NRPG: Continued from Part One...

(Hatching cavern, afternoon, Day 10)

    While Iris sedately pushed the sand around with her snout, Selene swept 
up a large swath with a wing, spraying it in a wide arc.

     {Would you *please* stop spraying sand all over, Selene!} Iris scolded.

     {Why don't you just get out of my way?  I'm moving the sand much faster 
than you are.}

     {Moving it is *not* the same as spreading it.  You're not doing it right 
at all!}

     {What would you know about sand spreading, anyway?}  Selene groused.

     {I know a lot more about everything than you do!}  Iris retorted.  {I'm 
older than you are.}

     Nearby, Loki chuckled softly.  He picked up one of the shells, wondering 
just what Varaenna and Sabbith had done to keep breaking them -- this was 
nowhere NEAR as difficult as trying to open the kitchen door.

     {I don't care if you are older, that doesn't make you an expert on 
sand.}  Selene deliberately swooshed more sand in Iris's direction.

     Loki glanced at the bickering dragons and decided this shell really 
should be placed near the doorway.

     Iris shook the loose sand off, then dug her snout under and heaved a 
large quantity at Selene.

     Although her primary concern was now the water, the queen spared a 
glance at her other helpers.  Noticing that they were just piling sand 
*around* the spot where that big contraption was parked, she realized that 
this was a problem.  Getting the sand under there would be a delicate job, 
perhaps that was why they were avoiding it.

     [We need to get some sand spread under that big thing,] she told them, 
[otherwise it'll be sitting too low on the old sand...they won't be able to 
move it.  I need a smart, er, *agile* dragon for the job.]

     She was actually looking at Iris...Selene seemed a bit....well, *wide* 
for that task.  And something told her that Loki should stay well clear of it.

     Loki placed the shell near the front door as slowly and carefully as he 
could stretch things out.  With a sigh of resignation, he headed back toward 
the shell pile, keeping his eye on Selene and Iris.  If he got in trouble 
again, Gus was going to kill him.

     {Oh, *I'll* be glad to do it,} Selene cried, hurrying over.

     There was no way she was going to let Selene get the best job, Iris 
thought.  And with Selene's bulk slowing her down, she was a cinch to get 
there first.

     As Selene spotted Iris in motion from the corner of her eye, she dashed 
as fast as she could -- but was narrowly beaten by Iris edging under the 
scaffolding just ahead of her.

     Loki watched the two race for that contraption and immediately decided 
that a shell on the other side of that doorway was definitely needed.  He 
grabbed a shell at random and fairly bolted for the far side of the cave.  
This was NOT going to be his fault.

     Unable to stop herself at the last moment, Selene dove onto Iris, 
securely wedging her in place beneath the scaffolding. 

     {Get your big, fat butt off of me!}  Iris cried.

     {Hey, I said I was going to do this, but you had to go and try to get 
here first.  If you don't like it, too bad.  It's your own fault.  Now get 
out of there and let me do it.}  Selene tried unsuccessfully to pull Iris 
back out.  {Oh, rider's poop!} she groused.  As she stood there trying to 
figure out how to extricate Iris, her nostrils began to twitch as a delicious 
smell reached them...  

     Distracted yet again from the urgent task of trying to figure out what 
to do about the water that was rapidly filling the basin, Varaenna frowned.  
[What *are* those two doing?] she asked, watching as Selene tried to pull 
Iris out from underneath the scaffolding. 

     [I'm not sure .. but it doesn't look good,] Sabbith said worriedly as 
Selene suddenly switched tactics, pouncing onto the blue dragon's hindlegs.

     [Maybe this whole thing wasn't such a good idea,] the queen admitted 
worriedly.  [Sabbith, this water is getting quite high...]

     In a moment, Iris was shrieking with laughter at the ticklish sensation 
of Selene licking the remnants of the molasses from between her claws.  She 
bucked feverishly in an effort to get away, rocking the scaffolding above her 
violently as she struggled to no avail.

     Kay and his fellow painters grabbed at the railing to keep from being 
tossed over the edge.  One bucket splattered all over Kay's legs, while 
another teetered precariously close to the edge.

     {Selene!!!  Stop...that...right...now!!!!}  Iris ground out breathlessly.

     {Mmphm,} was all that came from Selene in response as she worked her 
tongue to get every last drop.  How lucky that her rider Lainie hadn't been 
able to finish her part of the cleaning before Iris had toppled over and all 
the riders began throwing mud at one another!

     
{Selene...you...great...fathead...I...am...going...to...get...you...for...this
 !!} the blue dragon cried.

