"Kristine . . . Yoohoo . . . Anyone there?"
"What? What? I'm trying to nap, here!"
"The characters have finished telling stories."
"What? Already? Damn, that means I have to narrate again, doesn't it?"
"Eeyup. You wanna get on that?"
"In a minute, Zebil. I'm kind of groggy . . ."
"Suit yourself. Boy, you sure eat a lot of chocolate . . ."
"Argh! I'm sick of your whining! You're just as bad as I am!"
"Yes, Kristine. But I'm not lazy."
"You shouldn't use my name . . . DON'T EVEN THINK OF MAKING THAT JOKE!"
"Bah! Fine. So, you gonna narrate, or what?"
"Give me time," Elkay hissed, "I'm only one dragon, you know."
"Yeah, but you're a shitty author-" Zebil began.
"NARRATOR! The author is NEVER the narrator! Why does that cause so much confusion?"
"Verisimilitude?"
"Oh, shut up."
Elkay rubbed her temples with black-tipped claws. It was nice to have a break, but first person narration could only last so long. She'd have to read the characters' stories later to find out what they had been up to while she was away.
"God, I'm tired. I don't think I can muster the strength to write anything good."
"Why start now?"
Elkay slapped Zebil with her tail.
"Ow."
"You know, I really ought to do something special."
"Like what?" Zebil asked, rubbing his face.
"Something rhyme-ey."
"You can't do that yet."
"Why not?"
"Because the JPeeps already did a Christmas special in rhyme."
"WHAT? Again? Without ME?"
"Mhm."
"Well, pluck my duck! What am I supposed to do?"
Zebil shrugged.
"Recover the lost dialogue while you work on your heroic couplets?"
"Fine. God, this is complicated."
"Yes, I imagine it is," Zebil replied, "Well, good luck with that!"
Elkay sighed with exasperation.
"Worst . . . chapter . . . ever!"
