Sabbith & Vareanna
****

     Sabbith spat the sand out of his mouth, <Oh so you want to play rough
do, you?>

     The white-silver queen looked at him, her eyes narrowing.  <Sabbith,
just be quiet.> she rumbled.  <I'm not in the mood to talk right now.>  She
turned her head away from him, pointedly ignoring him.

     Sabbith shrugged, and tried to do as she asked, but even he was getting
tense just being near her!  Well, I have to do something! he thought.  He
stuck his snout under her wing to gently poke at her.

     Varaenna jumped, letting out a surprised giggle.  Off balance, she
rolled halfway over onto her side facing him.  <Don't do that!!> she told
him crossly. 

     Sabbith's eyes lit up.  Oh now he had her!  <Are you ticklish?> he
asked, a wide grin making it's way across his snout.

     Varaenna's eyes widened.  <No...of course not!!> she asserted quickly.
<You just...startled me, that's all.>  Her eyes were still sparking with
anger, but she was at the same time inching herself away from her
cuddle-partner. 

     <You are!> he bellowed loudly.  He lunged at her and began tickling her
with all he had.  If she was laughing, she couldn't be cross anymore.

     The queen was taken completely by surprise, and in a second was down on
her back.  As his claws attacked her sides and the delicate hollows just
under the wing-roots, she screeched with helpless laughter.  She batted at
him with her wings, while her tail lashed the air and her legs flailed
wildly.
   
      <Sabbith...don't you dare...I'm the...Queen..!!>  Varaenna cried, as
she tried to twist herself away from him.  She was larger than he was, and
should have been able to resist him...except that she found herself laughing
so hard she couldn't even get her breath, much less fight back.  No one had
*ever* done anything like this to her before!  <No..stop...don't..!> she
squealed. 

It was working!  <I will not quit until you are completely done being
angry!> he roared, his laughter joining hers as he reveled in this secret
he'd uncovered.  She would be under his power anytime he wanted now!

     <That's...enough!!> she gasped out, her green eyes taking on that angry
look again...but now it was only a flicker, and it couldn't hope to last
against the gales of laughter Sabbith was bringing out of her.  But she
wasn't going to let him get the best of her, no matter *what* he did!  She
managed to maneuver her tail in between them, and used it to shove against
his chest. 

     Sabbith was surprised by her maneuver .. particularly in her awkward
condition.  He slipped backward, causing the ground to tremble slightly
against his weight.  <Hey!> he yelped, and moved quickly to right himself,
before she could get away from him.  Varaenna too was using the respite to
try and crawl away from him, but he wasn't going to let her get away that
easily.  He was having far too much fun!

     Sabbith delighted in the eruption of laughter that came from her as he
caught a back leg and began to mercilessly tickle her back feet, slowing her
even more, and giving him the chance to pin her yet again.

     Why had he never thought to tickle the females before?!  This was
incredibly fun!

     <Oh, no... stop.. .not that... please!!!> the white-silver queen
pleaded, her anger forgotten once and for all as she kicked desperately to
get away from Sabbith's claws, her sides heaving with laughter. <I
can't...stand  it...I...give up!!!>

     <Do you promise to forget about that ol' wilder and just enjoy being
here with me?> he asked, paused for a few seconds to be sure she was
listening, before starting in on her again.

     <I promise!!  I promise!!>  Varaenna cried.  At this point she'd have
promised him anything just to make him stop!

     Sabbith was almost sorry she'd given in.  That meant he had to stop.
Reluctantly he did stop, however.  He consoled himself in the knowledge that
at least they could get back to the business of cuddling.  <Very well,> he
told her, <Then lay here beside me and cuddle.>

     <Yes...all right,> Varaenna said shakily, panting to get her breath
back as she crawled up beside him.  But no sooner had they both started to
settle down in their usual cuddling spot when she unexpectedly shoved her
flank against his, her greater weight pushing him sideways.  Sabbith lost
his balance and went down, and the next moment the queen was lying halfway
across him. 

     <Ooh, now you're going to get it!!> she crowed triumphantly.  <Let's
see if you can take it as well as you give it!!>  Her claws went to his
sides, and attacked him in exactly the same manner as he'd done to her.

     To say he was surprised would have been more then an understatement.
But it wasn't her attack that surprised him so much as his reaction to it.
It tickled! 

     He'd never known he was ticklish .. none of the other dragons had ever
tried to tickle him before .. nor he them.  But now he knew the truth of it.
He was ticklish!!!!

     He roared both in laugher and in agony.  He couldn't stop laughing and
he was laughing so hard it was hurting!  <Stop!  Stop!> he begged.

     But Varaenna continued her attack mercilessly, her claws going all over
his sides and belly while her weight across his chest held him in place.
<Not a chance!> she laughed.  <Ooh, you were right, this is fun!!>
 
*********

     Just outside the hatching cavern Makayla turned in dismay.  <What is
that sound?> she asked the dragon beside her.

     <Sounds like some dragons in terrible agony.  We'd better find out if
they need help,> Iris said worriedly

     Makayla nodded, <Trouble in the hatching cavern!>  She called out for
the entire warren to hear, while scrambling after Iris toward the dragon,
who was obviously in great trouble.

     Iris skidded to a halt just inside the hatching cavern, struggling to
make out what was happening as Varaenna and Sabbith grappled on the sands.

     Varaenna didn't notice the fact that they weren't alone.  The queen was
enjoying herself so much that she'd completely forgotten her anger over the
wilder queen. 

     <Are you going to be good from now on...and do *everything* I say...?>
she asked him sweetly.

     <Stop!>  Sabbith sputtered through his laughter. <I only .. wanted ..
to cheer .. you  .. up!>
    
     <Oh, you have, you have!>  Varaenna assured him. <I feel wonderful
now!!>

     Makayla ran straight into Iris, causing both dragons to groan at the
impact. <Hey!> she peeked around the younger dragon, <Sabbith?  Varaenna?
What's wrong?>

     <I'm fine, dear!> the queen giggled, grinning wickedly as she worked
over the struggling dragon who lay half-underneath her.

     Makayla and Iris exchanged confused glances.  The dragons certainly
hadn't sounded fine.

       Sabbith squeaked.  <Please .. stop ..>  His sides were aching from
all the laughter.

     <There's no trouble?>  Makayla asked hesitantly.

     <None at all!>  Varaenna assured her.
 
     <Help!  Help .. me..>  Sabbith begged between his laughter.

     Iris just stood there helplessly.  She could hardly gainsay the queen,
but Sabbith was begging for help.  What WAS going on here? she wondered.

     However, Varaenna had been distracted just enough by the newcomers that
she hadn't noticed Sabbith's claw inching its way up underneath her wing.
Sabbith's return attack came as a complete surprise to the queen.  With a
shriek, she leaped off of him and lay on her side, panting to get her breath
back but smiling broadly.

     Sabbith scrambled back, breathing heavily.  <Whew!> he looked at
Varaenna dubiously.  <Are we even yet?>

     The queen nodded. <I think so,> she agreed.  <But that was fun...well,
at least the part where I had *you* down...>  She leaned forward to nuzzle
Sabbith's neck.  <Thank you Sabbith...what would I do without you?>

     <Are you sure there's nothing we can do for you, Sabbith?>  Makayla
asked, watching the crimson dragon.

     Hearing this, Sabbith's eyes sparkled, and he gave the green dragon a
speculative nose-to-tail lookover.  <Well, there *is* one thing you could do
to help me...> he began, grinning broadly.

<Of course, anything!> said the little green, bobbing her head up and  down
to signal her willingness.

<That's very kind of you!> Sabbith chuckled, getting to his feet and
walking over to her.

<Sabbith, you're wicked!>  Varaenna said, knowing exactly what Sabbith  had
in mind, but relieved that at least he wasn't coming after *her* again.
She needed a few moments to get her breath back.  The queen chuckled to
herself at the eager look on Sabbith's face, but was suddenly distracted by
a rippling sensation that passed through her belly...was it time?  She
shivered, waiting to see if it would pass.

     <Are you okay?>  Iris asked, concerned.

     <Yes, dear, just fine...> the queen said, though she wondered if her
contraction meant that her time to lay had arrived.  She'd had these
contractions begin as much as a day before the eggs were ready to drop...or
as late as just a few minutes before that time.  She thought of calling
Sabbith back, but decided to let him play...at least until she was sure.