     Loki settled the shell by the door, wondering what more he could do to 
keep clear of this, when he noticed what Selene was doing.  He leaned against 
the door, chuckling approvingly.  [NICE touch, fathead!]

     {Oh, be quiet, dimwit!}

     [Fine, be that way.  See if I help you next time.]

     {Oh, you will.  You love every moment of it.}

     [You have a point.]  Loki ambled back toward the shell pile.

     Varaenna, distracted yet again from the water crisis by Iris's howls of 
laughter, turned to look.  [Iris, stop that!!  You're shaking the whole 
tower, and Sabbith's rider too!!]

     [My Kay?]  Sabbith called up to his rider, who was still holding on for 
dear life, [Are you okay?]

     *MAKE...THEM...STOP!!!!* Kay roared.

     Sabbith quickly moved from Varaenna's side over to the scaffolding, 
using his bulk to try and steady it as he ordered the two misbehaving dragon 
to settle down!

     {I can't!}  Iris gasped.  {Make her...stop tickling...me!}

     Varaenna groaned, glancing back and forth between the two impending 
disasters.  [Selene, what are you doing??] she demanded.  She was trying hard 
to be patient...her impatience had lost her first work crew for her.  She was 
beginning to wonder if she wouldn't have done better with Seyd and Makayla 
again.

     Shlurp!  {Oh, just having a teensy snack,} Selene replied contentedly.

     [Loki, go do something about those two!] the queen ordered, knowing that 
Sabbith would have his claws full just trying to steady the tower.

     [If you say so.]  Loki walked over and peered at the dragons.  [OK, what 
is it I'm supposed to do?]

     Varaenna waved a wing in irritation...[I don't know...do *something!*] 
she shouted.

     Loki grinned.  [Your wish is my command, oh my queen!]  Grabbing the 
tail nearest him, he gave as big a yank as he could muster.

     The resultant backlash from Iris's answering tug pulled Loki forward 
like a fish on a line.

     [Uh-oh,] was all he could say before Iris's yank made him stumble 
against the scaffolding.  With a loud clatter, the huge paint pots that had 
been arrayed on the scaffold tipped over, raining gallons and gallons of 
sky-blue paint right down onto the unsuspecting Loki and Selene.

     Sabbith closed his eyes to avoid getting paint splattered in them.  
Thankfully, splattered was all he got, as the buckets somehow aimed straight 
at the offenders.  He looked up to see his rider peering angrily over the 
railing.

     *I can't work like this!* Kay spat.

     [At least it's not shaking anymore...]  Sabbith said helplessly.

     Loki stood, dripping with paint and stared at Selene, also dripping.  
[Nice look, fathead -- now you match Iris!] he chortled.

     {Oof!}  Selene sputtered, trying to shake the paint out of her eyes and 
nostrils.  Once she could see, Selene glared back at Loki.  {Well, so do you, 
dimwit!}

     Loki glanced down at himself and chuckled.  [So I do.]  He frowned 
briefly.  [This is going to wash off, right?]

     Iris, still halfway under the scaffolding, managed to crane her neck 
around far enough to look over at the two colorful dragons.  {Oh, you can get 
it off now by just rolling in the sand,} she told them in feigned sympathy.

     [All right then,] Loki responded and immediately dropped to the sand to 
do as Iris suggested.  Selene quickly followed suit.  When they stood again, 
they looked more like some sort of bizarre sand art than once-proud dragons.

     [I think we need water,] Loki responded through the giggles sparked by 
their appearance.

     In the meantime, Iris had successfully extricated herself from beneath 
the scaffolding.  Prancing smugly in front of Selene and Loki, she crowed, 
{My, don't you two look lovely!}

     With one swipe of his tail, Loki covered Iris with much of the paint and 
sand mixture.

     At that, Iris glared fiercely at Loki.  {You're going to get it for 
that!}

      [Yeah?  You and what army?]  Loki began edging away from the larger 
dragon.

     Iris stalked forward menacingly.

     [Nyah, nyah.  You'll never catch me!] Loki taunted, continuing his 
circling.

     {Don't count on it!}  Iris darted toward him.

     Varaenna saw the three dragons dashing across the sand,  and quickly 
placed herself in front of them. [WHAT are you three doing?] she demanded.

     Loki skidded to a stop, and Iris as well...but Selene had built up too 
much momentum by this point, and piled into the other two from the rear. The 
impact pushed Loki right against Varaenna.

