> [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.

  Lunath shivered, not from the cold, but from worry.  Her rider was
*always* there to feed her, and care for her.  Why would she just go off
and leave her alone?

  Snuggling against Erkvinen, she became more and more hungry, and began
to itch as well.

  << I'm scared, Erk!  I can't reach her at *all* now, and I'm *hungry*!
And I itch!  Why would she just go off and leave me like this? >>

  Erk used the tips of her wings to help with Lunath's itching, and
rumbled almost sadly.  << I don't know, and mine wouldn't do it either!
And look at the sky, will you...it looks stormy.  My rider will get wet
and sick, and...oh, where *is* she?! >>

  A soft question entered both young dragons' minds at the same time.  It
was from their mother, Queri.  << What has you both so upset? >>

  Erkvinen answered first.  << My rider is gone, and I'm hungry, and it's
going to storm and.. >>

  Lunath butted in, sounding as upset as her clutchmate.  << I itch!  Erk
is helping to scratch me, but I'm hungry too!  My rider never leaves me
alone.  I'm *scared*!  All of this over a short ride? >>

  Queri let out an angry **BUGLE** that got the attention of every other
dragon in the Warren.  << They WHAT?!  They left you both alone, and just
took off without telling *anyone*?!  Riding where? >>

  Erk replied, sounding a bit unsure.  << To wherever everyone else went?
I can't reach my rider, I can't *hear* her!  I'm scared! >>

  Lunath answered, sounding more and more scared, and alone.  << They are
on a horse, and I can't hear *my* rider either! >>

-----------------------

< Sarilyn and Ilara >

  The sky darkened as much as it was possible to, and then the bottom
simply fell out.  It started to pour down, soaking both girls in a very
short time.

  Sarilyn rumbled, and let out a soft curse as the water ran down her
face, plastering her hair to her back, and making her clothes cling
tightly to her body.

  "I'm sorry, Ilara!  I didn't know it was going to rain!  Are you ok? "

  Ilara shivered against Sarilyn's back, just as soaked as the other rider
was.  "I'm wet, shivering, cold, and worried.  I can't hear Erk at all
now!  Other than that, I'm fine! "

  Sarilyn brought the horse to a stop...under some trees, and helped Ilara
dismount.  "We have to get under cover till this storm is over.  Maybe we
can dry off a bit too.  I do hope we don't get sick!"

  Quickly wrapping the reins around a low hanging branch, Sarilyn flopped
under one of the bigger trees...away from the hardest downpour of rain.
Looking up, she watched as Ilara sat in a soggy mess next to her,
shivering.

  "I'm sorry, Ilara.  I really didn't mean to get us into this.  And
you're freezing!"

  Reaching for the junior Queenrider, Sarilyn pulled her close, trying to
get her warm...wrapping her arms around the girl, and rubbing her body,
trying to get some heat into her as she sat shivering.

[Tag:  Sam!  What other heat did Sarilyn get going?  ;) ]

---------------------------------------------------------

Jeanette
Sarilyn/Lunath * Xylian