From: jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com (Mathew Dawnstrider)
Subject: Re: [Ga] Small talk
Organization: Harris Corporation - ISD
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 15:19:53 GMT

Mathew was an early riser, having grown up on a farm all his life.  Dawn was
about an hour away, and despite staying up late he felt quite refreshed.
It didn't appear that anyone else besides the guards on duty were up.

Mathew rolled out of his bedroll, layed out by the embers of last nights
fire.  The talk with Brent last night was nice and had cleared up some
things in his mind.  He could feel the tentative bonds of friendship
forming with Brent.  What a different life he must have led.

Mathew crossed over to the horses and started to prepare their morning meal
of grains.  After he had finished with the horses, he crossed over to the
central fire to stoke them back to life.  "I might as well be useful and
get breakfast ready for everyone."  Mathew liked to be needed.

Just then he heard some whispers near the edge of camp.  Mathew moved
carefully over to where the whispers were coming from.  They were coming
from Zebrons direction.  Mathew's eyes adjusted from the fire embers glare,
and could just make out Zebron talking to a cat and sharping his blades.

>"And then there's my magic..." Zebron looked around.  Marran'helar, having
>long grown tired of the elf's words, had fallen asleep at his side.  Petting 
>the feline, the drow whispered the words, "Thank you" to it as it purred
>contently.

"Hhhrmph" Mathew cleared his throat.

Zebron looked around to see Mathew standing a little ways away.  His relief of
the felines acceptance of him evaporated quickly at the sight of the farm boy.
"What is it?" he said gently but with a hint of regret.

"May I have a word with you"

"Sure", he sighed "come on over here and have a seat, I'm just sharpening
my blades and talking to a cat."  Zebron continued to sharpen his blades
as Mathew sat down next to him.

"I owe you an apology. I have insulted you twice now, and made a fool of myself
more times than that." Mathew said with sincerity.

Zebron just waited not knowing what to make of this farm boy's confession.

"When I first saw you in the guise of a moon elf, I had thought that was your
true form, and I excepted you readily.  But I had made a false accusation
against your group, and thought you were trying to teach me a lesson about
jumping to conclusions by altering your form to that of a drow.
Unfortunately, I thought you were pulling a joke, so I went along with it.
That's were I failed the test I _thought_ you were giving me."
Mathew paused to see if Zebron was following him.

Zebron just waited for Mathew to continue.

"Well, You didn't change back into a moon elf for so long that I thought
you were getting abusive, by rubbing it it my face, so I started to avoid
you.  Anyway, I talked a bit with Brent last night and he told me where I
had gone wrong.  So... What I'm trying to say is.  I apologize, and I'd like
to start this relationship again from the start with no preconceptions."

Mathew smiled his best smile and put out his hand "You already showed me
you could be a true friend by sticking up for me back at the inn.
I'd like to be your friend too Zebron."

His hand wavered in the air waiting for Zebron to grasp it.
--
Joe Carl Jr.               "It ain't what a man don't know that makes him a
jcarl@jabba.ess.harris.com   fool, but what he does know that ain't so."
                                                           -- Josh Billings
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn