Sabbith
***

>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!]

<Me??> Sabbith asked suddenly worried.

<Yes you,> Varaenna snipped back. Turning her attention from him to the sick
dragon she was mothering.

Sabbith gulped, but left her alone and faced Ansel who was still attempting
to get around him. <Sabbith!> the boy growled in frustration.

<I'm sorry, Ansel.> Sabbith  said plaintively, <But there are things going
on .. I mean .. ummm ..>

<Things going on?> he questioned.

<NO! Nothing is going on! I swear it!> Sabbith  bounded back, <It's just
that  .. well .. > Suddenly his face lit up, < The sands are very hot right
now, and you'd burn your feet!>

<I don't care ..> Ansel began, rolling his eyes.

<Oh but, Khamorray does! He doesn't want you hurt.> Sabbith affected a
frown, <How can you be so selfish!>

<What??> Ansel asked, trying to understand the large dragon's logic.

<I'm only trying to do what Khamorray would want ..> Sabbith attempted to
sound self-sacrificing, <And this is the thanks I get!>

<Khamorray doesn't want me in there?> Ansel asked in disbelief. <Now look
here, Sabbith! I don't know what you're trying to do, but ..>

Indignantly, Sabbith sniffed. <What I'm trying to do? You think this is all
for me?>

Ansel groaned. He was getting nowhere trying to talk to the dragon, and he
couldn't get by the crimson bulk. His eyes peered into the darkness of the
cavern trying  to find something to help .. Or someone! Suddenly he
remembered that Sabbith rider was spending most of his days here trying to
finish painting in time for the hatching, which was due any day now.

He knew he couldn't yell for the rider, being that he was deaf, but he was
pretty sure he remembered that in fact Kay was able to talk to all the
dragons like he could .. perhaps they could speak to each other the same
way. Well it was worth a try! After all he had nothing to lose ..

<Kay .. Kay are you in here?>

<.. ooooh  yes..>

Ansel was slightly taken aback. Now that was a strange sort of reply!
Perhaps he was just really busy and not really paying much attention.

<Kay, it's me, Ansel, Tara's brother .. >

Kalewyn
***

Kay suddenly rolled back from Tara, and scrambled a few feet away. Having
Tara's baby brother's voice in his head in the midst of .. well of what he
was doing to .. er .. with Tara .. was enough to cause an instant, and very
unfavorable reaction throughout his body, effectively putting an end to
their activities. 

"Kay?" Tara asked, not at all pleased with the sudden cessation of their
body contact.

Kay shook his head, and looked at her easily recognizing the questioning
look on her face. <Your brother is here ..>

The news cause a similar reaction in Tara as she quickly started scrambling
for articles of clothing, gasping in horror as her favorite shirt slipped
over the edge and began floating gently toward the sands. She looked at Kay
wide-eyed. Kay looked pale as he knelt there, his own clothes clutched in
his hands. He looked over the edge slightly to watch the shirt as it drifted
down. Then he gallantly handed her is own shirt ..

Suddenly Tara began to laugh. She clamped her hand over her mouth in an
attempt to muffle the sound.

Kay, couldn't for the life of him, figure out why she was laughing when they
had just been caught in this horribly embarrassing situation ..
 
Tara seeing the confusing in his eyes, quickly pulled him down to sit next
to her, *I'm sorry,* she signed, still grinning. *I know it's not funny ..
but .. Well look at us ..*

Kay then, getting over his initial shock, really began to take stock of
their situation .. and soon he too was chuckling. There were blue paint
smudges all over their bodies, and even on their discarded clothes. Their
hair was completely disheveled .. and of course they were completely naked.
Definitely not the most dignified way to be found ..

<<Kay! Are you okay up there? Sabbith won't let me in .. and Khamorray's
sick ..>>

Kay sighed,  and tried to regain his self-respect, <I'll tell him to let you
in, Ansel.>

The boys relief was clear in his 'thanks'.

<Sabbith! Let that poor boy in to see his dragon.> Kay ordered.

<But Kay .. I didn't want him to disturb you ..>

<Too late,> Kay sighed, <Let him in ..>

He refocused back on Tara and explained to her what it was that had ended up
disturbing them. Tara chuckled and shook her head, "If he'd let him in in
the first place, he'd have probably never known we were up here .."

Kay grimaced, *I'm sorry about that ..*

Tara shrugged, "It's okay." She moved closer to him and pressed her lips to
his, before looking honestly into his dark eyes, "It was worth it."

Tremors went through his body at her words and he wrapped his arms around
her, kissing her .. proving that even after being doused in such a way, the
fire could quickly be rekindled ..

Regards,
Kalewyn & Sabbith
***
NRPG: Well .. if anyone finds Tara's favorite shirt on the hatching ground
floor .. well just leave it, she'll get it later <G>

Kris

*****************************************************************
  |\  /^~~^\  /| 
--qqQ-\O||O/-Qpp-------------------------------------------------
       \oo/     Kristen Gant
        ~~      (AKA: Waylene & Aura, Marrid Warren, Warrenlady
                      Meena & Vonn, Norwall Warren, Wingleader
                      Th'rin & Areena,Whiteriver Warren, Head Healer
                      Merybelle Barmen, City of Ralengarde, Innkeeper
                      Ce'lot & Britche, Xylain Warren, Wingleader
                      Saul & Fayloth, Jasra Warren, Searcher
                      Darlea & Makayla, Courier
                      Kalewyn & Sabbith, Dragonrider
                      Devon & Xanith, Dragonrider
                http://members.home.net/sgant/kristen/kris.htm
 --d----------b---------------------------------------------------
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       \()/
        \/