will be judged and punished for my crime.>

With that he closed his eyes, slipping into another dark, nightmare ridden
sleep. His own hell.

		*	*	*	*	*	*

NRPG: I think that fixes the post conflict and stuff, and puts Oldreth
square in the middle of the dragon gossip net. Have a ball, he'l be right
there to surrender when someone comes for him. Also, remember the
mutilated body on the road outside the warren, no one's reacted to that
one yet. :) I think that kinda tags everyone in the warren, reply as you
feel the need. Sorry about sending you back Menolly and Morgie, but you
should be able to do the post reporting to med centre and Trinale and
Merissa, and maybe even come see me again when he's arrested or whatever.