Tanami
(midday, day 12)

     Ansel had gone off to find Corwin, leaving Tanami on the beach with the 
three seadragons a ways up the coast from Jasra.  She hoped that the two of 
them would be able to get to the bottom of this mystery, find out what was in 
the water that had affected Syngnath and Khamorray.  For now, though, there 
seemed nothing she could do but wait.

     *How are they doing?* she asked Kethriss.  Her own dragon had been 
farther out to sea, and had had only been in the tainted waters briefly.  
Fortunately, the short time in the waters off Jasra did not seem to have 
affected her.  Tanami's own gills, more delicate than those of the 
seadragons, were still burning slightly though they were now feeling better.

     [Syngnath isn't too badly off,] Kethriss replied, as she lay on the 
beach with one wing draped over each of the smaller dragons.  [Khamorray is 
feeling ill yet, though.  Probably because he is smaller.]

     Tanami grimaced and walked over to where the hatchling lay beneath 
Kethriss' wing, and lay a hand on his head.  Khamorray nuzzled her weakly.  
This didn't look good, she thought.  *Kethriss, can you think of anything we 
might do for him?*

     The seadragon thought for a moment.  [If it was me, I would want to find 
a nice, warm beach to lay on.  The hot sand would probably allow him to sweat 
out much of whatever he took in from the water.]

     Tanami sighed.  *Well, he's on the beach right now...but it's just not 
warm enough today.*  She looked up at the sky, where the sun kept 
disappearing behind banks of high clouds.  *Perhaps we should take him 
somewhere else, one of the islands farther out to sea...perhaps it would be 
sunnier and warmer there.*

     Kethriss nodded, then turned to look at Syngnath.  The two dragons 
conversed for a moment, then Kethriss turned to regard her rider again.  
[Syngnath says that is not necessary,] she told Tanami.  [He says that he has 
been inside a place inside the warren where there is a lot of warm, soft 
sand, and it is hot enough for what we need.  It is called the hatching 
cavern...he says the queen of the warren uses her flames to heat the sand for 
her eggs.  She is there now.]

     Tanami nodded, and made a decision.  *Take Khamorray there, then.  I 
will remain here with Syngnath until he feels well enough to come back to the 
warren.*  She knew that Kethriss would have difficulty transporting both 
herself and Khamorray at the same time anyway.

     [Very well,] Kethriss replied.  With some help from Tanami, they got 
Khamorray up onto the female seadragon's back, where he could put his 
forelegs around her neck to hold on.  

     *Come back as soon as you can,* she told her dragon.

    [I will,] Kethriss replied as she gracefully launched herself into the 
air and winged her way back to the warren.

    Tanami sat down by Syngnath and put an arm around his neck.  "Well," she 
said aloud, "it looks like it is just the two of us now."

     Syngnath, although he couldn't understand her words, clearly understood 
the sentiment and snuggled himself against her.

* * * * * * * *

Tara
(hatching cavern, day 12)

/snip from Kris' post/
They inched  away from the edge as the kiss intensified and Kay's hands began
to roam over her body, searching for the burning touch, even through the
smock she had put on to protect her dress.

She pressed her body against his, giving Kay the clear sign that she was not
opposed to his touch.  No indeed, at that moment, he knew her longing for it
was as strong as his.  He lay her back, searching for and finding the
bindings that kept her clothes covering her.

Gradually, clothes began to fall away, and Kay and Tara thought of nothing
but the touch of the others body ..
/end snip/

     Instinctively, Tara was also working at undressing Kay at the same time. 
 Soon they both lay next to one another atop the high scaffolding, bare skin 
touching bare skin as each of them used their hands to explore one anothers' 
bodies.

