-=Lisha=-

*Day 15, Morning*

>"Um... I need to talk to you... about a new partner. You know, since
>Shawnee's gone." Lisha stammered, still looking at the ground.
>
>Derry studied her for a moment, frowning slightly at the way the
>formerly forthright girl effaced herself.
>
>"No."

No??? What did he mean "No"??? Filled with consternation Lisha snapped
her head up and looked Derry in they eye, a look which he returned in
kind, but without any malice.

>"Lish, you just had major surgery.  I haven't gotten a report from
>Th'rin yet, but even if he had cleared you for duty, I wouldn't assign
>you a new partner."  He held a hand up as tears filled her eyes.

{Is it my breast?} she wondered anxiously, feeling more self-conscious
than before. {Why does having one breast exclude me from duty?}

>"Lisha -- no, it's not whatever you're thinking.  You're an excellent
>rider, and I want you on patrol.  But I want *you,* the confident
>young woman I know, not the shy, self-effacing person who came in
>today."  He saw her bite her lip, and he tried to smile encouragingly,
>but he wasn't sure it got through to her.

{Shy? Self-effacing?}As she pondered this she just became more
self-conscious, crossing her arms in front of herself.

>"Lisha."  She glanced up for a moment and looked away.  "Lisha, you're
>a beautiful young woman.  That hasn't changed.  And I should know, I'm
>rather a connoisseur of lovely ladies, or I was before a certain young
>WarrenLady caught me..."   A small giggle escaped Lisha and he laughed
>too.  "But believe me, you're *still* beautiful and anyone who doesn't
>think so isn't worth your time, okay?  But until *I* know that you
>believe yourself competent and worthy -- yes, *worthy* Lish -- I'm not
>putting you on patrol.  I want to know that you're not going to let
>anything happen to you because you don't think you're worth it.
>Okay?"

Lisha looked aghast, "You think I would... suicide?" Truth be told,
the thought had crossed her mind a time or two. "I... I value Hyacinth
more than that. I'd never do that to her."

Derry sighed, "Well you really need to value *Lisha* more than that.
That's the point I am trying to make."

"Value me?" her tone was skeptical.

"Yes, *you*. You mean a lot to a lot of people."

"Yeah, right. The women here hate me or look at me with pity, and the
men... Well, look how R'han reacted!"

"I'll talk to him." Derry promised.

"And are you going to talk to every other male in the warren that
reacts the same way? Derry, my dear Derry," she smiled at him softly,
"You are truly a worthy catch. Trinale is a more fortunate woman than
she realizes. Most men aren't like you. Most men, they looked at The
Body, they want Two Breasts, a Whole Woman. When they see me, they see
Half a Woman, then they run in fear and embarrassment...." She paused.
"At least..." she finished a shyly, "That's how it looks from where I
stand."

***

Day 16, Morning

Lisha woke to find the tall Sayli still nestled on the bed beside her,
his right hand cupping her breast. Tears filled her eyes, the man was
so special. He deserved someone better. No, she corrected herself, not
better, rather someone who loved him the way he deserved to be loved. 

She traced a finger around his ear. "Sayli..." she murmured his name
softly.

"Mmm?" He looked up at her, his eyes smiling.

"Good morning, handsome," she smiled back.

"Good morning, gorgeous," he returned, kissing her softly on the lips.

"It's time for us to bath and head down to the dining hall. Then you
need to report for patrol and I need to report to Th'rin for a
check-up" she smiled coyly.

The two got dressed and Lisha looked up at him and said something
she'd never before said after a mating flight.

"I want to thank you, for last night. I know that at first it was
dragon lust that pulled us together. Let's face it, it's mere chance,
it means on the whole nothing other than your Onyx was faster or more
clever than the other males. But you didn't have to stay."

"Will we see each other again?" Sayli asked.

"Perhaps. But... Derry was right, I need to heal first, not just
physically but emotionally. Last night was a big step. I don't know if
I'll ever be the person I was, or if I even want to be, but I need
time to get my self-confidence back before I'm any good to the Warren
or anyone else."

<Th'rin's looking for you,> Hyacinth nudged.

"Oh poop!" Lisha frowned. "Looks like you'll have to breakfast
alone... I'm late for my appointment at the Med Center." With that she
mounted the deep red dragon and took off in the direction of the Med
Center.

***

NRPG: Wendon, hope I got Sayli right. Sorry I didn't post Lisha
yesterday, wasn't sure how to work her in.



                \=/,         _-===-_-===-_-===-_-=======-_-===-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                  )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood    )
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