From: "Kristen Gant" <kgant@interaccess.com>

Lecia
***
<<Day 4 - Evening >>

>Ilara looked at the copper dragonet as she finished, "Sadie was the one she
worried about the most."  She smiled fondly, remembering unspoken arguments
about what was more important for a new hatchling - Erkvinen who'd already
brought more than one into the world, and Ilara who was in the middle of
doing so.

In a rare moment of compassion, Lecia threw her arms around Ilara, and
comforted her, "She knows, Ilara .. she knows .."

She smiled slightly in pride at her good deed as Ilara in turn put her arms
around the young girl and accepted the gesture of comfort. Lecia smoothed
the girl's unruly red hair, kind of enjoying being the motherly figure here.
It was nothing like mothering R'har, which she was completely inept at. But
still it felt good to help another person. Perhaps this was how Lady Coneta
felt when she helped others.

For a moment Lecia was nostalgic for home .. and the castle of Lotherra
where she'd lived for 10 years under the lady's gentle hand. Still right now
she couldn't ever think of going back and being away from Sadie. And that
knowledge gave her a brief glimmer into what Ilara must be feeling, and
indeed helped her to be compassionate.

Lecia simply held the older girl, nearly beaming when she got an approving
nod from Nineve who had passed by to see if she was needed, but left in
silence, seeing that the newest queenrider had things well in hand.

What she missed the was dark eyes of her husband as he walked toward them.

<<NRPG: Here's an opening for B'lin, Taylor :) Hope you don't mind <G>
Thought it might be interesting to see what he thinks of this. Lecia, I
don't think knows that Ilara is gay .. and I'm not sure she would honestly
understand it. It certainly isn't something the landbound are open about! >>

Ce'lot
***

>Menia didn't budge and instead lowered her face into his, blinking one large
black saucer shaped eye before blowing a poof of smoke at him.

>"Britche.... do something with her..." Ce'lot coughed and sputtered as he waved
his hands at the smoke.

Britche nudged her, *Com'on, let him go. He can't help it if he's a little
dense. After all, he's only human.*

Menia continued to stare at him, and didn't move, though she did stop
smoking. *What does my rider see in him?*

*He's annoying,* Britche agreed, *But he's also completely wonderful .. not
to mention he's the wing leader.* There was more then a slight hint of pride
and love in the patchy dragon's words.

Ce'lot walked around Menia's huge head and moved to Britche's side. He
leaned back against his dragon and hung his head, fighting the wave of
depression which swept over him. *Gods, Brit .. I've lost her and I don't
even know how ..*

He looked up to see Menia moving around to fix him in her gaze again. He
groaned, "What!" Turning to his dragon he threw the great beast a look of
exasperation, full of question. What did that damn bright red dragon want
anyway!

*She thinks you've hurt her rider ..* Britche explained.

*ME!!* Ce'lot nearly screamed at his dragon. He shook his head and turned to
eye the large red head still glaring at him.

"She's the one .. KISSING him! I'm the one who should be hurt! I've done
nothing but love her! And she .. she .." the wingleader screamed at the
dragon.

*What is he going on about ..* Menia asked Britche.

*Human things ..* Britche shrugged by way of explanation. *He's very
concerned about your rider mating with other humans. You know how they get
about such things ..*

*She only wants a bit of comfort and attention. Which I'm not sure this
little one is capable off.* She again blew a puff of smoke at Ce'lot and he
fell to his knees coughing.

*He is a good human, Menia,* Britche warned her. He did agree that Nuns was
being silly over this whole thing .. however, he did not like her veiled
threats ..

*Very well .. I'll leave him alone,* she moved back from the human and
instead turned to face the dragon. *But he must stop hurting my rider!*

*They must stop hurting each other ..* Britche reminded her firmly. Perhaps
the younger dragon did not realize that his human had feelings just as
strong as those of her rider.

Menia grumbled as she moved back to her comfortable position beside the
dirty white dragon. *Maybe we were wrong to try and get them together ..
they just don't know how to it right!*

*They were good together,* Britche nuzzled her, as he remembered the
wonderful feelings of passion that flowed through him when Ce'lot and
Belarade were together.

