NRPG: This is a joint post, which benefited from the talents of various 
writers who contributed their characters' parts.  My thanks go out to: Kris 
(Kalewyn and Sabbith); Dana (Iris and Selene); Kate (Loki); and Arlene 
(Syngnath).  I hope everyone had as much fun as I did in writing it.


(Hatching Cavern - Mid-afternoon, Day 10)

     Tara looked up at the huge scaffolding that had been erected that 
morning in the hatching cavern.  Seeing how small Kay looked up there, she 
was beginning to have second thoughts about giving in to her queen's whims.

      Still, the workmen who'd assembled it had assured her that it was 
entirely safe, and that even hurricane winds or a dragon accidentally bumping 
into it wouldn't tip it over.

     It didn't look all that sturdy, but it was certainly big...a tall, 
tower-shaped structure that was made up of a latticework of heavy gauge steel 
rods.  Its stability, she was told, had to do with the fact that it was much 
wider at the bottom than at the top, something to do with center of gravity.  
It had been designed for ceiling repairs, she was told, in the larger 
caverns.  Atop it was a wooden platform, and atop that was Kay.

      She was just thankful that he was secured to the platform by a rope 
harness so he wouldn't accidentally fall.  He had several large buckets of 
blue paint off to one side, to be used for primer on the ceiling.

     "Warrenlady, where do you want us?"

     She turned to see a crew of workmen trooping in...painters, to help Kay
with the work.  "Up there," she told them, pointing.  Their leader nodded, as 
though this was no big deal.

     "At least the thing's got wheels so it doesn't have to be taken down 
every time we want to move it to another spot," one of them commented as the 
group began clambering up the metal framework.  Tara hadn't noticed the 
wheels till now, but sure enough, it did have them.  Between the supporting 
legs, there was enough space for a medium-sized dragon to crawl under, just 
another indication of the thing's size...though Tara seriously doubted that 
anything like *that* would happen.

     "Kay, are you all right up there?" she called, then mentally slapped 
herself...Kay couldn't read her lips from this distance, unless he had the 
eyes of a dragon.  But she remembered that she could communicate with him in 
that way.

     Tara turned to her queen.  *Varaenna, would you tell Kalewyn to be VERY 
careful up there?  And tell him not to push himself unduly.  That's a big job 
he's taken on.*

     Varaenna nodded, and gazed up at the ceiling.  [Kalewyn, dear, can you 
hear me?]

     *I hear you just fine, Varaenna,*came the reply.  *Does Tara want to 
tell me something?  I saw her waving down there.*

     [Well, yes,] the queen replied.  [My rider says that you are to work 
night and day until this job is completed, not stopping even to rest or 
eat...]  The queen stopped abruptly when she felt a human-sized kick on her 
tail.

     She looked around to see Tara glaring at her.  *And just what were you 
telling him, my dear?*

      [Um, why, just what you asked...]

     *Varaenna, don't you be coy with me!  I know what that big grin of yours 
means, and if it were any bigger, it'd circle around to the back of your neck 
and slice your head off!  Now you tell him EXACTLY what I told you!*

     Varaenna sighed, but resigned herself to the fact that her rider wasn't 
easy to fool.  She repeated Tara's message, correctly this time.

     *Thanks, Varaenna,* Kay grinned down at the massive queen.  *Tell her I 
will be careful.  And assure her it's quite safe.* He waved down at the 
Warrenlady to stress his point...just in case Varaenna got creative with his 
words, which she seemed apt to do.

     *I have to go back to my office now,* the Warrenlady told her.  *There 
are mounds of paperwork to do, patrol assignments to be made, and of course 
my upcoming meeting with our pirate friend.  Please tell Kay that I'd like to 
stay, but I'll be back as soon as I can.*

      [My rider has to go back to her office...] the queen reported to Kay as 
she watched Tara leave.  As soon as her rider was out the door, she 
continued.  [... to drink cheap wine, and...and play cards with strange 
riders...!]

