Th'rin
***

The thought of a party for Oberon cheered the healer for a while. As he
talked with Racine and the girls quickly jumped on the idea of a party for
Oberon, he almost forgot the other anniversary the day brought. He was
caught up in their excitement and even got an endearing smile from his baby
brother.

Oberon, however took note of his father playing with the 'other' baby and
charged him, "DAH!!!!!" He grabbed Th'rin's arm and pulled him away, trying
to show him toys Mara and Cill had brought out for him.

Th'rin sighed, "You know, little bear. Just because I smile at Neeril
doesn't mean I love you any less .."

The boy continued playing, showing Th'rin the toys as he did. Th'rin shook
his head.

Racine chuckled, "I wouldn't worry about it Th'rin. Mara was the same way
with Cill at first."

"Mama!" Mara exclaimed, the 15 year-old girl was at that stage, when just
about anything could be, and usually was, embarrassing.

Cill chuckled, but said nothing as she continued to play with Oberon. Again
Th'rin noted the lack of fire in the girl. She seemed happy. She smiled,
she was friendly, but there had been a perfect opportunity for her to
torment her older sister, as had been her temperament prior to her
kidnapping. But she didn't do it. She remained silent.  Th'rin supposed it
was good that she was growing up. But it still caused him some concern.

"Well, I need to get to the med center." He mussed Oberon's thick dark
hair, "See you later, Little bear."

"DAH!!!" Oberon frowned and grabbed his hand again, stubbornly trying to
show him yet another toy.

"I have to go, Oberon. I'll come see you for lunch .. maybe Mama will too."

"Mama?" Oberon asked.

Th'rin smiled, "I'll be sure Mama comes for lunch."

The boy clapped his hands and returned to playing as he chanted, "Mama!
Mama! Mama!"

Racine followed him out of the apartment, "Th'rin .. how's Xanthia."

"She'll be okay. She just needs some rest."

"Good."

***

The walk to the med center was a long one, and he could easily have called
Areena to fly him there and it would have gone much faster, but again he
was struck with missing his friend who, though hard for the young man to
believe, had been gone a full year now. The walk gave him time to spend
thinking of her and remembering the good times.

"Oh Aradia .. if only you could still be here. You would be so proud of
your son." He whispered to her as though she were standing beside him.

T'jellan
***

>"Well I guess that's all there is to it then," he said and turned away
>from her.

>"I'm sorry T'jellan," she said softly.

He left quickly. Having been turned away by her yet again. Gods! He had
been so sure this time. He'd thought maybe she'd love him ..

But she'd been so adamant about the fact that it hadn't been her in his
hospital bed. He'd seen her eyes, he knew she wasn't lying. So then who was
it. He obviously hadn't just dreamed it. For if he had, Grunth would have
known. Grunth was not some hatchling who couldn't tell the real thing from
a dream in his rider. And what about Aldorra, who had seen her.

He shook his head, what did it matter who it was now that she didn't want
him ..

He hurried as fast as he could back to his ground floor rooms.

Racine
***

>"I never knew her. But I miss her." Xanthia said softly. "Does that make
>any sense?"

"Of course it does, dear." Racine said gently. "I didn't know her well
either .. but I see her all the time shining out in Oberon's eyes .. and I
miss her too. It's especially hard for Th'rin and Merissa because they both
loved her very dearly."

"And Shawnee .."

"Hmm," Racine mumbled questioningly

"Nothing .." Xanthia sighed and smiled happily as she picked up Oberon,
"How does our little bear look?"

"Very handsome," Racine grinned.

Saul
***
<< Lunch time>>

>"I've only heard... a tale about the Egg of Omens... so you are saying
>that it was a real dragon egg? And Onyx hatched from it??" Merissa asked
>trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice.

"Egg of Omens?" Saul asked. He'd never heard of such a thing. "What is it?"

<<NRPG: Wendon, want to tell us about it :)>>

The bearded rider sat and listened to the man's story, caught up in it.
There were many religions throughout the Lands. But Saul had kept himself
separated from all of them. As he recalled his mother was a believer in
some god or other, but he and his father had not been tempted to join in
her beliefs.

Hutch had believed only in the power of his own wits, and had passed that
along to his son. He looked up as suddenly the air filled with the sound of
joyful dragon roars.

<Saul, the eggs are hatching!> Fayloth called to him.

<Now?> Saul asked, <It's only been a little over a month .. it's not time!>

<Who can tell with eggs ..> Fayloth said, seemingly unconcerned with the
earliness of the hatching.

His attention was drawn to Merissa who stood up and smiled. "Please, join
us Sayli? The Warren Lady's dragon, Cricket, has a clutch of eggs that are
hatching..."

Th'rin
***

Th'rin took note of the time and cringed as he realized it was lunch time
and he'd not yet told Merissa about his promise to Oberon. He called to
Areena, <Can you call Chrysthal and ask her to get Merissa to meet us at
Racine's for lunch?>

<Chrysthal says her rider is having lunch with Onyx's rider. He is new to
the Warren and we must make him feel welcome.>

Th'rin frowned, <Tell her I promised, Oberon.>

<You know maybe you shouldn't promise things you can't deliver.>

<Areena!>

<All right! All right! I'll tell her.>

Just then a roar of dragon voices sounded and Areena called to him
excitedly, <They're hatching! The eggs are hatching!>

Th'rin sighed, "So much for lunch .."

<Oberon will be fine, he's with Xanthia. She'll take him to the hatching.>

<Xanthia! She's supposed to be resting.>

<She feels better when she's with Oberon .. She'll be fine. Besides your
siblings and their mother are with him too.>

Th'rin sighed. He headed into the small kitchenette to make himself a
sandwich. He decided that he would watch the med center while letting the
others go watch to the hatching. That's what B'ril had always done. And
there was no reason to stop tradition now.

Racine, Mara & Cill
***

They had arrived at the hatching cave and found a seat in the stands.
Racine had watched her eldest daughter as the hatching had brought a
silence to the girl. "Mara," she said quietly. "You know you're welcome to
stand at the hatching. Saul told you so."

The girl shrugged, "Why?"

"Maybe you have a dragon who is going to be hatched today?"

The girl shook her head, "No .. I don't think so."

"Sweetie .."

"No Mama!" Mara snapped, then looked down, "I'm sorry. But I know there
isn't one for me."

"How do you know that dear? Saul said you have the affinity. I could happen."

Mara shook her head, "No, Saul was just being nice. Father used to say .."

"Do not even think about your father, Mara. What he said doesn't matter!"

Mara nodded, "I can't do like Th'rin did, mama. Stand up there hatching
after hatching and be rejected .."

Racine put a motherly arm around her daughter, "All right. You sit here
with us .."

Mara nodded thankfully.

Tevel
***

Tevel had been on his way to the dining hall when he heard the roar of
dragons and saw everyone beginning to gather at the hatching cave. Was it a
hatching? He wondered. He'd seen one hatching when he'd been about five,
but that had been it. He's visits had rarely included hatching.

He decided his stomach could wait until after the hatching. Besides, Saul
had mentioned that perhaps he should be a candidate. Tevel hadn't taken it
seriously at the time, because he'd been sure he'd go back home to
Killaglen before this .. but now ..

His mother had always told him he'd make a good dragon rider .. as had his
father .. He cringed a little as he remembered that he and his father were
not exactly on good terms. Their talk the day before had helped, but had
not made thing completely normal.

He headed into the hatching cave and made his way toward the sand where
several eggs rocked gently. "So is one of you for me?" he whispered.


Regards,
Saul & Fayloth
***
NRPG: I know, I know .. another two parter ...

Kristen
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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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