Th'rin
***

The young healer's life was settling into a nice steady pattern between his
return to work and his home life. Oberon was growing quickly and was nearly
twice the size of most infants his age.  And he was healthy, completely
beating the odds of his strange birth circumstances.

He was traversing the med center with much more confidence then he had in
his whole life. While he still spent many hours in the labs, he did not
bury himself there as he'd done so frequently before. Before Areena ..
before K'leev's banishment .. before he was a father.

As he walked down the hall he heard his name mentioned from an open door
just a few feet ahead of him. "Where's Th'rin?"

He recognized it as Xanthia's voice. He'd heard the young woman had been
found, but Clarissa had told him she'd check on her this morning so he
could get home before Merissa was needed for her duties.

He smiled as moved toward the door, hearing Clarissa's voice, "He's off
duty now. Would you like something to help take the edge off the stress?"

>Th'rin popped his head in the door, "Did I hear my name?"

>"Th'rin!" Xanthia exclaimed, holding her arms out wide for a hug and
>smiling broadly. She had a great fondness for the young man and liked his
>hugs.

>"I thought you'd left by now," Clarissa said to Th'rin.

>"I was just leaving," Th'rin shrugged.

>"Hugs!" Xanthia insisted.

The male healer obliged her. This was a step in the right direction. He
remember before how she'd cringed at any form of physical touch. "How are
you doing this morning?" he asked the redhead.

>"I was just asking Xanthia if she'd like anything for her stress,"
>Clarissa said, trying to bring things back on track.

>Xanthia nodded, "Holocenth's Herbal, page 236," she said, indicating the
>page on which there was the recipe for a mild but highly effective
>anti-anxiety elixir.

Th'rin nodded to Clarissa who headed out to get some of the elixir. "You
haven't answered my question," he said turning back to the girl, "How are
you doing this morning?"

"Okay."

"Good," he grinned. "I do need to get home. Merissa's going to need to get
to her office. But Clarissa will make sure you get everything you need. And
if she feels you're ready, you'll be released this morning."

"I'm ready."

He chuckled, "Please let Clarissa do the diagnosing on this one, okay?"

Xanthia shrugged. "Okay."

"Hey, how would you like to join Merissa and I for dinner tonight. It'll
give you a chance to see your nephew again. You won't believe how big the
little guy is getting. He's certainly going to have his father's size!"

"The baby?" she asked wrinkling her nose.

"Don't worry, Xanthia. He doesn't cry near as much as he used to. I think
you'll find him entertaining. He's very responsive to attention from
beautiful women. And he is surrounded by them!"

It was true, between Merissa, who Th'rin thought must certainly be the most
beautiful woman to walk the lands ever, to Racine and Mara who fawned over
him constantly, to even Cill, who seemed to have a grudging interest in the
boy. The girl seemed to want to know if that's what her new brother or
sister was going to be like when born.

Racine was just entering the third trimester of her pregnancy, and seemed
to be having little discomfort and no more problems. Th'rin was sure it was
due to the lack of stress in her life now.

Xanthia was still thinking about his question, so he nudged her a bit.
"Com'on, it'll be fun."

Elissa
***

Elissa was surrounded by a group of new dragonriders who were watching the
strange red-head who'd dance herself to dizziness at the party. Now she was
soaking wet and dripping oil everywhere. Goodness! She was so weird!

One girl leaned over to her, "She's an oddball, that one is." Elissa nodded
in agreement.

The girl continued, "And rumor has it she's a healer!"

"You say she's a healer? I don't know if I'd trust her to do surgery on me,
she might drop the scalpel!" Elissa said in disbelief. She hadn't meant to
say it. It just sorta slipped out. And as some began to laugh around her,
she paled. She saw the trainer, Cali looking at her unhappily and her
cheeks burned bright red. It was a look she'd have gotten from her mother
when she was disappointed in her actions.

Suddenly there was a hissing and she felt fear, but didn't know why. She
turned to see the strange girl's black dragon charging them, even as
Patinari move clumsily in front of her knocking her down into the dirt, and
scattering those around her.

Elissa could see other hatchlings moving to their dragons as well. She felt
a down draft of air as a shadow rushed past her. She pushed herself off the
ground to see the silver queen dropping from the skies between the two
hatchlings. Elissa hazel eyes were wide as she watched the silver queen
silently scolding her children.

Patinari
***

<But she rushed my rider ..>

<Only because she hurt mine!> The two young ones argued.

<STOP!> Cricket roared. <Dragons do not fight. Dragons do not threaten
other dragon's humans.> The two looked shamefaced at their mother. <Now go
back to laying down and let the humans worry about their petty hurts! You
are dragons! You are above that!>

<But look at Xanthia crying ..> Maxima protested.

Cricket turned a soothing gaze to her hatchling, <You need to comfort her,
little one. Keep your anger in check, and see first to your rider. Lute's
human will deal with Patinari's.>

Elissa
***

"I didn't mean to," the girl sobbed, ".. honest."

Cali looked at the girl, "I think you need to apologize to Xanthia. We are
all dragonriders here."

Elissa nodded, wiping her tears from her cheeks. She was mortified. It was
bad enough she'd made such a horrible mistake, but to have to face the
girl! She wasn't sure she could do it.

"Go on." Cali insisted.

Elissa raised her eyes to where the red-head sat unhappily. Then taking a
deep breath, she walked slowly toward her.  She stopped when she stood
directly in front of the girl. Next to her stood the ebony haired girl
who'd been trying to help her. She looked angrily at  Elissa.

Elissa looked away from the girl, she felt bad enough as it was. "Xanthia
.." she said softly. "I .. I'm really sorry .. I didn't mean it."

***
<<after lunch>>

Elissa felt tears run down her cheeks as she hugged her father. He was
leaving. He was really leaving .. and without her. The finality of it
struck her hard. "Bye papa .." she said, her voice shaking as she fought
back tears.

"You can come with us if you want," her father said, lifting her chin.

She shook her head, "I can't be without Patinari .. she can't be without
me. But I'll miss you .." Her slender body shook as she finally gave in to
her sobs.

She looked up as she felt her mother, who had just joined them, ran a hand
over her head, "My Elissa .." the woman's voice broke with emotion.

Elissa released her father and grabbed her mother. "I'm sorry mama. I'm
sorry .."

"Shh, it's all right. We'll come visit you again. And you are welcome home
anytime .."

"But Patinari .."

"We'll worry about that later," Rebessa said gently, "Just remember, we
love you."

"It's time to go, Bess," her father's voice broke in.

Rebessa kissed her daughter  on the forehead and stepped to the carriage
that was waiting for them. "Good-bye, baby." Her eyes glistened with tears.

Gil rested a hand on her shoulder for a moment before following his wife
into the carriage. The door shut and the horse were urged away. Elissa
stood watching them for a moment, then turned and ran to the green.

She ignored the angry cries of those she barged past as she ran to where
her dragon lay with the other hatchlings enjoying the sunshine. The girl
collapsed on her dragon and sobbed loudly.

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
Elissa & Patinari
***
NRPG: Morgie, I left you lots of tags here :) One for you as well Jeanette! :)

Jeanette, I will get to T'jellan and the afternoon practice in my next post.

BTW, I remember that when my parents first left me up at College for the
first time (3 hours from home) I shut myself in the bathroom and cried for
a good 10 minutes! :)

Kris


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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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