Trinale looked at Xanthia in astonishment when she mentioned Oberon and
his possible telepathy. She fought back tears, but she knew Xanthia hadn't
mean to hurt her so she bit her lip and didn't say anything to the girl.

She listened as Xanthia chatted about a few other things, she then made
her excuses and left.

Trinale lay there on the bed trying to reach Cricket with her mind, but
had no luck. She fought back more tears then she heard a soft knock on the
door.

She tried composing herself and to say Come in, but she couldn't as a new
sob broke through each time.

"Trinale?" she heard softly.

She looked up with tear filled eyes into N'lins compassionate eyes, and
burst into tears.

He crossed the room quickly and hesitated just a moment and then knelt
beside the bed and hugged her, stroking her hair and holding her. Then
suddenly his soft soothing words turned into a soft song. As Trinale
listened her sobs eased as the song seemed to calm her. Within a few
moments Trinale finally sat up and looked at N'lin "Thank you."

N'lin blushed "I just wanted to help."

"You did" Trinale smiled at him. "Now tell me about how things have been
going for you."
 
------------------------------------------------------------

Th'rin entered the room as they were talking and Trinale looked up at him
fearfully, afraid he was going to throw everyone out. The silence was
deafening with noone around to talk to fill it.

> Trinale grimaces, "I'm sorry Th'rin, don't chase him out .. I don't want to
> be alone." Then she noticed the folded up bed on wheels Th'rin was pulling
> behind him. "What's that?"
> 
> "It's for Derry. I told him he could stay with you tonight."
> 
> A deep voice sounded behind him, "Is that all right, Trinale?" The three
> men, N'lin at her bedside, and Th'rin and Derry in the doorway, turned to
> look at the Warrenlady.
> 
> She grinned, "How could I ever think I would be alone, with the three of
> you to look out for me."
> 
> Derry chuckled and pushed past the healer, "You have the whole warren
> watching out for you."

She smiled up at her love, one of the few things that was holding her
together during this. "I love you, Derry" she said softly, tears again
forming in her eyes.

Derry went quickly to her side and gathered her close to him as the other
two men made their mumbled excuses and left.

Trinale scooted over in the bed and pulled Derry down beside her. "We
don't need the other cot...I need you to hold me, Derry....please don't
let me be alone."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: Ok, am going to skip clear to the next day to get caught up to some
of the others...assume Trinale is there for anyone who wants to talk to
her. I will backpost if necessary.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

After Dinner the next night

Trinale was in her room by herself as Derry had gone to the apartment to
get some of her things when suddenly she heard a trumpeting. That sounded
like Cricket, what in the world.......suddenly her room in the med center
began to be filled with men. She looked in horror as the realization hit
her that Cricket must be flying.

"No..." Trinale whispered in horror "Its too soon..." She didn't feel
anything and men were reaching for her. She cringed away from them,
backing up to the corner of the bed, trying to get away from all the hands
reaching for her. "Oh gods, let Levka win...please....."

Suddenly the men dropped back and one man reached for her, trying to pull
her gown off, not even bothering to pull it over her head, but just ripped
it down the front so that Trinale was exposed before anyone in the room,
His mouth reached for her mouth crushing it beneath his. Trinale
finally reacted, pushing at him, her hands beating ineffectually against
his body. The room was now clear as the losers had left the winner and his
prize alone, so Trinale fought alone as he pressed her down towards the
bed, pulling his pants down quickly and climbing on top of her.

"Get off of me!" Trinale was finally able to scream "Get off me....No! No!
N'lin...you have to stop this!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

NRPG: Just to clarify....Trinale has not lost her bond with Cricket, she
just can't feel/hear her. Cricket can feel but not hear Trinale. Trinale
is feeling none of the dragon passion right now.

I wrote this as we are not sure when Arlene is coming back. She still has
no ISP but she does plan to be back eventually. Susan and I talked. She
says a dragons cycle is like a womans, unpredictable...and stress can set
things off...and Cricket is definately under stress right now:)

                         ("`-/")_.-'"``-._
                          . . `; -._    )-;-,_`)
                         (v_,)'  _  )`-.\  ``-'
                        _.- _..-_/ / ((.'    
                      ((,.-'   ((,/
                     
                  Kat Robertson (katmandu@iquest.net)

                    http://www.iquest.net/~katmandu