The Tradition Continues
by Sandra Gray
Place: The loft
Time: Wednesday, July 11, 2001, dawn
Everyone used with permission


Katrinka looked at the cooking blood sausages.  They were nearly
done.  *Good thing too,* she thought as she eyed the pink
streaking the dawn sky.  Just then she heard the caddy pull up
outside.  The sound of the elevator started soon after.

Katrinka poked Kristin and Marla, waking them.  Sandra, who had
been sleeping on the couch, was already sitting up.  Judging by
the tossing she'd done earlier, Katrinka imagined she'd had a
restless night.  The elevator doors opened and Katrinka turned
with a smile to greet Nickbody.  "Morning, Schanke."

"I'm not Schanke anymore," said Nick.

Katrinka's heart leaped, but then sank again.  Schanke was
probably joking.  "I've fixed some blood sausages for you," she
said.

Nick puzzled over how to convince Katrinka he was really who he
said he was.  He walked over to her and grabbed her (which
alarmed the other Knighties in the room, who feared Katrinka was
about to become vamp breakfast).  Katrinka resisted, but he
pulled her close.  Then he said into her ear, "Do you think
Schanke could hold you this close without biting you?"

"Oh, Nick, it's really you!" said Katrinka happily.  She hugged
him.

Nick smiled and hugged her back.  Then he released her.

"He's back! Nick's back!" shouted Kristin.  She ran off to wake
the other sleeping Knighties.  In record time, Nick's crusade of
Knighties appeared on the scene.

"Oh, Nick!  It's so great to have you back!" said Gemsong,
smiling.  The other Knighties gathered around, relieved and happy
to have their leader restored to them.

Sandra was glad too, but she was still worried.  "But is he back
to stay," she said.  "We still haven't found out what's causing
these switches."

"Come on, Sandra, chill," said Min.  "Nick's back.  That's what
matters!"  Several Knighties nodded.

"You all realize what we haven't done yet, don't you?" asked
Katrinka.  She smiled wickedly.  Most of the other Knighties
started to grin.  "Puppy pile!" she yelled.

Nick's smile began to fade as the Knighties launched themselves
at him.  He was borne to the floor, buried under the Knighties
traditional and most sincere form of affection.

And after a moment, Sandra joined in.


--Sandra Gray, forever Knightie
--sandragray@rica.net