     The queen's eyes glowed like green coals as she glared first at the 
streak of sand and paint that now marred her white-silver flank, and then at 
the three dragons.  [I am waiting for an explanation,] she growled.

     [Um, helping you decorate?]  Loki looked up at Varaenna with what he 
sure hoped was a winning smile.

     Iris threw him another glare for good measure, encompassing the 
shame-faced Selene at the same time.

     [I was only doing what you told me to,] Loki protested to Varaenna.

     Varaenna grumbled, but knew that Loki was telling the truth.  She moved 
her gaze over to the blue and yellow dragons.  [Well, then...perhaps one of 
*you* can tell me what's going on here!]

     Her attention on the squabbling dragons, Varaenna had lost track of what 
was going on over at the drinking basin.  That wasn't fated to last for long, 
however. 

    [Um...Sabbith...?  The water is coming out over here and getting 
Varaenna's sand wet...] Sygnath called from the water basin...but no one 
seemed to hear him.  [Sabbith, it isn't going to hold!]

     He finally got Sabbith's attention.  The large crimson dragon had been 
enjoying watching the troublemakers get it from Varaenna, and while Syngnath 
hated to disturb him, the situation was getting more and more serious.  
Sabbith moved to look at the seadragon and his predicament.

     [Um...ah....move your tail...*that* way...] Sabbith said, hoping that 
his advice was right.

     It wasn't.  As Syngnath did as instructed, a powerful jet of water 
sprayed out past the edge of the seadragon's tail, aimed right at the queen 
and her audience.

     Varaenna gaped wide-eyed as the stream of water lanced at them.  Being 
the queen, she decided it was her duty to duck first, and only then call out 
a warning.  [Look out!!] she cried as she hit the sand.

     The others, who had their backs turned to the spot where Syngnath was 
waging his losing battle against the water, had no time to do likewise.  All 
three of them yelped in surprise as the water sprayed across them in a wide, 
sweeping arc.  Water, paint, and sand flew everywhere as the dragons threw up 
forelegs and wings to try and fend off the cold spray.

     [Hey!!] Loki cried.  [I was going to wash on my own, honest!]

     [Ooh, it's cold!] Iris yelped.

     [And it's...it's WET!!] Selene wailed.

     Well, at least they were getting a bit cleaner, Varaenna thought.  
Still, the ocean was a much better place to keep clean - for herself as well 
as her helpers, an important consideration since their bulk didn't completely 
block the water from splattering her royal hide.  [Syngnath, turn the 
water...that way!] she spluttered, pointing with a claw.

     The little seadragon nodded his head, and tried to do as she asked.  
Unfortunately, the water went the opposite way from what he'd intended.

     "Hello, anyone still here?" called a human voice, and Seydor's rider 
strolled casually through the door.  "Just thought I'd...HEY!!"

     Jerram turned and beat a hasty retreat back through the entrance when 
the Syngnath-directed spray showered down at him, hitting him with a mix of 
water, sand, and paint.  Cursing roundly, he almost barreled into Saul, who 
was just coming the other way.

     "Jerram, just wanted to let you know that Shawnee and I were...good 
gods, man, what happened to you?" the Searcher asked, gaping in astonishment 
at the drenched Swordmaster.

     "Don't go in there!" Jerram panted.  "Kay was supposed to be painting 
the ceiling to look like the sky...I think he must have painted one of those 
hurricanes instead!"

     Saul whistled softly.  "He's that good, eh?"

     Inside the hatching cavern, Varaenna cringed. Although she didn't always 
understand human speech, she'd recognized some words coming from Seyd's rider 
that she'd heard her own rider use from time to time.  "Expletives," her 
rider had called them.  She knew that things were out of control, and knew 
that there was only one thing to do at this point.

     [My riderrrr!] she wailed.  [We need...]  Oh, what was that word...?  
[We need a...a PLUMBER!!]

* * * * * * * *
     In due time, the Warrenlady arrived and took charge of the situation.  
*Just let me deal with this mess,* she told her queen crossly.  *You get 
these dragons straightened out and sent back to training!*

     Varaenna sighed, more than happy by this point to let her rider take 
things over.  Getting up and stretching, she walked over to where Loki, Iris, 
and Selene waited nervously for her.

      {Um...are we finished?} Loki asked.  {I think I hear my rider 
calling...}

     The queen couldn't help a but grin a bit at the small black dragon.  She 
suspected that Loki's part in this business might be a bit more than was 
apparent on the surface.  Still, he'd been the perfect little gentledragon 
this afternoon, so she couldn't criticize him.  And, truthfully, she couldn't 
help but see more than a little of his sire, Smoke, in this crafty little 
dragon.  

