[Xylian warren, afternoon on the same day Billy went swimming]

"Umm, Tiera?  Can I ask you something, please?  I've got a problem, and
I've tried more than once to talk to H'lie, but he either doesn't hear me
even when I ask right in his face, or he's too busy.  And it's really
bothering me..."

Tiera nodded, feeling that if it had Sarilyn looking this sad, it had to
be very serious indeed.

"Sure, ask!"

Sarilyn picked at the edge of her tunic, and sighed softly.  "It's about
Billy, well..not *exactly* Billy, more like Billy and his dragon, Chai."

  Giving Sarilyn a slightly confused look for a moment, Tiera blinked.
"Something is wrong with Billy's dragon?"

  "Oh no, not at all," Sarilyn answered.  "Not with Chai, or with Billy
really.  It's...well..drat it all!  I love Billy, you see, and he's   
Joined
to a female dragon.  So that means that he will like, well...male riders,
and where does that leave me?!"

  The young rider started to cry, not knowing how else to explain other
than that, and slumped sadly, feeling like she'd lost the only other real
friend that she had here, other than Lunath, of course.

  Tiera blinked again, this *was* a serious thing, and Sarilyn was
certainly right to worry.

  "Oh boy, that is a problem.  Let me see if I can help explain it.  Ok?"

  Sarilyn looked hopefully at Tiera, as she hugged Lunath close, and
waited for the 'solution' to her problem.

"Well, first things first. I'm sure that Billy loves *you* for all his   
many faults he's not got a bad bone in his body. I'm sure he wouldn't lie   
to you or lead you on.

Billy can still love you, and find you attractive while fancying other   
men." said Tiera.

"Really?"
"Yes, I haven't told Billy this yet as he hasn't needed to know, but his   
father was like that." said Tiera.
"How did you cope?" asked Sarilyn.
"Cope? Well he was always faithful to me, except at the mating flights,   
so I never really looked at it as a problem. You have to remember that   
the warren folk live a different way of life, relationships mean the same   
don't get me wrong but they're, how can I put this? They're more open."   
Tiera saw a look of confusion on Sarilyns face.

"Well Billy will sleep with other men and you will as well. It's part of   
being a dragon rider. When Lunath or Chai initiate a mating flight they   
will be caught by a male.

You know what it's like when your dragon experiences a strong emotion,   
you experience it as well don't you?"
"Yes, I felt hungry when Lunath first hatched, and uneasy worried when   
Rhia fainted." said Sarilyn.

"Well you're going to share the *passion* when your dragon mates. You   
will be very attracted to the rider of the dragon who catches Lunath."
"Can't you fight it?" asked Sarilyn.
"Some people can, but it's very hard and no one can manage to fight it   
one hundred percent of the time.

So it's just become an accepted part of everyday life. It won't mean   
anything when it happens, it's all just very natural.

Does that help at all?" asked Tiera sure that Sarilyn was now more   
confused than ever.

"I think so."
"Look at it this way, most men like women, some like other men and some   
find men and women attractive. Billy is probably one of the third group."
"I see." said Sarilyn.
"Can I ask you one question?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Did Chai and Lunath try to push you two together?"
"Yes. Yes they did." said Sarilyn almost blushing. Tiera gave Sarilyn a   
gentle hug.
"Well to me that usually seems like Billy loves you, otherwise Lunath and   
Chai wouldn't have worked together to push you and Billy together.

First rule in life is to enjoy it, you and Billy are still young and   
people change as they grow older. You may end up growing apart," Tiera   
saw Sarilyn almost ssit up straight. Obviously she wasn't keen on that   
idea! Thought Tiera to herself so she quickly added "or grow closer   
together. One thing is for certain you will both change. Enjoy each other   
company while it lasts. From what I've seen Billy cares a lot for you and   
that's what counts.

If you have any problems and just want someone to talk to, just come and   
find me. It can be hard making the adjustments from landbound society to   
warren society, but I've been there and done that as they say."

[Tag Jeanette]

NRPG: I hope that helps Jeanette, I wasn't sure how far to go, any more   
questions just ask!

If there are any mistakes or misinformation there I'm sure someone will   
be good enough to point it out to me! *grin*

James
xxx