> >"I think that's an excellent idea, T'jellan, will you please organize the
> >searching?" Trinale tried to smile calmingly at Ashelle, but she was
> >really worried. What could have happened to Xanthia. She reached out for
> >the girls mind but was unable to connect. "Ashelle, you will need to join
> >the other hatchlings at training."
> 
> Ashelle looked ready to protest but T'jellan put a hand on her back, "It's
> alright, we'll find her. You need to see to your new dragon."
> 
> The girl nodded and headed out to the hatchling barracks for practice.

  < Ashelle..at practice..sort of >
  
  Ashelle walked quickly back to the barracks, not wanting to be late for
her first training session.  But her head was filled with worry.  Xanthia
was a friend, and her dragon was scared, and alone, and...Ashelle blinked
with alarm, she still hadn't been fed!

  << Oaklah, love, can you please try and get Maxima to come with you to
the practice?  I'm going for double the food supply.  She has to eat. >>

  A soft crooning sound filled her head, and for a moment she wondered if
she could teach Oak to sing.  Then she chuckled and ran for the food
bowls.

  A few moments later, she was sitting at the back of the room, only half
hearing what was being said, as she fed both Oaklah and tried to feed
Maxima.  She found it difficult, for even though the new dragonet was
hungry, Ashelle wasn't her rider, and she couldn't communicate with her in
her mind.

  Oaklah helped, and nudged the food towards Maxima with a soft worried
croon.

  << Your rider will be found, I promise.  My rider is helping, but you
must eat!  You don't want to become ill, for then you would worry your
rider. >>

  Ashelle tried to think.  There had to be some way to calm the poor
hatchling.  She was a pretty one, and she knew that Xanthia adored
her...the feeling was mutual, if the reaction from Maxima was any
indication.

  Then she had an idea.  She only hoped that the teacher and the others
weren't going to be too upset over the interruption of class for a bit.
She sat back, still attempting to get Maxima to eat, and started humming
softly.  Music calmed everyone she knew of...so why not try it on a
dragon?  It couldn't hurt.

  The humming changed without her realizing it to a soft song about love.
the love of one for another.  Well..it *could* apply to dragons, she
hoped.

  Maxima looked a bit less tense, though Oaklah kept telling her that the
dragonet was still very worried.  But Ashelle smiled as the hatchling
finally nibbled at some of the meat she offered.

  << Oak, tell Maxima that I'm only feeding her until Xanthia is found.  I
know I'm not her rider, but I do care.  I'm not trying to take her
place...no one can. >>

  After hearing that, Maxima looked at Ashelle for a long moment...then
poked her snout into the food bowl, beginning to eat with more animation
than before.

  Ashelle sighed soft,y and offered a soft scritch before turning back to
see a few faces watching her.  Blushing, she shrugged, and settled back
for class.  She hoped that she'd hear something from T'gellan soon.  And
she fervently hoped that Xanthia was all right.

--------

Jeanette
Ashelle/Oaklah * Whiteriver