     Kay chuckled. *Sure thing, Varaenna.*  He was directing those who had 
climbed up to help with the base coat.  He passed out the brushes -- ones 
he'd picked out especially for their ability to evenly coat the uneven stone 
of the domed ceiling -- then took one for himself and began to paint. *Don't 
worry, Varaenna.  I will work as hard as I can to get this done for you...but 
it is a big job and it will take time.  If I work too hard, and don't rest or 
eat...I may really mess it up.*

     [I wouldn't worry about My Kay messing up,] Sabbith chuckled, [He never 
messes up...at least not his painting...I wouldn't be so sure about your 
lovely hide, however!]

     Varaenna nodded.  [Well, if your rider's as good as you say he is, I'm 
sure the ceiling will be just marvelous.  Now we just have to get this sand 
spread.  Hmmm, where could those four dragons be...?]

     As if on cue, Iris stuck her head through the rear entranceway of the 
cavern.  {I'm here!  How can I help?}

     She was nearly stuck *in* the entranceway when Selene tried to force her 
way past.  {OK, I'm here, too,} she stated in a petulant tone.

     Loki gleefully stood on Selene's tail in retribution and waited for the 
doorway to clear.  [I will be here too, as soon as these beasts get out of 
the way.]

     Varaenna looked up as her new helpers crowded in the entrance.  [Why 
couldn't they come in through the front like everyone else does?] she asked 
Sabbith, then turned again to the new arrivals.  [One at a time, please!] she 
told them.

     [This was closer to the training field...I thought you wanted us to 
hurry,] Loki responded in mock innocence.

     [Well, whatever,] the queen said, rolling her eyes.  [If the four of you 
are *quite* ready, I'd like to begin!] she told them.

     Shoving her shoulders past Selene's bulk, Iris broke the logjam.

     [This is the group you want to spread out the sand?] Sabbith asked 
doubtfully.

     Varaenna rolled her eyes at the antics of the four young dragons...but 
at least they seemed to be getting in through the door now.  Iris was the 
first to reach the mound where she and Sabbith reclined, standing primly as 
she awaited orders.  Selene hurried up beside her, not to be outdone.  Loki 
was next, glancing around with what Varaenna took to be a calculating look.  
Syngnath, for his part, looked very happy and excited to be included in the 
work detail.  [Thank you all for coming,] she purred, wanting to give her 
workers some good motivation.  And what better motivation than pleasing their 
queen, she decided.

     Loki peered around the cavern, wondering just what is was they were 
doing.  The strange wheeled contraption off to one side was most 
intriguing...especially when he realized there was someone lying atop it.  
[What is that human doing up there?] he asked, walking over to investigate.

     Sabbith chuckled as at just that moment a drop of light-blue paint 
splashed down on Loki's head.  [Painting,] the red dragon replied.

     [So I see,] Loki responded drily, chuckling softly.  [Though I really 
think my rider prefers me grey, thanks.]

     [He is beautifying the ceiling of the hatching cavern,] Varaenna 
informed him.  [I have decided that since this warren is located on the 
beach, the hatching cavern should look like the beach as well.  That's why 
I've had all this beautiful white beach sand brought in!]

     [But what do you need us for?] Loki asked doubtfully.  [We can't paint.]

     [No, dear, you don't have to worry about painting,] Varaenna said, 
reaching out with a wing and drawing Loki next to her.

      Loki snuggled in happily.  [OK, I can just keep you company, then.]

     Varaenna chuckled, nuzzling Loki in a motherly way.  [Oh, I have an even 
better job for you, dear!] she informed him.

     [Besides...this is *MY* spot!] Sabbith huffed, nudging Loki out of the 
way.

     [She HAS two sides, Red,] Loki pointed out and wormed his way back in.

     {I'm ready for whatever you need,} Iris put in, pleased simply to be 
included.  {Just tell me what needs to be done.}

     [Sand spreading is what I had in mind,] she told all of them.  [Seydor 
and Makayla started yesterday, but weren't able to...well, to finish.  It 
must be spread evenly around the cavern...well, with some gentle, rolling 
dunes of course, just like a real beach.]

     {Ooh, rolling!} crowed Selene.  {That sounds like such fun!}

     [NO!] Sabbith snorted.  He certainly didn't want a repeat of the 
Seydor/Makayla thing!  [No rolling!]

