[ The following text is in the "iso-8859-4" character set. ]

    [ Your display is set for the "US-ASCII" character set.  ]

    [ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ]

Apologies for anyone getting this twice... I thought I sent it last night,
but maybe I didn't?

Day 36
Windtide

The wraiths were closing in around the dragons at every turn.  They seemed,
somehow, to be more "aware" of the dragons than before... as if they didn't
just mindlessly go after the available flesh simply to feed, but were
attacking in groups to destroy their age-old enemies!

<We're low on coal!>  Firefly announced, and they teleported back for more.
The coal sacks were being filled by all able bodied non-riders in the
warren, and a charming, well-endowed girl that J'red recognized from the
kitchens, handed him up a sack.

"Wish us luck, Zara!  We really need it today!"  J'red called out as he
directed Fire to lift off.  In seconds they had teleported in behind the
first line of defense.  The battle was wearying, and dragons and riders were
making careless mistakes.  They heard the screams of injured dragons and
J'red worried that Abbien would be overwhelmed back at the med center,
patching up all the hurt wings and singed membranes.

****
Indirect TAG to you Barb.. what is Abby doing back at "home".  Did Kanler
have any tactics that he'd picked up over at Cleft that might help them win
this wraith attack?

****
Evening.

J'red was bone tired as he and Kanler headed into the med center.  J'red's
arm needed bandaging, but mostly Kanler and his wing second wanted to check
on how the injured were doing.  A brief report from Clarissa gave them the
heads up and the two men went straight to the dining hall.  After each
grabbed a tray of food, they spotted 'Tonio seated off to one side and
joined him.

"I noticed your flying today... impressive,"  J'red commented to 'Tonio
between bites of food.

"Nothing special...,"  'Tonio replied. "I think you both fought very well,
and managed to keep the wing together, despite the way the wraiths were
acting!"

J'red turned to Kanler, "Was this what it was like at Cleft?"

"No... that was worse.  Those wraiths we fought today were only a fraction
of what the wraiths were like at Cleft.  The ones at Cleft had a ... mind,
for lack of a better word... directing them.  They weren't just senseless
killing beings, but attacked with a purpose!"  Kanler shuddered, recalling
that terrible battle over Cleft.

"But, I swear, these wraiths today were fighting like they knew what they
were doing!"  J'red exclaimed.

"Maybe in a way they still had some of the hive-queen's commands lodged in
whatever they use to think with,"  Kanler suggested.

The two other men considered this a moment. "If that's the case, then I sure
hope we got all of them.  I certainly wouldn't want them to breed and
produce more of those!"  J'red stated.

Kanler and 'Tonio both nodded, realizing the horror that sentient wraiths
might create.

****
TAG:  Chris and Barb.  Anything to add here?

****
Day 37
Early Morning
Merissa and Th'rin's apartment

**Pain, wraiths!  Fear... Alone....running... a mist, swirling and
clinging... faces, floating, fading.  Can't reach them! ... crying, a baby.
Oberon.... no, not Oberon, another with flaming red hair and familiar hazel
eyes!... Th'rin... Xanthia!  Gone... and Tarv'renon... the mist... no,
WRAITHS!  Must run... Falling, drowning, sobbing... alone!**

Merissa's hand reached out and clutched the empty sheets beside her, and
with a final gasp she shook herself awake out of her nightmare, only to
discover that it was only partly a dream, as reality came crashing back
down.

She was alone.  Tarv'renon was in the med center with wraith burns... and
Th'rin.... She sighed as she got out of bed to go look for him.  She tiptoed
past Oberon's room, and heard the familiar breathing of her mate coming from
the room that used to belong to Th'rin's half-sister, Mara.  Mara had only
recently moved from the training barracks to her own apartment with her
pretty purple Melodaria and had been by to clean out her belongings.
Merissa had tried very hard not to cry when the girl moved out, knowing that
it was really for the best for Mara.  Oberon missed his Aunt Mara, though,
and Merissa vowed that she'd take him to see her that afternoon.

Leaning against the wall in the hallway between the two bedrooms, Merissa
listened to the sleeping sounds of two of the most important people in her
life.  How could she let anything... or anyone... come between her and them?
For their sake, she decided, she would accept what had happened with
Xanthia, and try to forgive Th'rin his indiscretion.  She didn't have to
like it, but she wouldn't let them see how much it hurt her.

With that resolved, she moved down the hall into the kitchen and started a
pot of coffee.  That did the trick.  Soon the aroma was met with stirring
noises from the bedrooms.  A moment later Oberon came into the kitchen.  But
not the normal, bouncy, energetic Oberon.  A much subdued and lethargic
little boy greeted his Mama -- silently.  Along with his energy, his small
vocabulary seemed to have vanished as well.

