Moira sat up and irritably rubbed the sand from her eyes, she had not
slept well. Yawning, she washed and climbed into fresh clothes and
wandered out to the main room. Her dreams had been haunted by the
sensation of being confined in a small tight dark space, of wanting to
break through the walls holding her and go looking for something. She
had always had vivid dreams, but never something like this, it was
very odd. After giving Barry a hug and seeing him off to the shop she
steeled herself and headed for the dining hall. She wanted a cup of
coffee to sharpen her wits and then she would try to see Trinale.
 ****
The coffee had been accompanied by a breakfast roll one of the cooks
had insisted she take, stating that she was thin enough as it was and
people would think the dragonriders didn't feed thier own to look at
her. Moira had smiled weakly and hadn't argued.  The delicous looking
confection might as well have tasted of sand for all she noticed, but
it did settle the coffee in her stomach. She mused over how quickly
things change, last she had gone to see one of the queenriders she'd
been shaking in her boots, terrified for her safety. Now she went
heavy of heart, not fearing for herself but for everyone else. 
Sighing quietly , she stood and made her way to Trinale's offic,e
pausing once or twice to nod a hello or wave to someone she
recognized. Standing before the door she straightened her skirt,
brushed futilely at the wisps of hair around her face and knocked on
the door. 

 "What can I do for you?" Trinale asked her. 

 "I need to talk with you, Warrenlady" Moira started, hesitant to
 begin on such a dread topic. 

 "Trinale, please" Trinale interrupted.

 "Trinale, you must listen." Moira said urgently "There is still 
 great danger to the warren!"

"Sit down, please. "Trinale said setting aside the papers she had been
holding and focusing on the tall woman before her. "What threatens us?
That..person..who attacked Xanthia died.."

"He wasn't alone." Moira said, her voice flat and her pale eyed stare
intense. "I've been trying so hard to make sense of the things I saw
when I handled the arrowheads, and from what I heard him say before he
died. I've almost felt I'd go mad trying to sort it all out..." Moira
leaned across the desk and gripped Trinale's hand. "I haven't gone
mad, but I am very very frightened, and for good reason. "

Trinale looked into the face of the woman before her and saw dark
circles from weariness, and haunted eyes. The intensity of Moira's
straightforward gaze spoke volumes. "Tell me, tell me all of it."
Trinale said nodding.

"The man who attacked Xanthia, he had always been an evil man. He was
a criminal from the time he was a young boy. He joined a..a religious
group, for lack of better to call them, of many people, all of them
are criminals in one way or another. They worship a blindfolded
Lady..."

"From the coin?" Trinale interrupted. "Is that the lady he mentioned
at the last?"

"Yes." Moira nodded and continued. " I don't know if she is a real
being or an idol, but they worship her with a fanatacism. They believe
that she gives them license to perform whatever acts necessary in
order to rid the world of dragonriders and dragons, and they are no
small group Trinale. I didn't get any idea of where they are from or
where they gather, I tried so hard, but all I can tell is that there
are many of them, and they take measures to keep themselves from
revealing too much if one is captured. I didn't really quite
understand it, I've never heard of anything like this...but what it
boils down to is there is a religious movement out there comprised of
the worst villians the world has known, and they have been given the
blessing to assault dragonriders, warrens, and dragons. "

Moira took a deep breath, dropping her gaze and shaking her head.
Trinale thought she saw the beginnings of tears in the girl's eyes,
but Moira blinked and continued with resolve. "I've already asked
J'red if he would get me a good belt knife. One suitable for fighting,
and I'm going to learn how to use one. I hope I'll never have to, but
I think it would be a wise precaution. "  Moira paused to run her
hands over her face, then continued. "I won't presume to tell you how
to handle this. What I say next is how I would handle the situation in
your place, and I say it to impress upon you how.....intensely...I
know what is coming.  In your stead, knowing what I know,  I would arm
the entire Warren, keep an eye on the children at all times, and
increase the guards. Every adult, male or female, would know the
rudiments of defending themself if need be. All entrances to the
Warren would be guarded, indeed, we would have a number of our own
people attempt to sneak in however they could so that we could find
every possible way in."