     [Iris, Selene, you two start spreading the sand, would you?] Varaenna 
asked.

     As the queen watched the blue and yellow dragons start working on the 
sand, she turned to Loki again.  [I have a job that should just fit your 
talents,] she told him.

     [I thought I was your inspiration...] Sabbith sniffed.

     [Hush!] said the queen.  [You are!  I need Loki for something else!  
Remember what you and I tried to do last night, and how it turned out?]

     Loki stifled a sigh.  Figured someone would find a way to make work for 
him.  But Gus had told him to behave.  [Yes, ma'am?]

     Varaenna grinned and pointed a claw at a pile of small, shining objects 
lying nearby.  [Seashells,] she informed him.  [They need to be placed around 
the cavern, in the sand, so it looks natural.  What would a beach be without 
seashells, right?  Sabbith and I tried it, but our claws are simply too 
large...every time we tried to pick them up, we broke them.  Humans are best 
for a job like this, of course, but since we don't have any available...well, 
I know those clever little claws of yours are just right for the job,] she 
said.

     [We could call some humans,] Loki suggested hopefully.  At Varaenna's 
frown, he sighed and went over to the pile of shells.

     [No, I'm afraid they're all busy, cleaning up after the storm,] the 
queen told him.  [But then again, why do I need humans here when I have a 
clever little dragon like you?]

     [Now I know why you're queen,] Sabbith sighed happily.  

     Loki, realizing that Varaenna had made up her mind and wasn't about to 
be swayed, got up and warily approached the pile of shells.  Bending down, he 
gingerly took up a clawful and went about his work.

     Next, Varaenna turned to Syngnath, who was looking curiously at his 
surroundings.

     [What is it, dear?] the queen asked.

     [There's no water,] the seadragon said.  [Shouldn't there be water at a 
beach?]

     [Ah...good point,] the queen conceded.  [Well, there *is* that large 
stone basin that I drink from, and it has water coming in through those 
hollow tubes...but I don't know how else we'd get water in here.]

     Deciding that there was no harm in letting Syngnath poke around the 
drinking basin, she let him indulge himself for a moment.  She'd put him to 
work spreading sand with Iris and Selene in a few moments.

     The little seadragon poked his nose into the drinking basin.  Fresh 
water, he thought sadly.  Well, it would have to do, and perhaps he could 
bring in some salt for it later.

     He sniffed at the tubes.  A small trickle of water dripped on his snout. 
Now how did such a little drip fill up a basin that large?  He turned back to 
the queen, [Does it just drip like this and that's how the basin gets filled?]

     The queen glanced over, [No, my rider turns those things there, I think, 
and lets the water in,] she replied.

     He investigated the knobs sticking out of the wall.  His front claws 
scrabbled at them as he attempted to turn them.  They didn't budge.  He 
pushed harder...and suddenly they pulled out of the wall.  Water sprayed 
everywhere!

     Trumpeting with distress, the queen turned towards the little dragon.  
[Stop it, turn it off!] she commanded.

     Sy pushed his snout into the gaping hole, shooting the water in streams 
in all directions.  Next he tried his claws, but that only sprayed it worse, 
as the water squirted between his digits.  Then he noticed the other dragons' 
reactions.

     Sabbith thought about ducking...but there was nowhere to go, and so he 
decided it best to score points with the queen by trying to block the water 
from her.  He frowned unhappily as the now wet sand began to grind into his 
hide and get itchy.

     Varaenna ducked her head under her wing, in time to avoid *most* of the 
water that was pelting down at her.  She crouched lower behind Sabbith, but 
the water was everywhere it seemed.

     [That isn't working!] she told the small seadragon.  [Try to get the 
water to go somewhere else!!]

     Sy moved his claw a little to the left and the water shot out to the 
right -- straight at the tower where Kay was working.

     Varaenna's eyes widened as she saw the spray of water from the ruptured 
valve streaming at the top of the tower -- she was relieved to remember that 
Kalewyn and the other humans were held in place with something like straps, 
so they'd be safe -- but she called out a warning nonetheless.  [Kalewyn, 
dear...LOOK OUT!!]