When Th'rin joined them, Merissa was looking obviously upset, which
immediately put him on the defensive.  He slunk over to pour himself some
coffee, expecting the worst.  However, what she said surprised him.

"Th'rin... take a look at Oberon...," Merissa's voice quavered just a bit as
she looked down at the boy.

Th'rin's coffee was immediately forgotten as he knelt in front of his Bear.
His experienced healer hands and eyes scanned over the child, noting the
coloration, the lack of energy, the weight loss and ... the mouth sores.
"Merissa...?"  Th'rin looked up at her, mirrored concern in his eyes.  "I
think, Oberon is going to go to work with me this morning, aren't you,
Bear?"

The boy barely nodded.  Past trips to the med center with Th'rin had always
elicited exited jumping about and whoops of glee.

Merissa also nodded, "Yes, I think that's a good idea... his teacher, Sarah,
said that they weren't going to be having school today, anyway, since most
of his classmates seem to have some sort of virus...."  Her voice trailed
off.

"Virus... maybe.  But I'm wondering if this isn't more than that.  I'm going
to check some of my books at the office, and I want to send a message to
Tinobal."

"Yes, send a message!  I'm sure Eleanora won't mind taking it."  Merissa
exclaimed.

****
TAG: Kris and KK... please, get an answer to this situation so we can move
ahead with finding the mercury source (right, Brian?  ::smile::)

****
Before they could finish breakfast, there was a knock on their door.  Both
Th'rin and Merissa jumped to answer it; Th'rin reaching the door before
Merissa.

"Xanthia?!"  Th'rin exclaimed, in surprise.

Merissa couldn't help but notice the woman running her hand over her
obviously fecund abdomen and stiffened, waiting for her pronouncement of her
claim on Th'rin, but it was then her turn to be surprised.

<SNIP FROM MORGIE'S POST>
"I... uh... I just thought you'd like to know. Tarv is awake," Xanthia told
the warrenlady and head healer, nervously diverting her gaze from theirs.
... "He's been asking for the two of you."

"So he's going to be okay?" Merissa asked.

"Physically yes... But he seems a bit... upset... about how he got wounded.
Talking strangeness about the wraiths 'ganging up' on him, as if a planned
attack... Have you ever heard of such a thing?!?" Xanthia exclaimed.

She sighed and continued, "Anyhow, Latnem is talking with him now. He...
Latnem... thought I should come tell you."

"Is there anything else?" Merissa asked after an awkward silence.

Xanthia shook her head, "Not really... I mainly came over to let you know
that Tarv's awake... Upset but asking for you both... You can go see him if
you like. Other than that, Corra called off sick so only Latnem's down there
helping me. Her head and stomach.... seems to be going around, whatever it
is. Which, speaking of, I'll have to get back to the med center... Bye!"
With that she turned and strode toward the black and red who was waiting on
her.

"Xanthia!" Th'rin called out, catching up with her as she mounted Maxima.

"Yes?" Xanthia asked.

"Are you going to be all right, taking a full shift without Corra's help?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Xanthia blinked in confusion.

"Well, you just got back, and it'll take a while to get back in the swing of
things... and..."

"And???" Xanthia queried.

"And I don't want you... you and the baby... overdoing it." Th'rin
confessed. "Just... be careful. Call me if you need anything."

"I will," Xanthia smiled sweetly. And with that she gave Maxima the order to
take her back to the med center.

<END SNIP>

Merissa released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.  That
hadn't been what she'd expected.  Why had Xanthia felt it necessary to come
to their apartment rather than just have word sent via the dragons? Had she
wanted to remind Merissa just how pregnant she was?  Merissa looked down at
her wash-board flat stomach.  She'd never wanted a baby, not after all the
terrible things her mother had said about having one... but... they had
Oberon, and honestly, he was her son, if not physically, in all other ways.
Was she jealous that Xanthia was having Th'rin's child -- a child that would
be related by blood to Oberon?  Where would her place be in their lives,
Merissa wondered?   Tears, unbidden, coursed down her face.

Warm, loving arms enfolded her.  "Merissa... he'll be okay.... Come on,
let's finish getting ready and we'll go over and see Tarv together, okay?"

"Tarv... yes."  She looked into the warm, familiar, hazel eyes and couldn't
help but love him.  Her Th'rin.  What had happened between him and Tarv...
and him and Xanthia... still couldn't change how she felt about him.  Her
slender arms encircled his neck and she kissed him, softly.

A soft giggle behind them broke their shared moment of peace.  Oberon stood
there with a smile on his face. Chuckling, Th'rin reached for their son and
brought him into their shared embrace.  "Family hug!"  The three laughed as
they hugged each other as tightly as they could.