     Tara couldn't remember when she'd felt like this about someone.  There'd 
always been Jerram, of course, and the two of them were quite close...but 
Jerram was more of a protector, almost an older brother, and the one time 
they'd done something like this together had been the result of Seydor 
winning Varaenna in a mating flight.  That's how it had started with Kay, of 
course...but from that point on, things were different.  Jerram was still her 
friend, her trusted advisor, but Kay was something different, someone closer, 
someone she could feel more...intimate...with.  After the mating flight, 
she'd more or less expected that she and Kay would go their own ways, as had 
always happened between her and the winners of her queen's previous flights.  
But there was something about Kay, something that drew her like a magnet...

     "You're wonderful, you know that?" she asked quietly.  

     Kay couldn't respond, because his hands were as busy as her own...but 
his smile was the only answer that she needed.  She gently drew Kay onto her, 
and felt him enter her, equally gently.  She moaned softly with passion as 
the two of them came together as one...

* * * * * * * *
Varaenna

     The queen sighed as her rider's warm, happy feelings surged through her. 
 She could tell from the happy grin on Sabbith's face that he was getting the 
same feelings from his rider.  [Humans are lucky, in some ways,] she observed.

     [Because they can do this anytime, and we can't?] Sabbith asked.

     [Yes, something like that,] she answered.

     [I don't know,] he said thoughtfully.  [The humans' way of doing things 
might be fun sometimes, but it also creates a lot of problems for them that 
we don't have.  I know, believe me...if it weren't for that kind of problems, 
we wouldn't have had to leave Telnor.]

     Varaenna nodded.  [Yes, but without those problems, you and he would 
never have come here....and so it all worked out for the best.]

     [Yes, there is that,] Sabbith agreed, unable to think of anything to 
counter that argument.

     Just then, the crimson dragon spotted something, another dragon flying 
in their direction.  As it drew closer and he could see it clearly, he gulped 
loudly.  Moving quickly, he reached out with a foreclaw and clapped it over 
Varaenna's eyes.

     [Sabbith] the queen protested.  [How can I guard the door if I can't see 
anything??]

     [You don't want to see this, believe me!] Sabbith told her nervously.

     Irritated, Varaenna pulled his claw away from her eyes just as the 
female seadragon landed in front of the entrance.  Sabbith looked nervously 
between the two of them, as if expecting trouble to break out any second.

     [Oh, don't worry,] Varaenna told him, exasperated.  {Sabbith, I *can* 
tell the difference between a queen and an ordinary female!  This must be the 
new seadragon I've heard about.]

     [I am Kethriss,] the seadragon told them,  bowing gracefully despite the 
encumbrance of the hatchling on her back.  [You are the queen of this warren?]

     [I am Varaenna,] the queen agreed.

     [And I'm Sabbith!] the crimson dragon said, relieved that he wasn't 
going to have to emulate Loki and interpose himself between the two dragons 
to prevent a confrontation.

     [I know that you are surely busy with your eggs,] Kethriss went on, [but 
we have a problem.  Little Khamorray is sick, and needs a warm, dry place to 
rest for awhile.  Syngnath has told me that this cavern might be such a 
place.]

     Varaenna glanced at the hatchling, and felt her hackles rise.  This was 
the offspring of that intruding queen, the one who had joined with Ansel - 
whom she'd hoped would join with one of her own offspring.  

     *Love, what is it?* Tara asked, feeling her queen's inner turmoil.  
Varaenna quickly outlined the situation for her.

     *Oh, then by all means bring the poor little dragon inside!* she said 
quickly.  *And make sure Ansel knows he's here!*

     [Well...Sabbith and I figured that you and Kalewyn might like to be 
alone right now...]

     *Nonsense!* Tara replied.  *Having him in here won't disturb us in the 
least!*

     Varaenna nodded.  [You may bring him inside,] she told Kethriss.  She 
moved aside to let the seadragon pass.

     [Thank you, my queen!] said Kethriss, and stepped past her into the 
cavern.

     Almost at once, though, Kethriss realized that there was going to be a 
problem.  The sands in this place were HOT, hotter than anything she'd ever 
felt even on the hottest beach!  Syngnath said that the queen heated the 
sands for her eggs, but she hadn't been expecting anything like this!  Either 
these land dragons had tougher skin than she did, or else they were simply 
more heat-resistant.  She stood indecisively, dancing in place as the sand 
heated her feet uncomfortably...she couldn't just lay Khamorray down on these 
burning sands without hurting him!

