Elissa
***
<< Day 14 - Early Evening >>

"You're going to have to see Derry," J'red told her as he helped her off her
dragon's back, when they had landed safely in Whiteriver.

Elissa grimaced, "I know .. I don't suppose that he'll let me wait long to
see him either .." It wasn't going to be pretty .. and she knew it.

"Not likely," J'red agreed.

"Okay, I'll get it over with now," she nodded, then looked up at him with a
weak smile, "By the way, J'red," She added, "Thanks for coming to get me.

He smiled and nodded slowly. They both stood staring at each other. Elissa
felt herself moving toward him ever so slightly .. leaning toward him, even
as he slowly leaned toward her. Her eyes closed, her head tilted up and her
lips parted slightly in anticipation of his kiss. But it never came as they
were interrupted by Derry's strong voice.

"Welcome back, Elissa," His voice was not as pleasant as his words. The
wingleader stepped up to the girl; his face serious and Elissa knew she'd
not even imagined how upset he would be.

"I'm sorry, Derry .." She told him quickly, "I .."

"Sorry isn't good enough!" She was told. "You know the rules. No one is to
go out alone .. let alone without letting someone know where you were going!
You are an adult now and expected to behave like one .. which includes
taking responsibility for following the rules and protecting yourself and
your dragon. We can't be watching you every minute. Do you know you had an
awful lot of dragonriders worried sick about you? Not to mention taking up
dragon power that would best be put into stopping these attacks on our
warren!"

Elissa's lip quivered as guilt assailed her. She had only been thinking of
herself .. and not Pitty Pat or anyone else. Derry was right .. she should
have known better!

"It's time to grow up and face your responsibilities. As of this moment you
are placed on restricted status. You are not to leave the warren and you
must report in every morning and each evening. You're patrols will now be
spend at the watch towers. Do you understand?"

Elissa looked from Derry to J'red, who looked about ready to try to defend
her. Both knew that she'd had her reasons for leaving .. even if it was
wrong. She spoke before J'red could. She didn't want him getting in trouble
because of her, "I understand .."

Then she walked off, leaving the two men watching her. J'red turned to
Derry, "Don't you think that was a little rough .. She was attacked .."

Derry nodded, "Yes, it was rough. But we can't baby dragonriders. You and I
both know that. It's not good for her .. or for us."

Racine
***
<< Day 16 - Late Afternoon >>

>"Your transport will be ready whenever you are my Lady. Sariss and I offer our
services."

"We can't ask that of you, Kanler .." Racine said.

"You didn't. I offered."

Racine considered .. then she nodded, "Fine, then can we leave tonight."

"Of course."

"I'll start packing." Racine told him.

He nodded, "Then I'll be down to pick you and children up after dinner?"

"Thank you, Kanler," Racine nodded.

***

Racine ran into the girls room and began throwing clothes from their drawers
onto the bed. They would never be safe here! K'leev would always haunt them
.. at least until he was dead. She paused for a brief moment, then pushed
the morbid thought from her head. She would not stoop to his level. She knew
what he'd done to that woman .. Shawnee's mother .. Gods! What might he do
to her or her children!

She began working with a renewed fervor.

"Mama! What are you doing?" Mara asked in dismay as she surveyed the growing
pile of clothes on her bed.

"We're leaving!" Racine said. "Mara, grab a satchel and start filling it."

"NO!" Mara cried, "No mama, we can't leave. I don't wanna leave!"

Mara's eyes were beginning to fell with tears. "Damn him!" She'd lived for
far to long in his shadow. First with barely acknowledging that she was
alive. Her own father! Watching the way he treated her mother and Th'rin.
How many times had she wished him dead .. only to feel guilty about it
later?

Finally feeling free now that he was gone. She was happy! She wasn't going
to let him ruin it for her again! Never again! "So what if he's back! He
doesn't want me! He's never even been interested in me! I'm not going to let
him drive me off!"

"He'll never leave us alone, Mara. You saw what he tried to do. I can't
chance that he'll come back and try something again. Because he will you
know. They had him locked up and he got away! He was banished and yet he
made it back into the warren."

Mara was silent. Everything her mother said was true. She was in a dilemma
.. not wanting to give in yet again to her overbearing father, but knowing
her family wasn't safe from K'leev.

Suddenly amid the cloud of confusion she was feeling, an idea hit her. It
was perfect! The only problem .. would her mother allow it?

"Racine!" A voice called from the other room. It was Merissa! Finally the
gods were pulling through for her, Mara thought. Merissa was jut the person
she needed.

"In here, Merissa." Racine called.

The junior queenrider hurried into the room and wrapped her arms around
Racine. "Oh Racine .." she said soothingly. "I heard what happened. How are
you?"

"I'm packing," Racine said simply. "It's not safe here. I have to get my
children somewhere safe."

Merissa frowned, "I'm so sorry to hear that .. but I do understand."

Mara saw her chance. "I'm staying," she announced strongly.

Both women looked up at her, "What?"

Mara did not falter, she couldn't. If she wanted them to take her seriously
and listen to her, she needed to be strong in her resolve. "He isn't
interested in me." She explained. "He won't bother me. Besides, if we all
leave who will help out Merissa and Th'rin with the Bear?"

"We can always find help, Mara," Merissa assured her, "You and your family
are at stake here .. and that's most important."

"I don't want to leave," she said again, "I'm finally happy here. Please
don't let him ruin that for me again!"

"But Mara, where would you stay? You're too young to be on your own." Racine
tried to talk some sense into the girl.

"I could stay with Merissa and Th'rin," She insisted. She knew she was being
rude by saying so without asking, but she was feeling she had no choice,
"That is of course, if it's okay with them," She looked pleadingly at
Merissa. "It just makes things so much easier .. I'd be there just in case
anything happened. It's got ground access so I won't be a bother .. I'll
cook .. I'll clean .. anything .. only please don't make me go .. Please .."

Regards,
Elissa & Patinari
Racine et al
***
NRPG: Jill and Arlene, hope you don't mind what I've done with your PC's ..

Kris
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       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena,Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
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