     Sabbith yelled at the seadragon, [Not my rider!]  He waited...and was 
not disappointed...for Kay's unhappy yelp.

     *Arrrghhh!* Kay squealed as the cold water drenched him...his 
paintbrush...the spot he'd been working on...and the half-full cans of paint! 
 *What in the name of dragonkind is going on down there?!*

     [Oh, sorry!]  Came Sy's quick apology, as he pressed his other claw over 
the top of the first, causing even smaller and harder streams to shoot forth.

     Varaenna nudged the red dragon with her nose.  [Sabbith, you'd better go 
help Syngnath...I think that's the best way to keep your rider dry!]

     [I think it's a little to late for that,] Sabbith grumbled but moved to 
see what he could do to help the little seadragon.

     The queen grimaced as she looked around.  Even though they'd stopped 
much of the water, it was getting her sand all wet.  She sprang up and went 
to help.  [Here...see if you can get it to spray back into the basin!]  She 
decided that this situation might require her personal supervision, and 
hurried over to help stem the flow.

     Sy was pushed aside, and Sabbith and Varaenna tried to redirect the flow 
of water.  He backed away into the other spigot, cleanly snapping it off.

     Water gushed out, flooding the basin, but with that release of pressure, 
the spray from the other broken pipe lessened.  However, the basin would soon 
be filled...

* * * * * * * *

     Once the water stopped, Kay surveyed the scene on top of the 
scaffolding. It was a disaster!  Three of the five buckets of paint they had 
up there were now completely water-logged and unusable!  And the 
painters...well, they were all in various states of drenching.  And the work 
they'd done so far...

     Kay was glad that it was only a base coat...at least the water couldn't 
do too much damage.  In fact if he let it dry it might even make interesting 
sky patterns.  He pulled out his slate, *I'd like to move the scaffolding and 
let this area dry...can we move it out to the center right a bit more?*

     One painter looked at Kay's slate as he held it out to them and nodded, 
"I'll see to it.  And get some dry brushes and towels while I'm at it."

     Kay nodded his thanks, and passed his brush over to the man, who 
collected the other unusable things and headed down to the base of the 
scaffolding.

     Those still on top held on as the scaffolding was moved to the center 
right and painting was begun again, as the sprayed area was left to dry.

* * * * * * * *

     [Hmm,] mused the queen, shaking water from her head and wings.  [That's 
stopped it for now, but what do we do when it overflows?]

     Sy watched as the basin filled up.  Well, he had redirected the water 
into the basin.

     [Call the humans?] Sabbith asked.

     Syngnath wondered who they would summon.  He wouldn't know whom to call. 
But as the basin slowly started to overflow, he knew he had to stop the water 
himself!  After all, he was the one responsible for making it flow.

     He looked at the gaping hole in the wall.  He looked down at his front 
claws...well, they wouldn't cover it.  He swished his tail in frustration.  
His tail!  Yes, that was the answer!

      He turned his backside toward the wall and slowly angled his tail, 
craning his head around to make sure it was going to the right place.  
Thrusting quickly, he pushed his tail into the hole.  It worked...for a 
moment at least.

     But the pressure quickly built up behind his tail, and suddenly a geyser 
of water was spouting toward the ceiling, showering water onto them.

     Varaenna lifted her head, watching the geyser. [Oh my,] she said, awed.

     [I think now might be a good time to call the humans,] Sy murmured.

     Sabbith refrained for saying that he had mentioned that earlier...but if 
any of the dragons had looked at his face, they would have seen, 'I told you 
so', written all over it.

NRPG:

Unfortunately, this post was too large for the AOL e-mail window, so I had to 
split it into two segments.  Stay tuned for part two, in which we find out if 
Varaenna achieves her dream of getting Jasra's hatching cavern onto the cover 
of Better Homes and Warrens...

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Varaenna
Jasra Warren

Trevor & Trissana, Cleft Warren
T'rell & Flerrion, Daere Warren
Martyn & Havelok, Marrid Warren