     Varaenna saw the problem quickly, and realized that she'd need to help 
out.  [Stay here,] she told Sabbith, and went inside.  [Bring him over here,] 
she told Kethriss, as she lay down next to the eggs and arranged her tail and 
legs into a platform that Khamorray could lay on without touching the hot 
sands himself.  Gratefully, Kethriss crouched down and let Khamorray slide 
off of her and into the queen's waiting embrace.

     [I'm sorry about the heat,] Varaenna told Kethriss.  [It wasn't this 
warm when Syngnath was here last time, because I hadn't laid my eggs yet.]  
Seeing that the seadragon was still prancing in place on the hot sand, she 
said, [You don't need to wait here.  If the little one needs anything else, I 
can let either you or his rider know.]

    [Thank you, my queen!] said Kethriss, turning and departing as quickly as 
she could without actually running.  Once outside, she planted her webbed 
feet on the cooler ground with a grateful sigh.

     [Are you all right?] Sabbith asked.

     [I am now,] Kethriss replied, glancing back into the hatching cavern.  
[I can see now why you land-dragons breathe fire, though!  You must really 
enjoy the heat!]  

     Inside the hatching cavern, Varaenna studied Khamorray as he lay across 
her legs and tail.  She'd purposely avoided having any contact with him until 
now, because he was the offspring of that meddling seadragon queen.  But now, 
she couldn't help but feel her heart go out to the sick hatchling.  What had 
happened earlier wasn't his fault, she knew, and he *was* joined to Ansel, 
for better or worse.

     Tentatively, she used her free claw to gently stroke his back.  [How do 
you feel, little Khamorray?] she asked.

     [It's hot in here,] he said.  [And I don't feel well...]

     Varaenna sighed softly, and snuggled him against her.  [You just lie 
here, then,] she told him.  [I'm sure you'll feel better shortly.]  She began 
to hum a soft lullaby to him.  [Khamorray...I hope you know that...well, 
anytime you need anything, or want to talk to someone...I will be here for 
you.]

     Khamorray raised his head a bit and looked back at her.  [Thank you,] he 
said.  [I like those sounds you are making.  They make me feel...sleepy.]

     Varaenna chuckled.  [Then just go to sleep now,] she said.  [And I'm 
sure you will be better when you wake up.]

     [Thank you, Varaenna,] Khamorray said, hugging his forelegs around her 
neck as he fell asleep in her embrace.
* * * * * * * *
Tara

   She and Kay lay pressed against one another, both of them panting from 
their just-completed exertions, and both glistening with sweat.  "Kay, that 
was...wonderful," she told him.

     *For me too,* he signed happily.  

     Their eyes met, and even though neither of them spoke, she could tell 
that they were both thinking the same thing...how lucky they were to have 
found each other.  She wondered at the feelings she had for him.  She'd never 
been honestly able to say that she'd loved anyone before...but she'd never 
had these feelings for anyone else, either.  Could this be....love?

     Just then, Kay noticed Khamorray's presence in the cavern below them.  
*Sabbith says he's sick?* he asked.  *Should we go and help?*

     "I think Varaenna's giving him all the help he needs right now," she 
told him.  "Shall we help her do her job...by making her feel better as well?"

     Kay needed no further hint.  Grinning, he rolled himself atop her again, 
and they resumed where they had left off.

* * * * * * * *
Ansel

     He'd left Corwin as soon as he'd gotten word from Kethriss that she was 
taking Khamorray to the hatching cavern.  Unfortunately, his legs wouldn't 
carry him as fast as a dragon's wings could, and he was still not there yet 
when Varaenna had confirmed his hatchling's safe arrival there.  Still, he 
was very worried...and knew that he needed to be there, with his dragon.  If 
the heat of the hatching cavern didn't make Khamorray better, he'd summon the 
dragonhealer.

