I must have fallen asleep, but I don't remember it. Looking out the window, I realize that it's morning. Last night was long. As per usual, any event of any caliber is an excuse for the middle aged, pot-bellied males of the town to drink themselves into a stupor. Actually, come to think of it, most of the time they don't bother with excuses.

I drag myself out of bed, thoughts occupied with Aasim. He's not at the Academy yet. The Academy is in northern Irin, bordering the mountains. It would be at least a five days' trip as the bird flies, so I assume that same rate applies to a dragon. I throw on a casual loose brown dress. I would rather wear fitted trousers but unfortunately my job forces me to socially interact and altogether be at least partially presentable. People tend to frown when a girl wears pants, and that can lose us business. I hate it.

I start my day in the kitchens. Our kitchens are by no means large, with dried herbs hanging from the room and giving it a pleasant fragrance, one that makes you hungry, as well as a fire in the hearth. Mrs. Kocher had already set out a plate of bread and cheese with some fruit on the side. I take up the plate and make my way upstairs, knocking on the last door on the right.

"Enter," came the weak reply.

I push open the door, greeting the frail man in the bed. I help him sit up and then set the plate on his lap.

"Do you want me to open your window? The air in here is a little stale," I offer. He nods.

My father had fallen ill when Aasim and I were twelve. Needless to say, we grew up fast. He had never truly recovered, and is now permanently bedridden, even though he is not in immediate danger from any sickness.

"Where is Aasim?" He croaks.

I sit next to his bed, grasping his hand in mine. "The academy. He got selected."

My father smiles faintly. "Your mother was a rider. One of the best, you know. Died heroically."

I had heard the story before. She died in one of the last battles of the cross-continental wars with Odas, while Aasim and I were barely four. I only remember her vaguely. The tensions are still high between the two countries, but there is a tentative peace. That was what my mom fought for. Peace.

I nod, listening as my father recounts the stories of how he met her, how she was a whirlwind of blades on the battlefield but a loving mother at home.

He says that he is glad that Aasim is following in her footsteps.

After my visit with my father is over, I wake up Adalie(it is still early) and ask her to handle hostessing for the morning. Then I make my way to Aasim's office.

The financial papers are neatly filed away. I take them out and look through them, putting together dots and trying to compute how to manage our supply shipments, employee payments, and upkeep costs based on the estimated income for the next few months. Two hours later I have barely made any headway.

"Ughhh," I moan, burying my head in my arms on top of the stack of papers. How does Aasim do this!? The numbers are starting to blur together. I need a break.

I step outside, basking in the warm sun. It is almost noon. I meander through the village, greeting people on the way, making my way to the forest.

Woodhurst is a small town, bordering the Terran Forests to the northwest, the Rivereater lake to the southwest, and the Hell's Bend river to the southeast. The Terran Forest, inhabited by the Terran Elves, are huge, with trees that are rumored to be as tall as mountains towards the middle. We are on the rim, and no one dares venture too far in, so our small portion of the forest looks like an average deciduous forest. The trees are not overwhelmingly large, and the undergrowth is relatively thick due to the amount of light that seeps through the bright green leaves.

I wander into the forest. Thoughts of finances and math flee my mind as my thoughts are once again occupied by one of the most controversial topics in my head: dragon riders. There was something inside of me that told me I was meant to be a dragon rider, and still am. There is a dragon egg out there waiting for me that might never hatch.

Certain dragons are born automatically bonded with someone in fate. To put it simply, even if a dragon egg is laid before their future rider is born, they are essentially bonded with the sense of their rider, the spirit, even before the rider is born. Some dragon eggs must wait years in a dormant, egg-bound state before their rider comes of age and finds their egg. They will come conscious and awake when they sense their rider's presence, and will only hatch in their rider's arms. If their rider never finds them, they never hatch. Together, the rider and dragon are a nigh unbeatable team. It is for this reason that the Dragon Academy was founded, to make sure that all eggs hatch, and to train riders and dragons to protect the kingdom.

Of course, not all dragon eggs are like this. Some are not laid bonded, because in this world their rider will never exist. Perhaps in an alternate universe, but not here. They will hatch naturally after a span of about three months in the egg.

I feel it, something like a bond. How could I not have made it into the academy? There is a dragon out there for me. I'm positive. It has been this feeling that has plagued me for most of my life, this feeling that has me torn between my responsibilities and my dreams, my family and my fate.
Suddenly a blood-curdling shriek echoes out from a little farther into the forest, along with the sound of roaring. Without thinking, I rush to meet the noise. Trees fly past in a blur of brown and green. I feel the reverberations of each step up my legs as they pound on the ground.

As I get closer, I realize that the noise originates from a bear attacking a little bloody lump on the ground surrounded by eggshells. That's when I hear a little voice in my head, faint and weak, but undoubtedly there.