     [In just a moment, my dear,] she told him, giving him a pat on the head 
with her tailtip as she passed.  [Iris, Selene, I need you two for just a 
moment...]  She settled herself down between the two, draping a wing over 
each and drawing them close to her in a motherly embrace.

     Loki chortled heartily.  How nice not to be the one in trouble.

     [I am still waiting for that explanation,] she prompted.

    {She tickled me!} Iris said defensively.

     {Well, I didn't mean to, but you tasted so good,} Selene replied. {Mmm, 
I like that molasses stuff.  Anyway, you made the tower shake!}

     {That was *your* fault!} Iris protested.  {I couldn't help shaking!}

     Varaenna drew a deep breath as she listened to the two bickering 
dragons.  [Enough!!] she cried.  The others fell silent and waited nervously.

     [Now, you must listen to me...you two have been bickering ever since you 
started training!] she told them.  [Iris...no more looking down your nose at 
Selene just because she isn't as...well, as slender as you are!  And Selene, 
no more playing tricks on Iris!  I want the two of you to get along with one 
another...in fact, I think that you should spend *time* getting to know one 
another better.  From now, whenever I see the two of you, I want to see you 
getting along with each other!]

     Selene and Iris exchanged disgruntled glances.

     Varaenna sighed, knowing that she would now have to bring up a delicate 
subject. {Selene, a lot of this trouble could have been avoided if you did 
not let your appetite rule you.  You are a fat...er, a *fine* looking young 
dragon, you know, but could be even better if you worked at it.]

     Selene puffed out her chest proudly, and started to stick out her tongue 
at Iris.  She caught herself at hearing the queen's growl, and once again 
gave Varaenna her undivided attention.

     [I have been told of a *diet* that could help you realize your full 
potential,] the queen said.  [You need to lose some of that...er, *width* of 
yours if you're to fly effectively against wraiths.  So, until further 
notice, for breakfast each morning you get one medium-sized fish...]
 
     Selene's eyes widened fearfully at the sound of the D-word.

     [...And at midday you get three more,] the queen went on.

     [Um, okay...how big are these fish?] Selene asked hopefully, knowing 
that some of the fish that swam in the waters off Jasra were quite large.

     [Well, let's say no more than half as long as your rider is tall,] the 
queen decided.

     Selene gulped.  [Um...how about half as long as Seydor's rider is tall, 
or Fayloth's rider?  It's not my fault that my rider's not very big...]  
Seeing the look in the queen's eyes, she subsided, her head drooping till her 
chin almost touched the sand.

     [Hey, she hasn't gotten to dinner yet,] Loki said comfortingly.  [Main 
meal, you know...]

     [For dinner...] the queen began.  Selene's expression lit up in 
anticipation and hope.

     [...One fish, same size,] Varaenna finished.  [Because you don't burn
much of it off while you sleep, you know.]

     Selene howled piteously, as Loki tried his best to comfort the stricken 
dragon.  Iris grinned wickedly, nodding her approval.

     [And Iris, I expect you to give Selene all the help you can in holding 
to her diet,] Varaenna told the blue dragon, receiving a low groan in 
response.   [Now, as to the exercises...] Varaenna continued.

     After sending the three on their way, Varaenna noticed that Syngnath had 
not left with the others.  Instead, the little seadragon was staring rather 
forlornly at the water basin.  She walked over to him and lay down.  [Little 
one, what is wrong?] she asked, putting a wing over him.  She suspected that 
he must be feeling rather lonely and far from home right now; Jismin and her 
rider had left the warren this morning to return to their undersea home, 
leaving little Syngnath as the only seadragon at the warren.

     [I didn't help, my queen,] Sy said sadly.  [I didn't make the ocean for 
you.]     

     Varaenna snuggled herself around him.  [That is all right, Syngnath.  We 
have the entire ocean right outside the warren.  And you did very well in 
keeping that water under control, you know.]

     [I did?]  He perked up a bit.  [But I sprayed you, and Sabbith...and 
everyone.]

     [We needed a good spraying at that point.  And every dragon at Jasra 
gets wet every day...that is one thing that makes this place so special.]

     [I have soaked your hatching sands, and your eggs don't like to be cold 
and wet.]

     [The sand will be dry by the time the eggs are ready to be laid.]  The 
queen bent down to touch her muzzle against his.  [The truth is, as the 
Empress Darath once told me, that we dragons are really not very good at 
things like this.  It was my mistake to have forgotten this, not yours.  
There are other things that we dragons are good at, though.]