     When he finally reached the wide entrance to the cavern, he was 
surprised to see Sabbith lying across it.  After speaking a brief greeting to 
the crimson dragon, he started to go around him.

     He was even more surprised when Sabbith surged clumsily to his feet and 
moved to stand in front of him, barring his way into the cavern.  [Um...hi!] 
Sabbith said.

     *Hello, Sabbith,* he said again.  *Excuse me, but I need to get inside.* 
 He started to walk around Sabbith again, but once again found the large 
dragon blocking his way.

     *Sabbith, what's wrong with you?* he demanded.  *Khamorray is in there, 
and I need to be with him!  Now let me through!!*

     Sabbith gulped and glanced behind him into the cavern.  [We have a 
problem,] he told the queen.

     [Well, I can't come right now,] she replied.  [You'll have to deal with 
it!]

(Tag Kris)

* * * * * * * *
Jerram
(Early morning, day 13)

     Jerram wasn't in the best of moods this morning.  He'd come into his 
apartment late last night, and went to use the bathroom...only to find that 
the oil lamp wouldn't light.  It had apparently run out of oil, even though 
he was certain that he'd filled it only the week before.  It had been so dark 
in there that he hadn't been able to see a thing, and had managed to bruise 
his shin while stumbling around in the pitch darkness.  It didn't help to 
have his dragon chuckling snidely at his forgetfulness all the while.

     He'd then settled down on his couch to read a book, and had fallen 
asleep there.  Now, awakening at dawn, he closed the book and laid it on the 
floor, and decided to go to his bed for a couple more hours of sleep.

     Unfortunately, sleep was the last thing on his mind when he got into bed 
and tried to pull the sheets up over him...and discovered that they would 
only reach up to his waist!  What the hell was going on here??  Snarling 
angrily, he got out of bed to see what was going on.  It didn't take him more 
than a moment to realize that he'd been short-sheeted!!

    Damned trainees! he thought.  One of their tricks, no doubt!  Well, 
they'd pay for this!  In their training today, he'd put them through ten 
times the rigors they'd undergone up till now, until one of them either 
confessed or pointed out the guilty party.  It was probably that little 
bastard G'ret, always looking to start trouble...!

     He stalked angrily into the bathroom, where the incoming daylight was 
just enough to allow him to see what he was doing.  He glanced at the 
mirror...and stared blankly at what was written there.

     There it was, in soapy letters, the name of the culprit...GUZ.

     Guz?  Who the hell...?  But it took him only a moment to realize that 
the last letter had been transposed.  Gus!!! The streetrat had done this!  
Ooh, when he got his hands on that little rascal...he'd give him the whomping 
that he both needed and deserved!!

* * * * * * * *
     Unable to sleep now, Jerram had gone out to wait near the dining hall.  
He was sure that this would be the streetrat's first stop of the morning, and 
Jerram aimed to see that he didn't get there...at least, not until he'd 
gotten what he had coming!

     Sure enough, he soon saw the streetrat strolling indolently toward the 
dining hall, totally oblivious of what was awaiting him.  Chuckling evilly, 
Jerram hid himself just inside the entrance.  He drew his sword from its 
sheath and waited.

     Whistling happily, Gus walked into the dining hall, right past Jerram, 
not even noticing his presence...until Jerram swung his sword around in a 
glistening arc, the flat of the blade slapping hard against Gus' posterior.  
The streetrat let out a satisfying shriek and whirled around, hands pressed 
to his backside.

    "What the hell are you doin'??" he demanded, glaring angrily at Jerram.

    "Giving you what your folks should have given you a long time ago!" he 
crowed.  "A good whipping!"  He lunged forward, intending to swing the blade 
around and give Gus another good swat on the backside, but the streetrat 
moved more quickly than he'd expected, ducking under the blow and kicking 
Jerram's already-bruised shin.  Swearing loudly, the Swordmaster went down, 
and Gus leaped over him through the doorway.

