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1. [DL-C] Visions of Triss Dancing In Ones Mind
From: "Barbara A. Matthews" <carolyn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 22:04:42 -0600 (CST)
From: "Barbara A. Matthews" <carolyn@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-C] Visions of Triss Dancing In Ones Mind
Snake Bait
(Same morning Reain takes off for Telnor with her daughters)
Lenna, sitting upon her dragon, Blanchie, arrived at the area where she
was to meet up with Turner and Kelly a short time after seeing Reain
and
the girls off to Telnor. She had taken just enough to time to get Rand
settled with the sitter, and change into dirty work clothing. Her good
leathers weren't going to be ruin by climbing around inside a dark
dirty
cave.
When she saw the amount of supplies her brother had laid in, she asked
if
he was planning on being out all night long.
"Well if not all night, Kelly grinned. "Then long enough so that he can
avoid Triss when and if they come ask her if they can have her blanket
to
use against the snake."
Turner glared at her. "Keep it up Grammy," he quipped before turning
back
to his sister. I want to make sure I have everything I need since I
can't
keep coming back if I can't find something."
"What he really means is that he doesn't want to be any where around
until
Triss finally falls asleep tonight," Kelly said in a quiet side to her
sister-in-law. "He doesn't want a repeat of the last time where he had
to
dress up in women's clothing to get past her again."
"I heard that. A real funny person aren't you," he growled as he tied
down
another load to Varie's saddle holders.
"You would have loved it," Kelly laughed when her mate glared at her
again.
Lenna ignored him and turned back to Kelly. "Oh I would have loved to
have
been here to see that."
"Andahar thought he was a woman," Kelly went on. "Be it a big ugly
woman
at that. One that was a bit touched in the head when she kept replying
to
all his questions with some unintelligent gibberish that didn't seem to
make any sense."
Lenna gave a loud snort. "I'll bet he didn't accuse Turner of taking
away
his honor when he found out he'd been played for a fool. Still he must
have felt like a fool when he found out he'd been coming on to Turner
instead of some woman."
"Not as much of a fool as Turner did," Kelly told her. "I thought I was
going to die laughing right then and there when the head dress was
pulled
off and there stood your brother, red face and bellowing for Andahar to
drop dead!"
"Are you two coming or are you gonna stand around all day swapping
fishwives tales to see who can make me look like the biggest loser..."
Kelly leaned closer to Lenna and muttered. "I think we hurt his
feelings."
"Maybe not yet," blue eyes twinkled in response. "But remind me later
to
tell you about the time when..."
"LET'S GO!!" Turner bellowed and Lenna could well imagined how it must
of
sounded the time when he got caught in women's clothing. "We don't have
all day for you two to stand around like a couple of crackling hens!!"
"Which means... he wants to make his escape and be long gone from here,
before the others find Triss and ask her to give up her beloved blanket
for use in fighting the damn snake thing with.." The two women laughed
as
they parted and headed towards their own dragons.
Sometime later they popped into the air about the entrance to the cave
leading into the mountain that housed the underground lake.
Lenna felt a small stab of fear as she remembered back to the first
time
she had been inside the mountain. While out searching for the
Warrenlady,
Cynthia who had disappeared from the Warren. Later it had been learned
that some sort of evil entity had taken over her body.. but not before
Lenna had been kidnapped by some rouge riders and left tied up in a
small
hard to find cave when speed to escape seemed the smart thing to do.
They
had dumped Lenna and ran, meaning to come back for her later when the
heat
died down.
Half the Warren had come looking for her when Blanchie had sent out the
alert her rider had been taken... the other half had been looking for
Cynthia.. and had found her just after the entity inside her had killed
Lenna's nephew My'kel by pushing him over the side of a cliff to his
death.
Lenna pushed the fear from her mind. It wasn't as bad this time as when
she had forced herself to come back after the kidnapping to help in the
search for the rouge riders. But the memory was still there hovering
around in the recesses of her mind.
Something was bugging her. A premonition of sorts. She didn't know what
else to call it. She looked around as if something was out there
watching... but she didn't see anything.
"You coming?" her brother called out as he set about unloading his
supplies from Varie's saddle holds. "Or are you going to sit there all
day
taking in the sun?"
"I'm a minute," Lenna called back to him and he noticed there was none
of
the usual sarcasm in her tone when she spoke. "I'm getting a weird
feeling here and I want to check it out."
Turner stopped what he was doing and looked around. He'd learned a long
time ago to trust Lenna when she said something like that. She was more
often right then wrong.
"Any idea what it might be?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No but I think I'm going to take Blanchie up and
do
an aerial look-see just to be on the safe side. It's probably nothing,
but
I just can't shake the feeling that we're being watched."
Turner, spooked a bit now turned to his speak to his mate when she came
back for a second load. Explaining what was going on as they watched
Lenna
and Blanchie take off skyward.
