Day 9
Evening

[SNIP from Kas's Post]
Rosie headed out of the dining hall. As she stepped out onto the green a
familiar face was coming toward her.

"J'red" she said with a huge smile.
[END SNIP]

"Daisy!" J'red smiled warmly at the searchling.

Rosie began to look behind her for her sister, but managed to stop herself,
just in time. "I've just finished dinner... where are you heading? Would
you like to join me?"

"I was going to go eat...."

"Great!" Rosie hooked her arm through J'red's, "I'd love to go to that
Tavern again... maybe for some dessert."

"Uh.. sure...." J'red looked at the inviting Dining Hall and the delicious
smells that were coming from it and then at the charming young woman on his
arm. "We could walk...?"

"Or maybe Firefly could take us?" Rosie asked, enthusiastically.

J'red laughed, "Ah.. I see it's my dragon you covet."

Rosie's eyes widened in mock insult, "Me? Would I do that?"

A moment later and the large red dragon landed before them on the green.

<I like her, my rider,> Fire remarked as the young woman stroked his nose.
<You should be nice to her.>

<*Nice? When am I not?*> J'red grinned at the large red.

The spent another enjoyable evening in each other's company, but J'red
called it a night a lot earlier than the previous evening... he had patrol
in the morning.

As they landed on the green, J'red dared to hope that perhaps, just perhaps,
he'd found a girl that liked him as much as he liked her. He hesitated a
moment and then reached out and gave Rosie a quick kiss on the cheek,
"G'night Daisy... see you tomorrow after my patrol?"

Rosie grinned and blushed, "Yes. I'll look for you!"

***
Day 10
Morning.

The early hour laying had been over with still plenty of time for J'red to
grab a quick breakfast and get out on Patrol. As he walked toward the
Dining Hall with the crowd, he spotted his new friend.

"Daisy! Wait up!" J'red called.

Daisy turned, surprised that someone would be calling her name. She
recognized the dragonrider that had greeted her the previous day. He
certainly was friendly!

"I've got a little while before I have to go on patrol... care to join me
for breakfast?"

She smiled and nodded a bit surprised, "Sure... I'd love to. I am scheduled
to wash dishes after breakfast is over anyway."

"So did you and your sister get to see the eggs being laid?" J'red asked as
they retrieved their food and sat down. He knew it was a stupid question.
Of course they'd been there -- Daisy had obviously been walking from that
direction.

"I saw them. It was amazing! I lost Rosie in the crowd, though I'm sure
she wouldn't have missed it for the world. She's probably still there,
staring at those eggs."

J'red grinned, "I'd like to meet this sister of yours sometime. She must be
really great, if she's anything like you."

Daisy blushed, "I... umm... thank you! That's very nice of you to say, but
you hardly know me."

"Of course, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound forward," J'red felt
confused. He was sure that she's shown interest in him last night and that
they had gotten to know each other fairly well. Perhaps it was a trick of
the lighting at the Tavern? There seemed to be something different about
her in the light of the morning, more reserved, shy even.

"No, I...," Daisy stumbled, "Rosie... if you saw her you'd know she's my
sister." Daisy said lamely.

J'red's eyes glazed over for a moment. When they again focussed on the
young woman sharing the table, he said, "Sorry, it's gotten later than I
realized. Firefly is waiting for me on the green and we're late for our
patrol. That's the whole reason I didn't want to stay out late last night,
and here I'm late anyway! I'll see you later, yes?"

Daisy nodded, "Sure.. okay. Later!"

[TAG Kas... is she confused or what?]

***
J'red and Firefly waited on the green. "Where is `Tonio and Demarco?" J'red
scanned the cliff looking for the other large crimson dragon.

<My rider. I'm told by Ephisa, who was the watch dragon this morning, that
Demarco has left Whiteriver.>

"He what? Where did he go? When is he coming back?" J'red stared around
in confusion.

<I don't think he is coming back....>

J'red stormed off to talk to Merissa.

***
"I'm sorry J'red. I thought he would have left you a note, too." Merissa
stated, perplexed. "He said he was called away due to some urgent business.
He didn't indicate when he returned, but from what Chrysthal said she got
from Demarco just before he left, they didn't think they'd be able to
return."

"Great, just great! I'm supposed to go on patrol by myself?"

Merissa thought for a moment. "No, perhaps you'd like to take Eleanora? She
isn't needed here for anything this morning, and perhaps it might be good
for her to get out on a patrol."

"Eleanora. Sure, fine. I wasn't planning on flying over uncharted areas of
the NomadLands, after all." J'red stormed off.

<*Fire, ask Cara where Eleanora is, would you?*>

<She's by the waterfall.... I could ask Cara to have her report in...?>
Firefly had gotten the distinct impression from Cara that Eleanora wouldn't
welcome being disturbed.

<*No, don't bother. I could use the walk!*> J'red stomped off, seething at
'Tonio for being so thoughtless.

****
The Cavern Behind the Waterfall

J'red frowned as he poked his head into the dark opening. <*You're sure she
went in here? Whatever for?*>

<Yes, I'm sure. That's where Cara said she went.> Firefly answered. <*She
says you can find some lamps if you look to your left.

Sure enough, J'red found lamps stashed to the left of the entrance.
Shrugging he lit one and followed a well-worn path into the cave. He paused
as he heard what sounded like someone in pain! J'red didn't waste time
calling out, knowing the girl was deaf. Fearing that she might not be alone
and could be in trouble, J'red raced through the tunnels as quietly as he
could.

He pulled up short as he rounded one bend and beheld a well lit cavern with
various items strewn about, and some very *interesting* artwork on the
walls. Among the blankets on a raised, natural platform, were too
individuals attempting something that looked like it could have come from
one of the paintings. He skidded to a stop, but not before his foot kicked
a wine bottle which skipped and bounced along the uneven floor.

Barsel looked over his shoulder, startled. Eleanora, of course, not hearing
the wine bottle, continued in her pursuits.

J'red backed away, mouthing... "Sorry... sorry!"

He turned and raced away the direction from which he'd come. <*Fire... I
think we're taking this patrol by ourselves!*>

***
Firefly flew over the White River, following it's curved path toward the
open plains of Fowler lands. The road stretched below them.

<Dust along the road... someone is approaching the Warren,> Firefly's
sharper eyesight caught the tell-tale signs of a caravan.

<*Guess it would be good manners to give them an escort in.*>

As they approached, J'red was only slightly surprised to see the Fowler
banner among the caravan. He knew it was only a matter of time before Lord
Fowler came to Whiteriver to deal with Lorelie. He was actually relieved
that it wasn't going to be prolonged and hoped that the men who had abducted
her would be punished. Anger still burned within him at the thought of what
they had done to the innocent girl. Not only had she been under Fowler
protection, she was a part of his warren-family as well. He was sure his
father wouldn't let him down.

He waved as he flew over the caravan, and they took a parallel course,
scanning the horizon for signs or wraiths as they rumbled on toward the
warren.

***
Respectfully submitted by:
Arlene Jacobs
AKA
Merissa, Warrenlady, rider of Chrysthal,
and J'red, Beta Wingleader, rider of Firefly, of Whiteriver Warren.