When i hit the floor, it wasnt a soft landing . I landed on my side on the cold stone floor startling me out of my euphoria and snapping me back to reality . The thoughts started . Who was the person who just came in? Why am I here? Where am I really?

Advertis.e.m.e.ntI looked around quickly for somewhere to hide . Under the bed was the obvious choice . I did my best to move . I wasn't used to my legs yet so i just ended up sliding across the floor as best as i could . I lay under the bed amidst the dust bunnies . (They don't clean under here often) I thought . I turned toward the sound of shoes clacking on the stone floor . I heard the girls voice again as the lace monstrosity she called a dress dropped to the floor .

" I really hate having to get dressed up for those dumb parties so Father can show me off to those dumb n.o.ble boys . Why can't I get a dumb egg to hatch . . . . Wait . . . Where is it?" She asked into the open room . It echoed slightly under the bed . I stare at the shoes as they move toward the cus.h.i.+on . My tongue flicks feeling the cold, slightly stale air where i sit in fear and antic.i.p.ation of what might happen if she finds me .

I see the girl kneel next to the cus.h.i.+on in what looks like dark tanned leather leggings . Her shoes look like flats with little jewels on them . Her top is white with a flower print . Daffodils . . . i think . I can't see her head, but i see a pale hand reach for the cus.h.i.+on and pick up a piece of the eggsh.e.l.l on it .

She sits up a little straighter and twists, looking around . Her body points toward the bed and she starts moving toward me . On her hand and knees . I suddenly see a slender female face, white like paper, full but not fat . Her eyes are like saphires with a Smokey look . Her lips are red like rubies . ( I should not be sight seeing! I need to get away!) I think as I start backing up . I feel something wrap around my midsection and drag me out from underneath the bed . A startled hiss escaped me as I was dragged into the light .

I look at what's holding me . To my surprise im being held by what looks to be a ribbon . I follow the ribbon until i see it connecting to the girls right wrist which is held in the air like a mistro . She stares at me as I start trying to get free by knawing on the ribbon to no avail . (What is this thing made of?!)

" A salamander . . . . . " she says as she face palms with her left hand . " Of all things, why does it have to be a salamander?" The ribbon suddenly loosens dropping me to the floor with a slap . My hardened redish gold scales absorb the impact making it sound almost like coins. .h.i.tting the floor . I did my best to slide across the floor again trying to get away from this freakish ribbon . I suddenly felt a hand grab me . "where do you think you are going . " I felt her lift me from the ground . My tail curled slightly as she raised me to eye level . " she started turning me around here and there as though trying to get a good look at me . "Six legs . . . There's very few salamanders that have that many . " she whispered . " Red like fire but you have gold horns . Only high borns in any species have horns . " She c.o.c.ked her eyebrows at me as I just went limp . I just gave up trying to get out of her grip . I just kept looking at her waiting to be put down like some infant for a nap .

" You aren't normal . . . most salamanders climb into the fire . You hid under the bed . I really do know how to pick em . First I try to form a pact with a ice swallow who cant fly . Now i get a Salamander who's afraid of fire . " She puts me on the cus.h.i.+on and goes to her bed and sits with her head in her hands . I think to myself . (Salamanders normally crawl into the fire?) I turned and slowly tried crawling to the fireplace in the room . It took a bit . I tried several times . Stumbled a bit . Finally i managed by lifting my middle legs and used my front and back ones to move toward the calm flame in the hearth .