     Snarling, Jerram hauled himself up, the dropped sword lying forgotten in 
the doorway as he raced after the fleeing Gus.  "Just wait till I get my 
hands on you, you little...!"

     "Hey, everybody, lookit this!!" Gus crowed, as he ran flat out across 
the green to keep ahead of the enraged Swordmaster.  "Jerram's done gone 
nuts!!"

     Gus nearly barreled into a group of the Marquesa's sailors, who were 
just making their way down to the beach to resume work on their vessel.  At 
the last second, though, he darted between their ranks and raced onward.  
Jerram did bowl into one of the sailors, who just happened to be carrying a 
long-handled paddle - an oar, actually - which was to be used to stir the 
pitch that would cover the Marquesa's seams.  Jerram, though, found a 
different use for it.

     "Thanks!" he said, grabbing the paddle away from the sailor and taking 
off in pursuit of Gus once again.  With his longer legs, he soon managed to 
get within striking distance.

     "Take this, streetrat!" he yelled, swinging the paddle around and 
hearing with satisfaction the loud smacking sound it made when it connected 
with Gus' rear end.  

     "Yowch!!" Gus cried.  "Watchit with that, you big ox!!"

     "Oh, I'll watch it, all right!" Jerram crowed.  "I'll watch it hit your 
backside again!"  And he suited the action to his words.

     "Okay, that's it!!" Gus shouted angrily, skidding to a stop and turning 
to glare at the Swordmaster.  Nobody gets away with that, you sonofabitch!"

     Jerram grinned, using a finger to beckon Gus forward.  "You want a piece 
of me, here I am...shortsheeter!  Or should I say...GUZ?"

(Tag Katrina)

* * * * * * * *
Varaenna
(hatching cavern, late afternoon)

     Sleepily, the queen opened an eye, feeling one of the eggs bump against 
her.  [Sabbith, quit moving around!  I've told you before, you mustn't bump 
the eggs!]

     [Huh...what?] came Sabbith's equally sleepy reply.  [I'm just laying 
here.  I'm not bumping anything.]

     [Well, you must be,] she snapped.  [Because if you aren't, that would 
mean...]

     Immediately the queen came fully awake and sprang to her feet.  Sabbith 
was, as he'd said, lying quietly next to her.  But the eggs...the eggs were 
rocking!  On their own!!

     Varaenna trumpeted joyously, so loudly that it startled Sabbith into 
full wakefulness.  [What is it?] he asked.  [What's going on?]

     [The eggs!! The eggs!  They're HATCHING!!] the queen cried, a telepathic 
summons that could be heard all across the warren.  [Tara!! Tara!! Come 
quickly!!! Bring in the candidates!!!  The eggs are HATCHING!!!]

     Athena, who'd been dozing next to the egg she'd been helping Varaenna 
with, raised her head at the queen's call and added her own happy trumpeting 
to Varaenna's.  [It's time!] she cried, then turned her attention to her 
special egg as it rocked back and forth in unison with the others.

     [They're hatching!! They're hatching!] Sabbith cried, jumping up and 
down in anticipation.  [I'm going to be a sire!!]

     Varaenna watched as her rider rushed into the cavern, a stream of humans 
coming in her wake.  Motioning for Sabbith and Athena to move back, the queen 
quickly took up her position just behind the eggs.  Arranging her features to 
look properly stern and menacing, she prepared to confront the candidates who 
were coming for her eggs...and any that retreated from her obviously weren't 
worthy anyway.

NRPG:  Okay, the hatching has begun!  Anyone with a PC or NPC you want to get 
joined, now's the time!  There are twelve eggs, and most of them are as yet 
unclaimed!

Submitted by:

John

Warrenlady Tara & Queen Varaenna
Jerram & Seydor
Ansel & Khamorray
Tanami & Kethriss
Jasra Warren

Trevor & Trissana, Cleft Warren
Wingleader T'rell & Flerrion, Daere Warren
Martyn & Havelok, Marrid/Xylian Warrens
Dragonhealer Dalmar, Telnor Warren