"You're talking as though it were a war Moira..." Trinale said,
beginning to shake her head.

"It IS a war Trinale!" Moira's exclaimed loudly, jumping to her feet.
"It's a holy war, and we are worse than Wraith's to them!! Think how
we react to a Wraith, this is how they feel about us! " Taking a deep
breath, Moira continued. "Please, I know it seems very hard to
believe, but please, at least increase some security around the
Warren." Moira's voice dropped and became saturated in grief. " For
they will strike again, and again....give the Warren at least some
chance and keep in mind what I have said. You will see eventually,
that I speak the truth. "

"It's not that I don't think you speak the truth Moira. I'm troubled
as well, this whole thing has been very frightening. You speak of
strong measures, and I have already been thinking of what we need to
do in case this person had friends who might come to avenge him. I
just had not seen the picture as large as you speak of. I will take
what you've said well into mind, don't fear. I won't have my Warren
under seige by madmen." Trinale's face was stern. "I will be talking
with others about what we are going to do, and will share what you've
said. Can we call on you if we have any questions?" Moira nodded, a
wieght seeming to come from her shoulders. "If you think of anything
else or see or hear anything else, please let me know right away." 

Moira nodded and began making her way to the door. "I need to get back
to the shop, I'm working on some clothes that need to be done quickly.
There really is nothing more to add Trinale, but if I think of
something else I will tell you immediately."

Trinale stepped from around her desk and took Moira's hand. "Thank you
for letting me know about this. I've talked with Merissa, I know you
have trepedations about your gifts, but I think in this they are going
to serve well. "

With a weary lopsided smile, Moira nodded and made her way out the
door, feeling part of the burden that had been on her shoulders
lifted, but saddened that it had been transferred to Trinale.
 ******
Barry had a surprise for her when she returned to the shop, a
beautiful tunic and trousers of the rich blue velvet, with insets of
pale cream and delicate embroderiey tracing along the collar and
sleeves. 

"Oh Barry, it's beautiful!" Moira gasped, gently holding the tunic up
and gaping at it. "How did you get it all done?"

"My dear, you have been very busy! I've gotten it done a bit here and
there at times when you were needed elsewhere." The elderly tailor's
face beamed as Moira quickly jumped into the changing booth and tried
on the outfit, then came out expressing that it fit perfectly! 

Moira ran her fingers gently over the tiny silver dragons that danced
and cavorted around the edges of the sleeves and the collar, then
threw her arms around Barry and hugged him fiercely. " It's perfect
altogether!"

Chuckling, Barry hugged her back. "I'm glad you like it, I can't
imagine anyone else would look so well in it. " 

Moira gently let go of the tailor and looked back down at the outfit
she was wearing, then lifted her gaze and looked the old tailor
squarely in the face. Her voice a bit hoarse from emotion, she simply
said. "Thank you."

"You are more than welcome child. Now, change out of it and lets get
these clothes finished up for young Truan, you two will be a fine
looking pair standing on the sands with the hatchlings! "

***********
It was nearly lunchtime as Moira quickly snipped off the last thread
and held up the tunic she had been working on. She had worked musical
notes and pictures of Morning Glory about the sleeves and neckline,
she hoped that Truan would like them.  The shop bell dingled as she
glanced up and saw the J'red and the  young boy enter and smile at
her. With a grin she hopped up and held out the tunic. "Well laddie,
and do you think your dragon friend will recognize you wearing this?"
Smiling, she showed Truan the collection of clothing she and Barry had
put together and shoo'ed the young man into the booth to make sure
they all fit well.

Moira glanced up at J'red and nodded slightly. "I spoke with Trinale
this morning."

"You did?" J'red replied. "Whew...I'm glad to hear that. What did she
say?"

"She's worried too, I think even more so now. She wants me to tell her
anything else I think of, and she's going to talk to some other folks
about stuff to do to make the Warren safer. I guess we'll hear of the
rest along with everyone else." Moira answered with a shrug, then
grinned as Truan came dancing from the booth to show off his clothes. 