Merissa sighed, knowing that this moment couldn't and wouldn't last, but
desperately wanted it to.  "I love you... both of you.  Now! Let's get you
dressed young man, so Mama can go see Uncle Tarv, okay?"

"And Aunt Xan?"  Oberon asked.

"Yes, and Aunt Xan, too, honey."  Merissa sighed again, taking the boy by
the hand and leading him towards his bedroom.

****
Mid Morning
Med Center

Oberon had gone with Th'rin and Xanthia to be examined more closely.  He,
along with a number of other patients, including Lia, 'Tonio's cousin and
Corra, seemed to have contracted some odd virus... only, according to
Th'rin, the symptoms didn't all match.  Most did complain of a stomach
upset, or lack of appetite, though, which was something that Oberon shared,
as well.

With trepidation, Merissa approached Tarv'renon's room.  J'lile, his nurse,
turned his piercing blue eyes on Merissa when she entered the room.  He
didn't say a word, just nodded to the warrenlady and went about his
business.

Tarv was resting, if not exactly sleeping.  His hands were swathed in
bandages, as was part of his face.  The rest of him was covered with a
sheet, leaving only a small patch of skin and hair visible.  The effect was
shocking.

"Merissa?"  Cracked lips parted and a smile came to the one visible brown
eye.

"Oh Gods, Tarv!"  Merissa's tears came in a torrent, and she rushed to his
bedside.

"Hey.. it's not as bad as all that, now,"  Tarv'renon murmured... "Is it?"

****
TAGS Morgie!

****
Late Morning.
Merissa's office

Merissa busied herself in her work, trying to take her mind off of the
disturbing events that made up her existence.  She could almost hear her
mother's voice telling her that worrying didn't put food on the table or get
a lick of work done... so don't worry, work!  Merissa scratched through the
reports, noting how the warren still was lacking in some of the necessities
since the attacks from the Cult of the Blindfolded Lady.  She would have to
turn some of the gardens over to growing crops she decided, perhaps
vegetables.

<*Chrysthal, my love?  Could you ask the others if any of their riders or
riders' family likes to garden?  And if so, could they please come see me?*>

Merissa could feel rather than heard Chrysthal passing the word along.

****
TAG: Bridget -- will N'lin heed the call? Any others?

****
Merissa was startled by the sudden knock at her door, "Well, that was
quick... COME!"

But it wasn't a would-be gardener, but rather Har'son and a gaggle of
searchlings in a line behind him.

"Good Morning, Merissa..."  Har'son stated plainly, and then eyed the
searchlings, "This is the warrenlady, Merissa."

"Ma'am"  "Warrenlady."   "M'lady."

Holding up one hand Merissa stopped the babble, "Merissa, is fine.  Welcome
to WhiteRiver Warren."

****
TAG Darren -- shall we JP this?

****
Noon

Merissa was just thinking that it might be a good time to have lunch, not
that she was particularly hungry, just that she wanted a break from her
office.  As she was pushing back the last stack of papers, there was a faint
knock on the door.

Sighing, Merissa called out her usual greeting, "Come!"

The door opened and Oberon's teacher came in, "I'm sorry to bother you...
but do you have a moment?  I wanted to discuss something that happened at
the school...?"

"Sarah!  Sure... look, have you eaten lunch?  No?  Great... why don't we go
over to the dining hall and get something and chat while we eat?"

****
TAG Bets!  Let her know all about what her mother's been up to!  ::smile::
And maybe they can talk about Oberon and the other sick kids.

****
Afternoon
Dining Hall

Merissa was just getting herself a drink to take with her when she heard a
voice calling her name.  Turning she saw 'Tonio heading her way.

"I hear you were a hero, yesterday!"  Merissa beamed.

"Me?  No... just did what every other dragonrider was doing out there,"
'Tonio smiled.

"You weren't hurt?"  Merissa checked him over for tell-tale signs of wraith
burns, but didn't see too many.

"No, I'm fine.. only few minor scrapes and burns ... I can't complain."

Merissa's eyes clouded over with thoughts of one who not only could
complain, but should.

'Tonio immediately picked up on the queenrider's distress, "I really believe
that Tarv'renon is going to be just fine, Merissa... he'll be fine!"
Putting his hand on the small of her back, 'Tonio propelled Merissa out of
the dining hall and over to the warren offices.  "You want to talk about
it?"

Merissa sighed, "Yes, I suppose I do... I had this nightmare this
morning...."

****
TAG Chris.

---
Respectfully submitted by
Arlene Jacobs
AKA Merissa, warrenlady, rider of Chrysthal of Whiteriver Warren.