10 year old Lady Alison Hart-Burnett was running along the shore of Loch Lomand, she had snuck out again on one of the young guards that was told to watch her for a few minutes while her primary body guard, Alex went to give his report to Lord Robert Burnett, the little girl's father. She thought she saw a head pop above the surface then disappear again. Being the ever curious child she ran to the water to check it out. At the water's edge she tripped over a large water colored egg shapped stone. She hit on her bare knees hard and muddied her dress. She turned and looked at the stone. It had felt warm. She picked it up and began to examine it. It didn't feel like a stone. She decided to take it with her. It lighter than it should have. A mournful cry seemed to from from the lake. She turned back to the Loch. Once more she toght she saw the head. She got to her feet and once again walked towards the Loch, funny rock in her hands. She saw her Primary walking towards her. She looked at him then turned to run off.

"Alison." Her primary bodyguard warned.

She stopped and slowly turned to look at him.

"Wallace is in touble now." He simply informed her as he continued his trek towards her.

"Why?" She asked innocently.

"Because he lost track of you."

"It's not his fault I locked him in the bathroom."

"It doesn't matter. He should have been more alert."

"I didn't like him." Alison said staying where she was as her primary continued towards her.

"That does not matter Lady Hart-Burnett."

"He was mean."

"That's doesn't matter. We all must do things we don't like and deal with people we don't like."

"So."

"This applies to you as well."

"But he yelled at me." Alison said, almost ready to cry.

"He is now getting worse than that."

Alison looked away. "He told me that I was just a rich brat."

"Aye."

"I'm not a brat." She was almost crying now.

"You can be." He gave her a slight smile, shaking his head.

She turned to run away.

"Don't make this harder on either of us."

"I'm not a brat." She said again, tears going down her cheeks.

"When you will not listen and insist on your way you are."

"I want Nora!"

"Then come with me."

"Noah said I can't."

"That you can't come with me or that you can't see her?"

"Can't see her."

"And did he say why?'

"No."

"Well if you don't want me in trouble with you father too bring that rock and come with me."

Alison walked over to Alex and took his offered hand.

"Thank you lass."

"Alex, what's wrong with Nora?"

"She is with the Healers right now."

"I want her back." She sniffled, still holding his hand while holding her rock with the other.

"I know,and she want to be with you as well."

"Did I make her sick?"

"No. It be nothing you did." Alex tried to reassure her.

"That what Wallace said."

"He said it was your fault?"

"Aye." Her head was bowed and she looked devestated.

"That he will answer for."

Finally they were back to the Manor. He took her to her suite. She was really interested in her rock.

'May I see it?"

She held the rock up for him to see. "I tripped over it." He frowned slightly and knocked on it. It didn't sound like rock. "It's dirty. I need to wash it."

"It's not a rock lass."

"Uh huh." She nodded her head and reached up to grab it back

"Put your ear on it and knock."

"But it's dirty."

"Do it lass."

She did as he said. "It sounds like a watermellon."

"I do na know how, but it's an egg."

"But eggs are small. Stella showed me."

"Not all eggs are small."

There was a tapping sound form inside the rock. Alison jumped and let out a cry of fright. A small crack appeared onthe surface.

"The chicken's coming out!"

"Put it down."

She put it down on the table and backed up, she went behind Alex, holding onto his leg and peeked around him. The egg rocked and cracked more.

"Is it gonna eat me Alex?"

"I don't think it will be big enough, but if it tried, I'll stop it while you go for help."

"Promise?"

"Aye."

The egg cracked open and a small water type of creature emerged, and tried to get to it's feet.

Alison looked at it. "Is it a turtle Alex?"

"I do nay ken what it is."

The creature made a higher pitched sound than the one she'd heared atthe lake. Alison slowly started to walk towards it.

"Alison, no."

It cried out again. She looked at Alex then started towards the creature again. Alex picked her up.

"I wanna see it Alex."

"You can see it just fine form here."

It tried to move across the floor to her.

"It's cute." Alison was getting really excited.

"It may be dangerous."

"It's a Water Horse." Alison said excitedly.

"A what?"

"Remember I told you about it last week." The tiny girl said. "I read about it."

"But they no exist. But... the edge ofthe lake. Did ye see or hear any thing when you were there?"

"I heard a noise and I thought I saw something in the water."

"Nessy?"

"What's Nessy?"

"There's a legend of an ancient creature living in the Loch Ness. People call it, her, Nessy."

"Oh." Alison continued to try to get down. He let her get down. There were no stories of Nessy hurting anyone." Alison's face lit up brighter than he had ever seen it as the creature moved closer.

"You arethe expert on this now. What does it eat?"

"Vegetables and fish."

"Carrots and peas?"

"I think so."

"Where's the book?"

The creature was now on her lap and Alison was laughing. "On...my...desk." It was trying to eat the flower on her sirt.

"It thinks I'm it's mommy!!!" She giggled.

"It's hungry."

"Can we take it down to the kitchen?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." He went to the aquarium and pulled out a few of the plants. The creature ate the plants quickly.

"It needs to be in water. Bring it into the bathroom."

Alison picked up the creature and took it into the bathroom. She was beaming with pure joy as she carried it. Alex was filling the tub with cool water. "But she be a baby.

"She needs water. Put her in."

"But what if she can't swim?"

"It's not deep yet."

Alison looked worried as she put the creature in. It trilled and tried to go under the water. It made what had to be an disappointed sound. "It likes it?" Alison said excitedly, pulling on Alex's arm.

"Yes. We're going to let the tub fill a bit more,then lock her in here and go collect plants form the lake. I'll have to raise some for him to eat and have some on hand for him to eat now."

"But don't it need a name?"

"In time lass. Food is very important with we want it to grow and be healthy and happy."

"But I know what to name it!" She pulled on his arm again and was jumping up and down.

"What?"

"Ronan.

"Meaning Little Seal." Alex chuckled. "Ok."

Ronan splashed happily.

"Does it not fit her?!"

"Aye it does."

"It looks like a seal."

"No for long."

"But she's small. How big will she get?"

"Huge."

"Then we'll need to get a bigger bathtub."

"He'll need the lake."

"No!!!!"

"Aye. His head will end up as big as a large row boat."

"It's a girl." Alison said.

Alex started to argue, but saw the look on her face. "Alright lass."

Alison nuzzled the little creature lovingly.