It's you! Please help me! Don't let him hurt me!

Before I know what I'm doing, I think in reply to the voice.

It's okay. No harm will come to you. Are you that little creature in the eggshells?

Yes! Please! He's trying to hurt me!

I don't know why, but the voice doesn't freak me out. It feels natural inside my head, it's meant to be there. It's part of me. I need to help it.

Glancing at the forest around me, I notice a rocky patch of ground. Grabbing several large, heavy, sharp stones I begin to chuck them at the bear.

"Hey! Over here!" I yell, waving my arms to seem as big as possible. The bear whirls around with a snarl, forgetting the little animal in the eggshells. I glance down and see a perfect, sharp rock that could be used as a knife. The bear starts running towards me, and just as it leaps at me I duck to the side and dig the rock into it's flesh, splattering blood all over me.

The bear roars in anger, turning back towards me and charging. This time, as it reaches me, I slash the stone across it's eyes and nose, before driving it into his shoulder. The bear lets out another thundering roar, before retreating into the forest, pawing at its eyes and whimpering. I gape in the direction that he disappeared into, realizing that no normal human could possibly have done that. But, protecting that little creature, I felt a determination, a purpose, and an inhuman strength took over me. I felt not an ounce of fear.

That's when I remember the animal. Gasping and running over to it, I slowly pick it up in my arms, not caring about the scarlet blood painting my clothes.

Ow...

The voice in my head says weakly. The creature stirs in my arms.

Where does it hurt? I ask nervously, concerned for the little creature.

Everywhere.... It whimpers.

I'll take you home and make you better, okay?

I don't hear a reply from the animal, and I realize I need to move quickly. Cradling it safely in my arms, I make my way back to the inn as quickly as possible, taking less populated streets in order to avoid unnecessary attention and questions.

When I get back, I push open the back door and make my way carefully up the wooden stairs. Adalie should be out in town doing chores and buying things for the inn right now, and the guests are hopefully being tended by the cooks. Neither should have a reason to come upstairs and see me tending to a half-dead mystery creature.

I lay out a clean cloth, and gently set the animal down on it, on it's back. The creature is definitely unconscious now. I run downstairs and grab some bandages and herbs.

Aloe gel, witch hazel, goldenrod, and yarrow to disinfect and stop the bleeding. Nothing appears to be broken, but the poor thing has numerous cuts and scratches all over.

Several large slashes on the underbelly and underside of one of the front legs require stitching, before I wrap them in bandages. Some of these will definitely leave scars.

The animal appears to be breathing steadily now, and now I can get a closer look at it. Four legs, and two thin, floppy flaps of skin extending from it's sides. They somewhat resemble bat wings. Two little whitish bumps are growing from it's head, and tiny claws adorn its feet.

Carefully and gently opening its mouth, I see stumpy little teeth that will probably grow larger and sharper with age. It has a tail, and what appear to be tiny fins running along it's back to its tail. The creature is covered in soft, almost transparent turquoise scales, likely to harden and grow more opaque as it gets older.

I know what this is. I've spent my whole life secretly dreaming of them. This thing is a dragon. And from the way we were telepathically speaking earlier, I'd say we're bonded. This realization comes as a stark surprise. The selecting stone clearly didn't light up.

What, am I supposed to assume that an ancient relic, that in all its history has never been wrong, really is wrong? That also seems hard to believe. But I am undoubtedly bonded to this dragon, that much is sure. I feel connected to it, and there is a dull ache on my body wherever the dragon is hurt.

I should be at the Academy, I think. But how am I supposed to contact them? Only the King knows how to contact the Academy once the school year starts. The Academy is extremely reclusive and secretive once the year starts, only the few selected are able to see the secretive on-campus landscape. Even if I manage to contact them, what are the chances that they'll believe that the selecting stone was wrong, and that I actually am a dragon rider? What if they take my dragon away from me!?

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself. Of course they wouldn't take away my dragon. They know what a bond feels like, and it's obvious that we're bonded. Even though my dragon is unconscious, I can hardly bear the thought of being separate from it.

The sun is setting outside, carving cuts into the sky and causing it to bleed a glorious display of scarlet and marigold. I must have been in the forest for longer than I realized.

I collect some soft cloth and create a makeshift nest for the now-sleeping dragon, picking it up and laying it gently down before covering it with another rag.

No. She. Not it. She.

It's a girl, I can feel it deep in my bones. With dragons, you can't tell it's gender just by looking, but only other dragons and riders can tell.

Sighing, I change into a comfortable nightgown. I'll figure it out tomorrow. Today has been far too emotionally and physically draining for me to think straight.

Yes, this mess will certainly sort itself out tomorrow...

A/N: What do you guys think about the chapter length so far? Too long? Let me know.