     Sabbith figured that if tickling the giant queen had been fun, then
tickling Makayla would be too...so he sprang at her and began his onslaught.

     <AHHHHHHH!>  Makayla squealed.  <What...are you...doing?>  She tried to
roll away from him, but he held her fast.  Actually, she was easier to hold
then Varaenna had been, for Makayla was only half the queens size.  Still it
was great fun!

    <You wanted to help...>  Sabbith chuckled.  <This is helping me a lot!>

    <This isn't helping!> the emerald dragon squealed.  <Darlea-pet!  Help
me!>  She roared with laughter.  <Help me!!  Please!>

***

     <What is he doing?>  Iris asked, looking frantically back and forth
between the queen and the two wrestling dragons.

<Just having fun,> Varaenna chuckled, watching the wrestling dragons.

     <It doesn't look to me like Makayla's having fun!> Iris insisted,
crouching as though to spring.  <I'd better help her.>

     The queen extended a wing to block Iris' path.  <Until Sabbith gets
tired of this new game he's discovered - if he does, that is - it's best to
just let him get it out of his system.  Unless, of course, you'd care to
play this little game with him yourself.>

     <Well...> Iris stammered hesitantly.

     <He's not hurting her, really,> the queen assured her with a chuckle,
knowing that the tremendous lung capacity that dragons needed for flight
would keep Makayla from getting too short of breath, no matter how hard
Sabbith made her laugh; the only reason that she herself had become so
winded was the internal pressure exerted by her clutch of eggs.  <Besides,
it's kind of fun...well, sort of...even when you're on the receiving end.
But it's definitely more fun to be giving.>

     Still, the contest did seem a bit unfair, given the difference in the
sizes of the two dragons.  <Sabbith, dear...SABBITH!!>

     He didn't hear her, and it was only a mild thump from Iris' tail across
his back that got Sabbith's attention and got him to momentarily stop his
assault on Makayla's sides.   Makayla's laughter trailed off into giggles as
soon as he quit. <Thank you!> she told the queen, relieved.  She tried to
squirm herself out from under the crimson dragon, but he wasn't ready to let
her go just yet.

     <What is it?> Sabbith asked, a twinkle in his eye.  <Are you ready to
play some more?>

     <No, dear,> the queen replied, shaking her head. <It's just
that...well, I'm sure that Makayla's sides must be getting a little sore by
now.  Perhaps you should give her a rest?>  Makayla nodded her emphatic
agreement.

     <Oh...of course,> Sabbith agreed.  <I'm sorry, I didn't think of that.>
He took his claws away from her sides and began to raise himself up a bit.

     <Then I can go?> Makayla asked hopefully.

     <Why would you want to go when we're having so much fun?> Sabbith asked
innocently, laughing a bit as he rearranging himself atop her.  <But I don't
want your sides to be sore, so...>  He started to tickle Makayla's back feet
instead, and once again the little green's laughter echoed throughout the
cavern.

     <This...isn't...fun!!!> she squealed.

     <Well, that didn't work out so well,> Varaenna sighed.

     <Is he going to keep doing this?> Iris wanted to know.

     <Probably,> the queen replied, chuckling.  <But don't worry... I'm sure
he prefers to do it with me.  And I'll give back as good as I get... at
least.>

     Iris nodded, but then looked back at the queen.  <Yes, but what happens
while you're in here with your clutch and you can't...play...with him?  Who
will he...?>

     <Oh, well, there's plenty of females in the warren for him to choose
from,> Varaenna teased.  <And you know, he did tell me earlier that he
thought you had a pretty laugh...>  Suddenly a stronger contraction hit her,
and she moaned between clenched teeth.  Laying was sometimes a painful
process for her, probably the price she paid for not getting bloated like
some queens did while carrying eggs.

     Iris quickly bent down to touch her muzzle against the queen's.
<Varaenna, something *is* wrong!> she insisted in her forthright way.  <You
are in pain!>

     <No...it isn't that...>  Varaenna said,  wincing as a stronger
contraction hit her.  <It's something else...>  This was no false alarm, she
realized.  

