A few times Jesioth looked about to object to what I was taking.
Every time he simply stopped himself and let me take it.
This attachment to things was ridiculous, I knew.
Still, I felt the need to bring a few pieces of home with me.
So, I took most of my things with me.
I even took pictures of my friends and the yearbook I had bought on Thursday.
I took pictures of my family too.
I went downstairs quietly so not to bother my family - which was laughing in the basement while watching T.V. - and crept out the door.
Jesioth lead me down the street to what we called 'the crater' which was simply a storm drain.
M'len met us there and he removed the chain from his dragon.
The blue instantly grewto his normal size and I climbed on.
I hid my tear-streaked cheeks and watery eyes from the dragon-rider as we leaped into the air.
As I looked down, I saw my street, my neighbourhood, my city, shrink away into doll-sized blurs.
I felt terribly miserable, yet, underneath it all, I felt excited.
It was a strange pairing of feelings and I did not understand them.
All I knew was that I was leaving everything behind in hopes of a bright future.
God, even my thoughts were getting mushy.
As the capital of Canada shrank under me, I smiled softly to myself.
If I failed, I could always go back.
If I suceeded, I would go forward.
Jesioth warbled at my thought and he went between.
I shivered and coughed three times in my head before we reappeared.
Inwardly, I was happy that Esling dragons did not have to go between but teleported instantly.
Yet, we were above the F.G.P.C. and all thoughts of Enzan Shi were driven from my mind.
I was actually there.
It was day there also and as Jesioth back-winged to the ground, a boy dressed as a candidate came outside.
"Heyla, M'len!" He called and I jumped.
I knew him.
"Could you show Shailey around, Rioalnaar?" The blue-rider asked.
"I've got a lot of Searching to do today."
The dark brown-haired, ice blue eyed young man grinned.
"Not a problem.
Here, let me help you with that." He walked forward and helped me with my bags.
I found it hard not to stare.
So my characters existed too.
Rioalnaar was as real as I was even if I had written his story back on Earth.
"So, where're you from?" He asked as he showed me through the halls.
"Earth." I answered.
"Where are you from?"
"Enzan Shi." He replied, as I knew he would.
"Neat." I answered and he showed me a room on the girls' side.
I put all my things out of the way so whoever that would end up being my roommate would be able to come in.
Just as my escort opened his mouth to say something, a white fire lizard appeared over his head.
She squawked irritably and landed on his head, peering down at his face.
I tried hard not to laugh.
He grinned at me as he shifted his fire lizard to his shoulder.
"Would you like one?" He asked, stroking the white's head.
"Us candidates are allowed up to three."
I felt my face redden and I looked down nervously.
"If you wouldn't mind showing me where they are and how to get one." I said nervously.
"Ah, right!
Earthlings don't know this sort of stuff!" The young man said, smiling.
"Come with me, Shay, and I'll show you the way."
His fire lizard - Sinn'deai, I remember her name being - snorted and looked at me.
I swear she rolled her eyes at me then.
It was amusing to say the least.
Rioalnaar lead me to the F.G.P.C. fire lizards.
He grinned and turned to me.
"We're allowed only one of these." He explained.
"Top six incubators are full rares, bottom four are speckles and two-tones."
I looked at the cases in doubt.
Then, I remembered how much I adored the normal colors.
So, I crouched and chose a rather big egg from a bottom incubator.
A geneticist gave it to me.
"Make sure you keep it nice and warm.
A pocket'll do.
It's going to hatch in a candlemark or so." She explained.
"And that'll be three marks."
I smiled.
"Thanks!" I said brightly, placing the marks in her hand.
Rioalnaar looked at me quizzically as I put the little egg away.
I looked at him.
"What?" I asked, placing the egg in my big jeans' pocket.
"Where did you get those marks?" He asked.
"I think M'len gave me them." I answered, unable to remember.
He was still staring at me.
"What?" I demanded, now getting irritated.
"You remind me of someone." He answered evasively.
"So, do you still want to go to the beaches?"
"Yeah, but we should bring some fresh meat along too." I answered.
"That way I can feed this one and those on the beaches."
"Wait, I didn't tell you how to Impress one..." He said suddenly.
"Er.. well... We've books about here on Earth that tell us how." I scrambled for an answer other than 'I created you and Enzan Shi.'
He blinked, but seemed to accept this.
So, he and Sinn'deai lead me to the beaches.
The white found a clutch rather easily and returned.
"She says that it's a gold clutch but the mother's gone off to feed." Rioalnaar told me.
"Just run in, grab two eggs and run out."
This I did.
I nearly tripped over a log at the beginning of my run with the white fire lizard guiding me.
We reached the nest and I grabbed two smallish eggs then began to run back.
I heard an outraged cry but did not stop running.
Which was good, since the Queen's mate had returned just in time to see me vanish into the trees.
I skidded to a stop next to Rioalnaar on the other part of the beach.
He grinned.
"Good job, you didn't even get a scratch." He applauded and I blushed slightly at the praise.
A cracking noise came from my hand and I jumped.
Had I cracked the egg in my nervousness?
However, Sinn'deai seemed unperturbed and landed on her Impressed's shoulder, humming.
Then, I knew.
I dropped to the sand and placed my three eggs on it comfortably.
The 'newer' two were rocking, the 'older' one was simply making ticking noises.
Rioalnaar pushed the bucket of meat towards me and I peered at my little eggs.
The smallest egg shattered as I was grabbing the bucket and the little green creeled loudly and stretched her wings.
I tried to attract her to me but she simply snarled and flew off.
I slumped slightly.
That was depressing.
The next wild egg hatched and I held meat right above the fire lizard's head.
The little amber crooned and took it gently in his teeth.
I fed him again and again until he was full.
Then, he curled up in my lap contentedly.
The larger F.G.P.C. egg fell over with a snap.
A bronze head pushed itself free and the hatchling rolled onto his back with a somewhat annoyed sigh.
He rolled free and spread gold membranes.
I eyed the beauty jealously and fed him the same as I had the much smaller amber.
He ate nearly twice as much, but in the end he was mine as well.
