Tesaldia looked at the lake. It shimmered under the bright sun. The waves, slowly washing away the shore. The lake was called Palasade Lake. She stared for a moment longer before turning and walking back into the woods. Tesaldia stared at the cabin as she came closer to it. Her parents were farmers and this left them poor, so their house was not the best. Since they were poor, they did not have any money to spare for things like a horse, or a dragon, like Tesaldia had always wanted. She always dreamed of having her own dragon and soaring above the world and being able to feel free. Tesaldia wondered what it would be like to have the bond between her and the earth released. The feeling of soaring into the air, up into the eternal blue. Suddenly her mother shouted from behind her. Tesaldia spun around and ran back toward the cabin.

At dinner Tesaldia had her mind on something else. She was thinking of the egg. Tesaldia had been in the egg shop in the town square. She had been looking at a dragon egg. It had looked so beautiful in the large woven basket. It was too expensive though, 500 pylas. That was too much to be spending on something that isn't completely necessary, as her parents had defined dragons. Afterward, Tesaldia had gone over to look at the horse eggs. She had been looking when she had caught sight of an egg too beautiful for words. It was a dark blue with gold and silver swirls winding around it, as if binding the egg together. Tesaldia knew that she would never be able to get the egg unless she got a job. She had asked her parents once about getting her own job but they wouldn't let her. They had said she was too young. She had been 11 when she first asked her parents about a job. Now she was 16 and Tesaldia hoped that was old enough for her parent's approval.

The next morning Tesaldia woke with a start. Something had woken her, but what? The sun hadn't risen yet and only visible light was from the pale blue moon outside. Tesaldia got dressed and slowly moved downstairs. She stopped. There was something standing right in front of her! Tesaldia could barely see the outline of the thing. She could hear its heavy breathing. Tesaldia tried to move, or scream, but her body froze, rigid with fear. Tesaldia felt herself getting light headed, and she felt as if she would faint. Finally Tesaldia managed to move. She spun around and ran toward the stairs as quickly as she could. Then the thing leapt in front of her blocking her path. Tesaldia was still unable to scream. She ran toward the door and this time the thing leapt toward her and hit her with the full force of its body. Tesaldia was knocked backward onto the floor. She was gasping for air as she recovered from the blow. Tesaldia rolled out of the way just as the thing leapt for her again. She crawled unable to stand, and she darted for the door. This time she got to it and pushed it open. She barely managed to stand up as she fell out of the house. Tesaldia's heart started pounding faster and faster as she ran toward the woods. Tears ran down her cheeks, making it difficult to see. Tesaldia only slowed down once she got to the lake. She collapsed to the ground and lay in the grass, shaking, unaware that the thing was closing in on her.

A half hour passed before Tesaldia had stopped trembling. She didn't know what the thing was or why it had attacked her, she just knew she felt safe, hidden from the outside world. Tesaldia had always felt safe when she was by the pond no matter what happened. Whatever the thing was that had managed to get into her house was gone, at least she hoped so. Tesaldia stood up and looked into the water. Tesaldia was tall and thin with long blonde hair that looked like golden silk when the light shined on it. Her eyes were a piercing blue almost as bright and beautiful as the water Tesaldia adored so much. She had always been glad to have the lake so close to her home because this meant she could go there as often as she liked.

When Tesaldia managed to get home, her parents were still asleep. It was Saturday and they didn't have anywhere to go. The sun was now barely rising above the hills beyond the farm. Tesaldia stopped, the thing was still inside her house! But now she could see what it was. It was a Starfodae! Starfodae's were as large as bears, but they had the body of wolves. Long spikes ran along their backs and their claws were bright red, filled with poison. They had a snake like tongue and large black bat wings. Their tail was the most lethal part of them though. It was long and powerful with poisonous spikes on the tip. They only attacked humans when they were starving. Tesaldia slowly crept toward the barn. She quickly found her father's gun and put the bullets into it. Tesaldia quickly ran to the back door. She opened the door, aimed and fired. The Starfodae leapt back in surprise. Tesaldia fired again and the sound of the shot woke her parents. The Starfodae looked angry but backed away slightly. Tesaldia looked around, she didn't have any more bullets left! Tesaldia dropped the gun and ran to the woods again, this time with the creature in hot pursuit Tesaldia felt the hot breath on the back of her neck and knew if she didn't get to Palasade Lake, she and her parents would be killed. Starfodae's couldn't swim and this was the only way to save herself from the creature.

Tesaldia saw the lake but suddenly slowed. There was a large growl followed by a loud squeal of pain that came from behind her. She turned around the Starfodae wasn't there anymore. Then she saw its body in a crumpled pile less than ten yards from her. She wondered, what happened? Tesaldia didn't dare do up to the body, she did not want to see the thing that almost killed her. Tesaldia breathed a sigh of relief. Then she turned back toward the lake, and screamed.