     [I don't know what I am good at, Varaenna,] he said quietly.  [I can't 
fly like the other dragons.  I can't breathe fire.  What can I do?]

     [Perhaps you cannot fly because you are younger than the others,] she 
reasoned.  [I know that in time, you will fly.  And you will breathe hot 
steam...and those lines on your sides can give shocks like lightning bolts!  
Um, but please do not try that while you are touching me, all right?]

     Sy gave a soft dragon chuckle.  [I promise I won't,] he told her. [But 
why hasn't anyone told me these things before?  Why didn't my rider?]

     [Your rider is as new to dragons as you are to humans, and he needs time 
to learn just as you do,] she explained.  [But he loves you, and would do 
anything for you.]

     Sy nodded, and settled down into the warm embrace of the queen.  [I will 
tell him, then.  I love him too.]

     [You do that,] she encouraged him.  [And Syngnath...since your dam is 
not here at Jasra, I would be pleased if you think of me in that way.  
Whenever you need someone to talk to, remember that I am here for you.]

     Sy's coral eyes sparkled with emotion.  [I would like that very much, 
Varaenna.]

     [So would I, my little Syngnath,] she said, and began to hum a soft, 
sweet tune to him.

* * * * * * * *

     Tara had brought a plumber with her to fix the pipes, as well as a 
number of other workers to smooth out Varaenna's precious beach sand with 
rakes. Once she had seen to that, she moved over to where Kay was sitting 
unhappily in the stands around the hatching ground.

     *Kay .. are you alright.* she asked when he looked up at her approach.

     He nodded, *Besides looking a mess .. I'm fine.* he signed. And she had 
to chuckle at his paint-spattered pants.

     "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I guess this wasn't such a good idea. I'll 
tell Varaenna that you can't do it .."

     Kay quickly grabbed her hand, *No!* he signed sharply with on hand. 
*I'll do it.*

     "But Kay .." she stammered as he held tightly onto her hand.

     He smile in a quirky, goofy grin, finally releasing her hand, *I'll do 
it once all the other dragon's are gone ..*

     Tara chuckled, "Okay .. I think that would be okay.  And I promise that 
from now on, I will personally screen your helpers to make sure that none of 
them have scales or wings!"

     *Now I'm going to go get changed ..* He said standing. Then he 
impulsively added, *You can meet me for dinner to make up for putting me at 
risk.*

     Tara blushed, but her smile was unmistakable. "I'd like that."

     Kay returned her smile, blushing a bit himself, and wondering what the 
heck he was getting himself into. After all he was supposed to be getting 
away from romantic entanglements, and here he was asking a woman to dinner. 
Still he liked her company. And they'd had a great time the night before and 
it had barely involved sex at all.

     It was clear that it was the sex that caused the problems. If he'd known 
that he'd have never slept with Danielle in the first place .. Even as he 
thought it, he knew that was silly. There would have been no stopping 
Danielle .. There HAD been no stopping Danielle .. not even after she'd left 
him for Trap .. and THERE had been the problem.

     Was it his attraction for her .. which was always there .. or hers for 
him.  There was no telling. But whenever he and Danielle got together; there 
was trouble! With a capital T .. R .. O .. U .. B .. L .. E!!!

     But Danielle was a very long way from Jasra. Perhaps things would be 
different this time. They certainly couldn't get any worse! And he really did 
like Jasra's Warrenlady.

* * * * * * * *
Jerram
(Training field, late afternoon)

     [Well, here they come,] Seydor said, a glint of humor in the dragon's 
tone.

     *So I see,* said Jerram, using his fingers to try and get the last of 
the sand and water from his mustache.  *Well, at least they seem well-behaved 
at the moment...*

     Seyd grinned.  [An afternoon in the service of our lovely queen can have 
that effect on a dragon,] he remarked.  [I know, believe me!]

     Jerram nodded, and raised a hand.  "Trainees, over here!" he shouted.

     The others made their way over to where he stood at the edge of the 
field and formed a half circle around him.  Gus was there, and Corwin, and 
Elly and Lainie, and all the others.  All looked suitably clean, and the 
multicolored gaggle of dragons behind them gleamed spotlessly in the 
westering sunlight.

     "All right," he said, grinning broadly at them.  "Who wants to be first 
to FLY??"

(Tag any and all - whoever writes first, flies first! :)

NRPG: Again, many thanks to Kris, Dana, Kate, and Arlene for their very 
considerable input to this post!

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Varaenna
Jerram & Seydor
Jasra Warren

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