     <Sabbith...> she called.  <It's time for you to stop now...>

But Sabbith was having so much fun he didn't even hear her weak  call...and
anyway, between Makayla's laughter and her repeated pleas for  mercy, he
probably couldn't have heard her anyway at this point.  But  suddenly, a
mindvoice boomed through the hatching cavern that no one could  have
ignored.

     <Sabbith??  What in the name of dragonkind is going on in here!>  the
crimson dragon heard his rider bellow in his head.  Kay made up for his
silence of voice with the loudness of his words.

     Neither the dragons, nor the rider now standing with his hands on his
hips in front of them saw the tiny blonde running toward them.  "What's
going on here?" she demanded.

     When the dark haired rider did not turn or acknowledge her question,
Darlea grabbed his arm.  "What is that beast doing to Makayla?!!"

     Sabbith had paused in his assault on the little green when Kay had
approached them, but now that the other human had taken Kay's attention, he
started tickling again with great vigor.

     Darlea frowned as her dragon began roaring loudly again.  She turned
angry eyes on the rider.  "Is that your dragon?  Is it?"

     Kay nodded, and tried to move his hands to sign to her, but she  wasn't
paying attention to his hands.

     "Well then do something!  Don't just stand there!  Stop him!!"

     <Sabbith!  Stop what you're doing...now!>  Kay ordered.

     <We're just playing, My Kay.>  Sabbith said, ceasing the tickling but
not releasing Makayla.  <I'm not hurting her.>

     Kay looked at Darlea, who glared at him.  "Well...is he going to
release her?"

     *He say's they are just playing.* Kay signed to her, but could see no
recognition in her eyes.  She did not understand sign language.

     "What are you doing?" she said irritably, waving away his hands.  "Just
tell me what is going on!"

     With great effort, Varaenna got up herself up and stood on shaking legs
as she regarded Sabbith.  <Sabbith...I need you.> she said.  She was panting
for breath as the contractions rippled ever more strongly through her
middle.  <It's time...>

     <But I've got Makayla pinned...>  The crimson protested, then his head
shot straight up.  <Time for what?>

     Varaenna rolled her eyes.  <He started this, and now he doesn't know
what it's about...> she muttered to herself.  <Sabbith, it is TIME!!>  At
she was speaking to him, she also sent out a call to Tara to come quickly.
Her rider would definitely want to be here for this!.

     Sabbith righted himself, and released Makayla.  He turned to look at
Varaenna and barreled toward her.  <THAT time!  Time for our eggs??>  He
asked, his eyes lighting up.  <It's time!  It's time!!!>  He came crashing
to a stop in front of her, <Can I help?>

     Kay and Darlea looked at each other in confusion, until the news began
to trickle around the warren.  They then ran to the edge of the sands.

     Varaenna nodded.  <You and Iris both can help.  Just help me get...over
there.>  With Sabbith and Iris supporting her on either side, she made her
way over to the hollowed-out place in the sand that she'd readied for the
occasion. 

     <Thank you,> she told them.  <Now, please move away for a bit...this is
something I have to do myself.>

     And before anyone could say a word, the first glistening egg lay on the
sand of Jasra's hatching cavern.

Darlea watched a bemused smile on her face. She loved watching both hatching
and the laying of the eggs. They were both so .. miraculous. And she might
have forgotten the incident were it not for Makayla who moaned, <Thank
goodness for the eggs ..>

She turned to her dragon, <What was going on?>

<I don't know, Darlea-pet. .. I swear. We came in to help .. and when he
accepted my offer .. well, he jumped me!>

<His rider ought to teach him some manners!> Now Darlea's eyes were blazing
with a crystal blue fire again and she tapped on the tall riders arm.

"Don't think this is over yet! I still want an explanation .."

Kay grimaced. His hand moved to his waist and he was surprised to find his
slate missing. He rolled his eyes. Of course! He'd borrowed the one from the
girls, and not gotten one of his own yet. But now he had a major problem.
How was he going to explain when she didn't understand him

Regards,
Sabbith & Vareanna & Iris
***
NRPG Post was cowritten by John and I with great input from Dana. Thanks
guys!

Kris

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       \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
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