Date: Wednesday, 13 May 1992 16:34:00 EDT From: Message-ID: <92134.163400BANNON@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: RE: Polar Bear References: <1992May12.223847.1350@gacvx2.gac.edu> Polar Bear stopped as soon as the minotaur began to speak. Grizzly Bear waited patiently, even though he had begun to pant with the warmth of the fire and the press of mostly warm blooded creatures. When the white giant finished his introduction Polar Bear nodded her head in greeting. "Well met Thorr-kan. I would welcome your company." She felt Grizzly Bear climb to his feet again and he tugged in a particular direction. "I believe Gristle has found a table that would welcome us, will you join us?" She moved off with the bear toward a table occupied by a shrouded figure. She arrived at the table and reached out with one hand, encountering a chair almost immediately. "To anyone who may be at this table, Grizzly Bear seems to think you would not object to our presence. I hope you would welcome a story that I must tell as well." She slid heavily into the chair and plonked her elbows onto the table and her chin into her hands. "Some people have babies. Some people have fits. I have stories-- and they are nearly as much trouble as babies and fits! They insist on being told. I am not a story teller by trade. I just (sigh) have stories." Suddenly a barmaid's voice was at her ear and what must have been a mug landed on the table before her. "Honey-wine! Kind to the throat and palate. This will carry me through my tale." A slurping sound came from at her feet. "Thank you for both of us." She took a long swallow of the sweet, smooth beverage and then leaned back from the table, resting the mug contentedly on her stomach. "Before I jump into the story, I feel I ought to be polite and give others a chance to speak about themselves, the weather...whatever. Thorr-kan I have met. Are there others at this table-- and what shall I call you? That is, if you ever wish to be called. This is as strange a place as I have ever been and it seems prudent to me to make no assumptions." No one speaks right away and Polar Bear's faded brown eyes that are always focused on the distance seem to slowly aim farther and further.