Th'rin
***

Th'rin's morning had gone smoothly once he'd gotten a little more sleep.
He'd decided to just nap in B'ril's .. er his office. Probably easier then
going to face Merissa. He was feeling horribly guilty over lying to her and
was terrified it would come out. Especially now that he knew for a fact
that both Xanthia and Moira knew of his lie.

He wasn't to worried about Xanthia right now. She had other things on her
mind .. hopefully Moira did too. Oh gods .. why was his life so screwed up!
Why couldn't he have just  .. just ..

He groaned, he wanted to say just joined to a male .. or not at all. But
the thought of being without Areena was too painful. He knew he didn't
really wish her to be any different .. But life would have been so much
easier if she'd just stayed small ..

<Th'rin!> Areena interrupted his thoughts, <Trinale needs us! Hurry!>

He did as she asked without thinking, for when a healer was called, a
healer had to go. <Is someone hurt? Can you find out what the problem is?>
He asked as he ran out the door with his bag.

Areena sat there, right outside the door waiting for him. He stared at her,
still not used to seeing her so large. She had a brand-new saddle already
strapped to her back, <Where did you get the saddle?> She'd outgrown her
old one.

<It was Juniper's when she was still growing. It doesn't fit her.>

Th'rin nodded. Juniper was a respectably sized dragon, and even with her
sudden growth, Areena was still smaller then most dragons. <So what did you
find out about why we're being called,> he asked as he climbed into the
saddle.

Areena waited a little longer until her rider was settled, for she knew him
well enough to know that when she told him he would not be happy. And
sometimes there was no telling how her dear Th'rin would react ..

She launched herself into the air. <Oldreth found the evil man who attack
Xanthia.>

<Oh gods, is he hurt?> Th'rin asked. Gods if anything happened to Oldreth,
Xanthia would be crushed. She didn't need that on top of everything else!

<He's dying. Trinale doesn't think he'll live. But she wants you to at
least make him comfortable, and see what you can do.>

<Of course ..> Th'rin felt grief at the possible loss of the newest
queenrider. He didn't know him well .. but Xanthia had taken a liking to
him .. and he did represent the best chance Oberon had of learning about
the people he had come from. He wanted that for his son.

<The queen?> he asked as Areena circled down to the cross roads, <She
hasn't .. >

<Hasn't want?> Areena asked innocently.

Of course she hadn't, the dragons weren't keening .. so where was she.
Wouldn't she want to be with her rider to the end?

He hopped off the dragon and ran to where  Merissa and Trinale stood,
"Where's Oldreth?"

"Oldreth?" Merissa asked.

"Don't worry about him," Trinale said to the confused healer. "The man he
attacked is over here. Do what you can?" She pulled him to where the dying
man lay.

Th'rin cringed at the horrible sight, "I .. I don't understand. What about
Oldreth. Areena said he was dying?"

<Did not ..> The dragon snorted.

"No .. no," Trinale said. "Xanthia's attacker. Oldreth did this to him. Can
you help him?"

Th'rin looked back at the mutilation. That was the slime that had done
those horrible things to Xanthia! And Trinale wanted him to help! She had
to be out of her mind!

He turned away, "No."

"Th'rin!" she called after him, "Where are you going?"

"I will not help him." Th'rin said spinning around at her.

"But .. you're a healer."

"I can't heal that!"

"At least give him something to lessen the pain. What's been done to him is
inhuman .."

Th'rin growled, "And what he did to Xanthia isn't! I will do nothing for him!"

He turned away again and moved to where Merissa was waiting by her queen.
"I won't help, Merissa. I can't."

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena

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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Darlea & Makayla, Keldarra Warren, Courier
                      Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Saul & Fayloth, Whiteriver Warren, Searcher
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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