[Neryssa, dining hall]

        <Neryssa, she can't talk or hear,> Oliathan told her.

        She frowned momentarily, still touching Chelea's wrist.  <That's
terrible,> she sighed, feeling sorry for the dragonrider sitting
opposite her.  "I want to talk to you," she thought aloud.  <There's
bound to be a way I can reach her, Oli?>

        Oliathan traded thoughts with Nebavri for a moment, then sent
back, <Images.  She can understand images, Neryssa.  Still think you can
communicate?>

        <Watch me.>  Neryssa took her hand away, lifting her fork so
that it stuck straight up between thumb and forefinger, and Chelea
looked at it in uncomprehension.

        <Fork,> Neryssa told Oliathan, closing her eyes and imagining
the fork in her mind's eye.  It wasn't the same, but almost.  She opened
her eyes.

        Oliathan didn't catch on straightaway.  <Fork,> he told Nebavri,
sending the image.

        <Fork,> Nebavri told Chelea, passing the image on, though none
the wiser for what it really meant.

[Tag Bridget!]


[Ilara, riding behind Sarilyn]

        "Ummm, that way," Ilara pointed.  She frowned, hoping that what
she knew of the area was right on.  "I hope it's not too far away," she
murmered.

        <Ilara, where are you going?> asked Erkvinen inquisitively.

        <For a ride with Sarilyn, love.>

        <Don't be too long.>  There was a warmth in the queen's reply
that filtered through the clipped words.

<...>

        Ilara saw the sky darkening, but not having very warm clothing
was the least of her worries.  She hadn't been able to send clearly to
Erk for the past few minutes, which was worrying.  That, and clinging
closely onto Sarilyn as they rode was giving her the hots, much as she
knew she ought not.

        She tried to wriggle into a better position, but for fear of
falling off more than anything else, couldn't do much.  The burning
flush in her cheeks was such that she didn't want to tell Sarilyn to
slow up.

        "Ilara, I can't seem to reach Lu."  Well, now she knew she
wasn't alone in that.  "Is that bad?"

        "I don't know," she replied tentatively.

        "Well, it can't be much farther," Sarilyn said cheerily.


[Erkvinen, with Lunath]

        The metallic red nudged the luminous blue.  <Ilara's been gone
an awfully long time... and I can't hear her in my thoughts.  She's
there, but she's not there.>

        Lunath reacted with shock, <My rider's the same... and I'm
starting to get hungry.  Erk, I'm scared!>

        <Me too!> Erkvinen admitted, cuddling into her anxiously, trying
to ease the nerves both of them felt.

[Tag Jeanette!]

-o+<nrpg>+o-
Bridget: I know it's oversimplifying it a little *grin* but I guess
association works first-best with things you see/use/know everyday
*shrug*.

Jeanette: A few wild-cards there *grin* ;)

  Sam M. Edwards o-o Ilara/Erkvinen [XYLIAN DragonLands]
                 o-o Neryssa/Oliathan [XYLIAN DragonLands]
Ilara@positronix.demon.co.uk -o- http://www.positronix.demon.co.uk/
Feedback! Take a moment to tell me what you thought! :)
  "Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast." - Arnold J. Rimmer