Andra saw the group before and let out a sigh. ::They're trying to do what almost got me killed twenty years ago:: she said to Reeve, her Wyvern. Reeve looked towards his bond mate, ::Are you surprised at all? You've learned your lesson. They haven't yet.:: Andra actually looked at all of the individuals before her. They all had that need to help whenever they can, no matter the cost to themselves. After all, that was what made them a good Drake. But she saw the innocence and the need to do too much. Andra rose a hand and silence descended upon the group. She smiled. No matter how old she got, she'd always get a kick out of that little talent.

"Ladies, you have proven your worth as a Drake. I must admit, some of you have surpassed my expectations. But all of you have that flaw that makes you some of the best Drakes I've seen, yet that same flaw will just get you killed some day. And I'm here to tell you that no matter what you think, you can't save everyone," Andra said. Throughout the years, her voice was the only constant. It had not aged like her white streaked copper hair or her time ravaged face. The girls all avoided her gaze, and Andra saw that she had not reached them... yet. ::Looks like it's storytime, boyo.:: she said to Reeve. Reeve just stayed near his Drake, understanding the need to get through to the women.

"Let me tell you a story, one that I hope will push you away from that naive idea. A Drake was out on her circuit, more specifically in the city with the Aristos. Her Landen wouldn't let her out of her sight," Andra rolled her eyes mockingly and got a few laughes. "But that is their job and damned if they don't do it well. Anyway, the city is so full of despair in some places, that the Drake could not take a complete walk without stopping to help someone. Even some people who didn't want to be helped. One night, after a night on the town, so to speak, with the rest of her group, they all stumbled upon a bar brawl. And I shouldn't use the word brawl, because then it sounds like it was a small thing. But believe me, this wasn't so small. So the Drake, even during the fighting, was moving amoung the men, trying to keep most of them alive, endangering not only her self but the rest of the Travel Group. But no matter what she did, the bodies kept coming and coming. It was as if for every man she healed, there were four more to tend to. And she kept healing, kept draining her energy, until finally, her Landen had to pull her away from the scene," Andra stopped, her grey eyes clouding with memory. "Many people were lost that night. The Drake had come close to the statistics. No matter what, there will always be those whom you can't save. I beg of you to not let those get to you. To not kill yourself for them, for if you were to live, you'd be able to do more good. And we're going to need you sooner than you think... Now, go, have fun. And be careful," Andra finished.

She looked to Reeve and gave him a shaky smile, remembering things long forgotten. ::Think they listened?:: Reeve looked amoung the crowd and saw that many of them were touched. But a few still held that determined glint in their eyes. He looked back at his bond mate. ::The smart ones have.::

-Written by Beth.