"Do you think she could be right?" Kelly asked him, even as she relayed
the request to her own dragon to keep a sharp eye on the land around
them.
"I don't know if she is or not but I think I would feel better if you
would ask Varie to take her nap up there on one of the overhangs so she
can keep watch of the cave mouth after we get the rest of this stuff
off
of her." He quipped, not wanting his mate to think he scared easily.
They quicken their pace, and when Varie's saddle was empty, she rose up
and landed on the ledge she had picked out, settled down with her great
head looking over the edge and began her watch.
Turner knew by the glossy look in his mates eyes that she was
bespeaking
the beast. His eyes sough the skies trying to find the big purple
dragon
of his sisters in the air, but Blanchie and Lenna were no where to be
seen.
"If I find out she used this as an excuse to get out of working
here....
I'll skin her alive," he muttered just loud enough for his mate to
hear.
"Not her style," Kelly laughed. "Lenna would have just told you to go
to
hell if she didn't want to help. And just in case Lenna is wrong...
then
Varie will have enjoyed a nice afternoon sun bath. I'm sure she won't
complain about that."
Kelly could see the concern in her mates eyes. He might joke about
Lenna
getting out of work, but she knew him enough to know that he was
worried.
With everything that had been happening around the warren, she knew he
was
right to. She also knew he trusted Lenna's *feelings* enough that if
she
said something was wrong, he wasn't going to scoff it off as whimsical
thinking.
Turner watch Kellie pick up her last load and head towards the big
entrance to the main cave. He bent down to pick up the last of the
boxes
and began to follow. When he was about half way there, a small bag that
had been propped up on top of his load, slipped and fell to the ground.
He
cursed but did not stop, thinking to come back to get it after
depositing
the heavy boxes in his hands.
That bag probably saved his life... Something he would only realize
later
on when he was safe at home in his own bed. For if he had been inside
the
cave at the time things started happening.. They might not have known
the
snake was in the area until it was to late to run and hide.
As it was, when he stood back up from bending over to pick up the
dropped
bag, the sight that caught his eyes nearly made him wet himself.
Turner just stood there unable to move as the snake turned it's ugly
head
around to where he stood out in the open. As it'd beady little eyes
caught sight of the puny human, Turner could swear that it was laughing
at
him. It's maw seem to lift up on both sides as if to say.. 'My,, my
what
do we have here. A tasty little noon time snack!' Then it opened and
it's
long skinny little forked tongue came out to lick it's lips.
The Mastersmith didn't plan on sticking around long enough for the
snake
to find out how he tasted, but as he turned his head to look around for
some place safe to hide, his eyes caught sight of a small cave barely
three feet high at the opening. Bending down as far as he dared, he
could
see that the cave opened up a bit on the inside and went back quite a
ways
as he couldn't see the back wall from where he stood. His next though
was
that he had little hope he could make it to the safety of the small
cave
before the thing would be on him. His last thought was that even if he
-did- make it that far in time.. would he be able to fit his massive
body
inside or get stuck half way in.
He started to count. Telling himself it was better to try to catch the
snake off guard before making his break, but really he counted to try
and
drum up the nerve to -try- and make a run for it. Counting had seemed
like a good idea until little pictures of a dancing Triss demanding a
new
blanket while jumping back and forth over the snake kept popping into
his
mind , Turner wondered if letting the snake eat him might not be the
lesser of two evils.
Suddenly a flash of purple came flying out of the sun. Turner watched
as
claws raked the snake's back, drawling it's attention just long enough
for
Turner to make a dive for the cave. As it was he barely made it. He
felt
the shower of rock falling over him when the snakes massive head hit
the
side of the cliff behind him as it angrily rammed the rock face again
and
again to get to him.
As he scrambled on hands and knees to the far back wall of the cave, he
cursed and wondered who the idiot was who came up with the bright idea
to
come out here so far away from the safety of the Warren to check the
underground lake anyway. Who ever it was ought to be hung by his short
hairs until he grew a new brain. Even going up against an angry over
grown
spoiled rotten female dragon whining because she lost her favorite
blanket
was better then becoming the damn snakes next snack!
He was in a near panic now not knowing how safe he was. Reports had
said
that the damn snake had been able to tunnel through solid rock to make
places for itself to hide out. The opening to the cave he was in would
be
no challenge for it. Already he could see the rim around the entrance
crumbling as the snake rammed it. Soon it would be big enough to allow
the
snake inside where he was.
He tried to look around for a better place to hide, but nothing popped
out
in plain sight. Panic grew anew when he suddenly heard Kelly shouting
out
his name, and for the first time in his life he hated the fact that he
wasn't joined. He needed to get a message to her to be quiet so the
damn
snake wouldn't come after her in the main cave.
<<VARIE PLEASE!!! If you never hear me again... hear me now!!>> he
screamed in his mind, not knowing what else to do, and praying for a
miracle. If anything happen to Kelly he didn't know what he would do.
<<Tell Kelly to stay inside the cave and not come out.. I don't want
the
snake to see her... It's out there now trying to get inside where I'm
stuck.>>
But it wasn't Varie who's voice he suddenly heard in his head. It was
his
sisters dragon, Blanchie. The purple dragon spoke to him for the first
time in his life and if the situation hadn't been so grave, he would
have
rejoiced at the experience. As it was he latched onto the contact like
his life depended on it, and begged Blanchie to relay his request to
Varie
and her rider.
<<Help is on the way,>> Blanchie told him. <<We're going to try and
drawl
the snake away from you until the ones who breath ice get here....
Varie
has her rider now and will help us.>>
>Tell them to be careful and stay out of it's reach!!< he told her,
praying she heard him. This talking to dragons was all new to him.
Suddenly he groan. Praying Triss didn't suddenly discover a way to
-talk-
to him too. He could just imagine what the spoiled little blanket hog
would have to say......
<<<PLEASE Turner!!! I get so COLD at night without my blanket!! You
wouldn't want poor little ole me to get sick and catch a death of cold
because I don't have anything to cover myself to keep away the chilly
night air would you.... Two days should be enough time for you to sew
one
together for me... I mean you're good at making things so a blanket
should
be easy.... shouldn't it Turner... I mean you want me to be happy ...
don't you... I mean.. if little Trissy's not happy then I'll make
sure
no one will be happy
And everyone will know it's all your fault!!>>>
The Smith knew his mind was playing tricks on him. He'd heard that fear
sometimes did that to a person, but when the image of Triss changed in
his
mind and he saw her eyes glowing a fiery red color and her lips curved
upwards into something resembling an evil smile while exposing long
white
teeth with sharp points capable of ripping a heard beast or possible a
human apart... he knew it to be true.
He shook his head to get rid of the image of those big white teeth, but
when he opened his eyes again... he realized that while his mind had
been
playing tricks on him, the damn snake had finally broken through the
outer
edge of the cave entrance and had advanced towards him until it was
just
ten feet away. It's big white teeth dominated his line of sight.
"By the gods!! That bastard has a big mouth!" the thought crossed his
mind
as a long slithery red tongue came out from between it's lips and
moved
to find him in the dark crack he was hiding in.
And it's breath stank!!
Funny how he thought of that fact as the tongue came nearer and an
angry
hiss almost deafen him as the snake roared it's frustration. Just when
the
smith thought the forked tongue was about to close in on him and he was
a
goner.. The snake pulled back quickly, roaring as if something had
struck
it hard in the ass... showering him with rocks again and disappeared
back
the way it had come, leaving him drenched in a river of sweat and
promising to make Triss the best blanket ever if they all just got out
of
this alive...
>>Help has arrived.. << Blanchie's voice was back suddenly in his head.
>>My rider says that you are to find yourself some place safe to hide
out while the ice dragons and the others do there thing or she will
have
me flame you...<<
He didn't answer... he couldn't. His heart was beating five times it's
normal rates and he had to fight to calm himself down enough to
respond.
>>Turner!! Turner where are you!! CAN you HEAR ME??<<
<Here... I'm here... what happened? Where in the hell did the snake
go?>
he finally told her when he was able to put more then one word answers
together.
>>One of the Ice breathing dragons got in a good shot and the snake...
wasn't happy about it.. but It drew him away from you and we'll do our
part to force him out into the open to keep him away from you and the
mountain caves where he can escape from us again.... My riders says for
you to stay put so she can think of the battle and not worry about you.
Varie and her rider agree.<<
"Oh sure... I'll just sit back and make myself a cup of tea and maybe a
few scones and have myself a party while you are all out there having
fun!!" he yelled, not liking to do nothing. "Maybe I'll just take up
knitting and by the time you all get back to me I'll have knitted Triss
a
whole damn new blanket to keep her delicate little body warm on a HOT
SUMMER NIGHT!!!"
>>Oh she'll like that!<< Blanchie thought to him. >>Should I relay that
message to her now?<<
<Do it and it'll be the last thing you ever do.. Got me dragon!!>
>>Ah.. yeah... sure... I'll let you tell her then.<< Blanchie's touch was
then gone from his mind.
****Submitted by:
Barbara
Aka:
Lenna & Blanchie
Mastersmith Turner
Summary: After seeing Reain off on her trip to Telnor, Lenna meets up
with
her brother Turner and his mate Kellie for a trip to the Underground
lake... where they run into a really big pissed off snake who wants to
make Turner into his afternoon snake... but the Cleft dragons and
friends
come just in the nick of time...
|
