**Xanthia**
[Med center, night before the wraith attack]


>Th'rin held her, not wanting to let her go. He knew human contact wasn't
>something she sought out, and he was a firm believer in it. She needed
>this, and he was going to give it to her for as long as she needed it.

It felt good, protective, calming. Xanthia melted into Th'rin's arms,
relishing the security of their embrace. She'd seen Th'rin hug Merissa
in a similar manner. Was this what Merissa felt at such times, Xanthia
wondered, ever eluded by the mysteries of human interaction and emotion.
In some ways Xanthia envied the queenrider, as she did most people, for
Xanthia knew she was not normal and therefore would have a hard time
finding someone to love her. 

What *is* love, she wondered: is it this feeling of security in a man's
arms, or was there more to it? She sighed as she decided she would never
truly know.

>Finally when she seemed calm enough, he pushed her back a little and looked
>at her. "How are you feeling?"
>
>"Better."
>
>"Good," he smiled and moved to kiss her on the forehead. "Maybe you should
>go home and get some sleep. It's been an emotional night for you."

She looked up at Th'rin, confused at the kiss and at being sent to bed.
His tone was gentle, too, not like when Corra would send her to bed, to
get rid of her. "You are always sending me home to bed," she stated
curiously, looking for more input.
>
>He chuckled. "Oh gods .. do I sound to much like a father?" He shook his
>head, "Not something I ever expected myself to become .."

Father? Is that how he felt toward her? Xanthia looked at Th'rin with
confusion, not understanding the father-daughter relationship either,
having never known a father, or anyone who acted like one.

>"Why not?"
>
>He shrugged, "It's a long story. I'll tell you another time." In reality he
>was hoping she'd forget .. He squeezed her hand and smiled down at her,
>"Now as I said before, 'Go home'."

She eyed him again, trying to decipher his demeanor, but could sense no
malice... at least she didn't think so.

<He's not angry, is he> she asked Areena, figuring if anyone would know
it would be the man's dragon.

<No,> the small dragon chuckled, <He's just looking out for you.>

<Why?>

<He cares for you. Humans tend to get pushy when they care.>

<Like he cares for Merissa?>

<No, that's different.>

<Like he cares for Oberon?>

<Um... not quite, but closer. It's hard to explain.>

<Is care like love?>

<Um... sort of. It's hard to explain. You can care about someone, or you
can love someone, or you can care about someone you love.>

"Oh," Xanthia said aloud, trying to come to grasp with the idea.

"Oh, what?" Th'rin asked.

"Something that Areena was explaining to me, that's all," Xanthia said,
and turned to leave.

***

[Morning of the wraith attack, med center]

<Wraiths!> Xanthia could hear the cry from every dragon in the warren.

<What? Where?> the small healer asked Maxima.

<In the warren!> Maxima cried.

<Stay under cover, I may need you to be an ambulance later.> Xanthia
instructed as she began pulling out supplies to care for the injured she
knew would be arriving soon.

Other healers were doing the same, the whole med center was soon buzzing
with activity and anxious murmurs. In the midst of the confusion,
Trinale came out of her room.

"What's going on?" the queenrider asked Xanthia.

"Wraiths in the warren!" Xanthia told her excitedly.

"Damn! I still can't hear Cricket!" Trinale exclaimed.

"I can! Stay with me, help me here with the wounded and I'll help you!"
Xanthia said, having a moment of inspiration.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll listen and talk to Cricket and the others for you, but you have to
tell me what you need to know."

***

Soon the wounded were being brought in. Xanthia had never seen such a
full med center before, and wasn't sure where to start. She was glad to
have Trinale's help, and that of the other healers though.

Apparently the look on her face gave her away. Th'rin gestured, bringing
two fingers up and pointing at his eyes with them, "Focus, one patient
at a time, don't think about the whole picture or it will get to you."

Xanthia nodded and headed to the first patient on her list with Trinale
in tow. "Focus," she repeated to herself.

***

Th'rin was right, focussing on one patient at a time made it much
easier, and she fell right into her healer role, a far different person
than she was normally. As a healer she was almost... well... normal.

"How are we doing?" Trinale asked.

Xanthia paled as she heard the news.

"What is it?" Trinale asked.

"It's Grunth's rider, he's been badly hurt. They are bringing him in
now."

***

Xanthia and Trinale were dealing with the last of the injured when a
tall blond male was escorted in, arguing with the attendants.

"Sit down and let me look at that arm!" Xanthia ordered.

"That can wait! You have to listen to me! Please!" R'han looked
pleadingly at the warrenlady and the healer.

"Arm first!" Xanthia insisted, already cutting away what was left of his
sleeve.

"It's Tarv'renon!" R'han blurted out, "He's escaped!"

The blood drained from Xanthia's face as her body began to tremble and
tears began trickling down her face, her healer facade that she'd
maintained throughout while dealing with the injured crumbling at as she
became a scared, confused woman-child again. "I don't understand..." she
murmured, somewhere between a whimper and a whisper.

*****

NRPG: Tag Kat! Wasn't sure how fast everything happened, so timing is
flexible here. 

With a little TLC and a reminder of her responsibility Xanthia should
pull through and resume her healer role long enough to deal with her
duties.



 
                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__                                          )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      Danika/Kalindeth of Daere        )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia/Maxima of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_ Yasmine/Starlin of Marrid       )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;