Th'rin
***
<< Day 16 - Afternoon >>

>They passed a table were Tarv'renon and J'red were eating lunch.  They seemed
deeply involved in their conversation.

>"I hadn't realized that Tarv and J'red had become such good friends!" Merissa
commented and noticed an odd look cross Th'rin's face and she wondered, but
did not ask out loud.

Th'rin hadn't either .. in fact, up until now he'd thought Tarv'renon had no
friends .. other then him. Everyone had been so suspicious of him because of
what he'd done to Xanthia. But that seemed to be changing. He was glad for
it .. wasn't he?

>They were both rather distracted by their work and other matters, and soon the
conversation died.  But the silence was a comfortable one.

>"Well, I should probably be heading back to the med center.  I think I'll walk
past the playground and see if Racine has the boys out playing." Th'rin
commented, as he piled his soiled dishes and flatware onto the tray.

>Merissa smiled at the mention of their foster son, but then her eyes clouded a
bit with concern, "Th'rin, do you think that Oberon is okay?  I mean, he
hardly talks... Racine said that sometimes kids don't talk until much later
than Oberon... but to be honest, Th'rin I'm a bit concerned...."

>"Oh, don't worry, Merissa.  Oberon is still well within the norm,"  Th'rin
reassured her.  "When he has something to say, he'll just one day start
talking -- you mark my words!"

>Merissa smiled and nodded, "I know... I know... I just can't help worrying.
Isn't that what mothers are for?"

>Th'rin joined Merissa in a heartfelt laugh.

Th'rin threw one last look back at Tarv, who was still sitting engrossed in
conversation with J'red. He wondered briefly what they had to talk about ..

>They cleaned up their plates and headed out.

>"I'd better check on Chrysthal before returning to work."  Merissa stated as
she headed towards the hatching cavern.

***
<< After K'leev escapes .. again >>

Th'rin frowned as he headed back to the med center .. hardly believing that
once again his father had swept in, caused havoc and ran back out. Damn him!
He wondered if he would be plagued by him for the rest of his life. Somehow
he was sure he probably would ..

<Hooray!> Areena let out a whoop.

<What?> Th'rin questioned, wondering what in the heck she had to be happy
about.

<Your hatchmate is going to live with us.>

<What??> Th'rin questioned again.

<Chrysthal just told me that her rider .. your mate .. agreed to let your
hatchmate live with us. The quiet one .. who takes such good care of our
Oberon.>

<Mara?>

<Yes! Hooray! I like her, Th'rin. I really do!>

<Areena,> Th'rin sighed, <Please start at the beginning .. why would Mara
come and live with us?>

<What does it matter!>

<Areena! If you don't know, find out! I don't have time to be running around
trying to figure out your cryptic messages! I have work to do.>

He could feel Areena's pout and he sighed, <I'm sorry, but please .. tell me
what is going on?>

Areena went on to explain .. using plenty of detail so that her human could
understand. After all it was a well known fact that Humans were obsessed
with details.

Elissa
***
<< Day 16 - Evening >>

Elissa sat with her head on her hands up in the highest peaks of the warren
.. her duty now. All because she had wanted to see her mother. She frowned
unhappily. She knew she had been wrong and she knew she deserved this, but
it didn't make things any easier .. and it certainly didn't make her any
less angry at Derry for giving her the punishment and at J'red for ignoring
her.

He hadn't come to see her .. or run into her .. or anything! Didn't he like
her?? She blushed remembering how she'd kissed him. Gods! He must think she
was a little fool. How could she have been so stupid!

She buried her face in her hands, wishing she could just forget any of that
had ever happened ..

It was the keening roars of the dragon's that brought her face out of her
hands as she looked up wildly .. panicking that she'd missed something she
was supposed to be watching for. <Pitty Pat, what is it?>

<The queen .. the queen .. and Dandy .. Gone .. gone ..>

Elissa stood up and looked down at the wee specks on the ground .. what had
happened .. what was going on ..

Th'rin
***

Th'rin had been sitting in his office when the accident happened, and he'd
found himself unable to do anything other then sit in shock in the aftermath
..

Areena's grief was overpowering as she communed with the other dragons in
the agony of loss. The keening buzzed in Th'rin's ears even as the door to
his office was thrust open and Xanthia pushed her way inside moving
awkwardly.

He was shocked as she threw her arms around him hugging him tightly in her
grief.

>"Why, Th'rin?" she cried, holding him and sobbing aloud the question that was
the most perplexing. "Why?"

He returned the gesture, gently caressing her hair, "There is no answer .."
There never was.

Xanthia continued to sob with her arms around him .. just taking comfort in
the human contact. Were it not for the sadness in his heart, he would have
smiled. Xanthia had just taken a real step toward humanity. She had sought
him out .. rather then pulling her hair .. or grabbing a knife .. or any of
the other hundred things she might have done when something upset her as
much as this.

He was going to spoil the moment for anything.

Regards,
Th'rin & Areena
***
NRPG: Okay guys, It's not a lot but it's out!

There is so much more I wanted to get to, but time is running short and I'm
flying out on an airplane this afternoon for a week long vacation at the big
mouse house in Florida.

You guys be good and I'll see you when I get back!

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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