Hepbeth was definitely annoyed by Roshel's and Tragar's behavior toward her while the three tabbin were holding their consultation session with the magin, Jozlyn and Theor, earlier that day. Although the humans had requested their presence, the tabbin really didn't need to heed that request. But they were fond of the humans, so had indulged them. Having two rival male tabbin vie for her attention in such close quarters made the female tabbi very uncomfortable. She didn't want their attention, because she'd discovered three years ago what that led to. No more cubs for her! So she determined that she'd have to discipline Tragar. She'd take care of Roshel later, when he was out of Theor's room.
Her nose told her that Tragar the Terrible, as he liked to call himself, was still in the Keep, very close. She allowed her mind to touch his briefly so she could locate him with more precision, but she didn't want to alert him that she was on the prowl for him. She located him in a nearby room, allowing the human cub, Traci, to pat his belly. Discipline would just have to wait a while. She stared a few moments at the two happy creatures, then decided to join them. Hepbeth loved to play with the human cubs, too.
The human cub squealed with delight when the female tabbi rubbed against her shoulder as Traci sat patting Tragar. The shrill sound hurt both tabbin's sensitive ears, but since Traci squealed only once, they stayed. Hepbeth lay down and rolled over at Traci's other side, so the cub could pat both of them at once. Both tabbin purred loudly. In addition to the audible giggles from Traci, the tabbin could also pick up the feelings of pleasure inside Traci's mind.
"Oh Hepbeth, oh Tragar," the cub smiled. "I love you both so much! Thank you for coming to play with me today."
The tabbin had noticed lately that Traci seemed to be able to hear them when they telepathed on the human frequency. So they had decided they'd try to help her hear them better. On the tabbi frequency, Hepbeth said to Tragar, "Time for Traci lesson." He purred louder in agreement.
Switching to the lower human frequency, Hepbeth sat up and telepathed to Traci, "Hepbeth love Traci. Please scratch behind Hepbeth ear."
"Oh Hepbeth, I think you want me to scratch behind your ear," and the little human cub obliged, sending Hepbeth into an ecstacy of purring.
Amused, Tragar said on the tabbi frequency, "Traci hear Hepbeth right. Traci still not think Hepbeth speak. Think Traci idea to scratch ear."
Hepbeth sneezed, shook her head, then started washing her face with a paw. "Traci need more lessons. Tragar speak."
Tragar rolled over. Down at the human frequency, he said, "Traci scratch Tragar back, please."
Traci giggled, "Tragar, do you want to be scratched? Where?"
Both tabbin beat their tails on the floor. They were almost sure now that Traci could hear them speak. Encouraged, they decided to continue their experiment.
Tragar again telepathed on the human frequency, "Down Tragar back, please."
In a little sing-song voice, Traci said, "Down Tragar back, please." Her fingers obliged Tragar's wish as she giggled again. "Tragar, you're a polite tabbi. You said please. Mama says we must always say please and thank you. There! Now say thank you."
"Thank you, Traci," Tragar minded his manners. Silly humans, to think they needed to say please and thank you. Tragar wasn't sure he knew what those words meant exactly, but when humans used them, this seemed to reduce the chances that one human might get mad at another.
"Oh, Tragar!" Traci clapped her hands. "You really did say thank you!" The next thing Tragar knew, the cub was squeezing his neck in a tight grip!
Amused, Hepbeth watched Tragar put up with the discomfort. But as soon as the cub released him, he stood and shook himself, turned around and rubbed his head and shoulders against Traci, purred, then telepathed, "Goodbye," and trotted off. Another silly human word, that goodbye. But it made them happy, so he used it. At the door he turned and saw Hepbeth still sitting beside the human cub. On the tabbi frequency, he said, "Hepbeth teach lesson now." Then he padded out of the room. He needed to give his neck fur a good grooming. |