******
Tag David and Arlene! Didn't know if maybe J'red had found a knife or
not..... 
******
 Moira was carefully folding and placing the new
outfits in a bag for Truan when suddenly all the dragon began roaring.
Fear shot threw her as she looked up at J'red, frightened that he
would announce another attack on someone from the Warren. Smiling, he
reached out and took Truans Hatching Day outfit from her hands and
handed it to the boy. "Good timing that. Go put this on, the eggs are
hatching!"

"The eggs are hatching?" Moira reputed, stupified. "OH!" Whirling
around she bumped into Barry who had just picked up her outfit to hand
to her. Laughing, he shoo'd her into the other booth to change.

"Hurry! It happens quick!" J'red called as  the sounds of people
rushing through the street outside echoed into the shop. Moira and
Truan dashed out a moment later, Truan clutching Morning Glory in his
hand and Moira attempting to pull back her hair into a tie. "Leave it,
it looks nice down and the dragon doesn't mind hair much. "J'red told
her with a laugh, then quickly ushered them out the door with Barry.
They climbed aboard Firefly and headed for the hatching ground.

***********

Moira gasped as she and Truan ran towards the cavern, the place was
crowded with people. J'red led the way, calling out "Searchlings
coming through, searchlings coming through! Out of the way!" Moira was
grateful for his help. Clutching Truans free hand she smiled
encouragement to him as they followed J'red's wake into the crowd at
the entrance.  Suddenly there was a tremendous roar and flash of
light, and the ground shook fiercely, throwing people from thier feet.
Moira staggered, catching the back of J'red tunic trying to keep her
feet and hold Truan up, but found herself thrown to the ground
regardless. Vaguely she wondered if Cricket had found a candidate
unsuitable, but then heard the cries of injured people, screaming
dragons and the smell of things burning. Her heart turned cold as
dread overwhelmed her.

**********
Moira stood in the small group of people that were what was left of
the searchling candidates.  One of the riders had rounded them up and
brought them to where one of the dragons had carefully moved the few
surviving eggs, which were rocking weakly in an effort to hatch.
Gently she wiped at Truan's tear stained face with the torn sleeve of
her tunic, and brushed  futilely at the wild mane her hair had become.
 She could see people moving around in the hanging smoke across the
way, taking care of the wounded. She had wanted to go and help, but
J'red had insisted that there might be a hatchling that would need her
more.  

A few of the  eggs were rocking and soft pings and cracks were showing
in the shells, Truan let go of Moira's hand and walked around to one
side to look at one of the eggs, Moira caught sight of one nearly
beginning to roll from the efforts within. Hesitantly, she approached
it hoping that she could stop it from rolling to far before it go to
much momentum. 

The shell was a vaguely greyish, but had that unusual quality that it
also seemed pink, and lavender and many other colors as well. Moira
gasped and took a step back as a huge chunk of the shell fractured off
and fell to her feet, a pale green gleam shone from within. Moira's
dream from the night before, of being enclosed in, of wanting to get
out suddenly came back to her, then the shell shattered and a dark
dragonchild fell out, nearly colliding with her. 

Startled, Moira froze, looking at the soft moist hide of the
hatchling. It's head turned towards her, the pale green eyes trying to
focus. Hesitantly she held out a hand, not quite touching the dragon,
not knowing what to do.

*What has happened?* The voice echoed in her mind seemed nearly
swallowed in shock. *Where....* With a soft cry Moira stepped forward
and gently wrapped her arms around the head and neck of the frightened
dragonchild. *Moira, what happened?*

"It's all right, you're hatched and you're going to be fine and you're
with me and I won't let anyone hurt you, ever, ever, ever." Moira
chanted as she gently hugged the dragonchild.  Gently she led it to
the side where some food had been prepared for the surviving
hatchlings, her concentration completely absorbed with trying to send
reassurance to the deep indigo colored creature. 

"What's her name Moira?" Someone asked from nearby. 

"Vasra." "Moira answered quietly, knowing that her world had been
turned upside down and inside out and would never be the same.
************
 If Moira is about when those coins are found you can bet
she's going to want one. Sorry if it's a little jagged in the 
writing, but I had just completed a post when Rob's came through, had 
to do a serious rewrite of the end....that's the way it goes!!

Rhiannon, writer of:Moira (someday to be rider of Vasra)