Menia also nearly purred at the memory and rested her head down against him.

Ce'lot looked up at the two dragons, hardly believing the traitorous dragon
in front of him, *Does this mean you're turning your back on me? ME? Your
own rider?*

*Of course not, Nuns. Menia just needs my comforting now. She's very upset.*

Ce'lot growled, "Fine! Just Fine!"

***
<<Day 5 - morning>>

Ce'lot awoke the next morning perched uncomfortable atop his dragon's back.
He'd tried to get Britche to take him to the apartment to go to bed. But
unfortunately the dragon insisted instead on going to the lake, because
Menia thought a swim would improve her mood.

Britche both felt his rider wake and his annoyance at still being at the
lake. The dragon rarely ignored the needs of his rider, however there were
times when if truth be told, his rider did not know what his own needs were.
In those instances Britche had to do his thinking for him. And he was sure
that a swim in the lake would cheer his rider up as well.

Without a word to his dragon, the man slid off his back and headed to the
lake to bathe. He missed the look of smugness on the dragons face, but not
the 'I told you so ..' feeling. He ignored it, not sure whether he was going
to speak to his dragon again or not.

***

When he finally emerged from the water, he was feeling a hundred times
better. He'd pushed Belarade out of his mind and concentrated only on
scrubbing the dirt from his body, until it glistened a healthy pink in the
water.

*I knew you needed a swim .. * Britche called to him.

*What about that crimson beast? Is she still with you.*

Britche ignored the barb from his rider, *No she was hungry and went to
feed.*

*I'm surprised you didn't go with her and leave me here.*

*I would never leave you, Nuns, you know that.*

*Do I?* Ce'lot for all the good the swim had done him was still more then a
little annoyed at his dragon.

*Now you're being silly come here and let me dry you off ..*

***

Ce'lot was surprised by a strange woman, as he emerged from the undergrowth,
dress and ready to face the new day.

>"Who are you?" he asked.

>"Tina, and this is Shella. Who are you?" asked Tina relaxing her fighting
stance when she saw that he didn't reach for his sword.

>"My name is Ce'lot and this is Britche. I'm a Alpha wingleader of  Xylian."

>"Thank the gods we made it." said Tina. "Listen we're from Marrid, and
something horrible has just happened. I need to speak to your warren lady
immediately, and there may be two other riders from Marrid, if they're not
here they may well be dead."

"Marrid?" the name was unfamiliar on his tongue.

"Yes .. Marrid. It's .." She waved her hands, "Far away, in the lands that
don't have pockets .."

"Oh," Ce'lot nodded. He now remembered Gor'd speaking of the lost warrens
before. Marrid must be one of them. "What's going on?"

"The magic is fading, and it's killing the dragons .. and strange creatures
.. are popping up .." Tina explained.

"Hmm, that's not good," He shook his head, "I'll take you to see Rhia right
away. Follow me."

She nodded and he turned to Britche and climbed on his back

*Did you see that!* Britche asked as he launched into the sky with the odd
dragon, Shella, behind them.

*What?*

*She checked you out.*

*What??*

*I think she likes you. I saw her looking at your back as you turned .. and
she had those eyes ... you know the ones that tell you when a human female
wants to mate.*

*Don't be silly, Brit! The girls been through shifting magic, I hardly think
Sex is on her mind!*

Regards,
Ce'lot & Britche
***
NRPG: Well, James, I don't think Ce'lot knows Tina very well, does he <G>

Jill, We're coming your way .. BTW, D'nar is in the city of refugee's (did
we ever name that??) and I'll get to him in my next post.

Kristen

*********************************************************************
  |\  /^~~^\  /|
 -qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp------------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Telnor Warren, Dragonrider
                      Th'rin & Areena, Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla
                      Devon & Xanith
                http://homepage.interaccess.com/~sgant/Kris/kris.htm
 --d----------b-------------------------------------------------------
        ()
       \()/
        \/

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