I 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.