**Lisha**

>"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem a little preoccupied. Anything I can do
>to help?"
>
>"Na..." the girl turned away. "I guess I'm still not rested p from
>yesterday. Hey look... would you mind.. I know we're suppose to go on patrol
>later today.. but do you think we could switch with someone else for the day?"

Lisha tried to be delicate when making her excuses, not wanting to
broadcast about surgery later that morning. Secrets were not kept well
in the warren in any event, especially amongst those who were
dragonriders. She'd hushed Hyacinth, for now, but didn't dare tell a
single human.

>"Sure.. If you're not feeling well then certainly," Shawnee knew now there
>was something wrong.. but unless her friend wanted to tell her abut it there
>was nothing she could do.
>
>"But if you need anything later... or to talk.. just let me know," she told
>her. "I'm going to be tied up for a bit this afternoon... I'm waiting for
>some word about something.. but after that."
>
>Lisha attempted a smile. It looked a little to weak for Shawnee's liking.
>"Sure... if I need anything I'll remember that."

The two women no sooner parted when Lisha received the notice from
Hyacinth, <Areena says her rider is ready for you.>

Lisha drew a shaky breath, ominous feelings surrounding her. But there
was no escape now. She mounted Hyacinth and flew off with great
reluctance in the direction of the med center.

***

** After surgery **

Lisha peeled her eyes open and looked around the unfamiliar room. Then
she remembered, the surgery. She attempted to sit up and groaning with
the pain of the effort, fell back into the bed. Why did it hurt so bad,
she wondered groggily. It was only a biopsy, after all. 

Every breath she took sent a dagger of pain through her chest. She
furrowed her brow as the feeling overtook her that something was
horribly amiss, a biopsy should not hurt so much.

Gritting her teeth she raised herself up and pulled down the gown to
regard the bandage, which covered half her chest. She shook her head in
confusion. No, this wasn't right not at all. With morbid curiosity she
gingerly pulled loose the bandage.

She uttered a guttural scream. What she saw was hideous beyond anything
she had possibly imagine. "Damn you, Th'rin!" she screamed through the
tears, weeping openly into her hands.

She heard Hyacinth keening sorrowfully in the distance, and screamed and
cried even more.

The nurse opened the door, "Can I help you, miss?"

"Don't look at me, get out!" Lisha screamed at the nurse.

"Your bandages, let me fix them..." 

"I said get OUT!" Lisha screamed, and tossed a vase of flowers at the
surprised nurse. 

***

"What's the matter?" Th'rin asked, sifting through the frantic nurses
that were trying to calm the enraged patient. That was when he saw her,
chest bared, stitches where a once voluptuous breast used to be nestled
next to it's twin. He hadn't meant for her to find out this way. 

"Oh gods, Lisha..." the healer began.

"You *PROMISED*!" she raved hysterically. "You *LIED*!!!"

"Lisha... please listen... I did everything I could. There was no other
way."

"You said there were drugs... herbal remedies..."

"They wouldn't have been effective. It had spread too far. Now that the
breast is removed, we can maybe use those to prevent a recurrence."

"Look at me! Look at what you did to me!" she wept accusingly, "I'm not
a woman, I'm a MONSTER!!!" 

*****

NRPG: Tag Kris! She's a *little* bit upset, to say the least. How is
Th'rin going to get out of this one?

Everyone should know by now of Lisha's surgery, between Hyacinth's
keening and Lisha's tirade in the med center. 

Will do something for Xanthia later this week. Still not sure *when* she
gets back. Maybe that's why she wasn't there when Shawnee had her baby?

Hm... now what kind of trouble can I get Xanthia into now??? <Thoughtful
look>




                \=/,         _-===-_-====-_-===-_-==========-_-====-_
                |  @___oo   (    Submitted by:                        )
      /\  /\   / (___,,,}_--=    Jacqueline "Morgan" Allgood          )
     ) /^\) ^\/ _)        =__    morgie@iquest.net                     )
     )   /^\/   _)          (_                                         )
     )   _ /  / _)            (      The heart and soul of:           )
 /\  )/\/ ||  | )_)            (_    Xanthia/Maxima of Whiteriver     )
<  >      |(,,) )__)             (   Kattibrie/Calishandra of Telnor )
 ||      /    \)___)\             (_                                 )
 | \____(      )___) )___           -==-_____-=====-_____-=====-___==
  \______(_______;;; __;;;

Morgan's World http://members.xoom.com/Morgie/

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