Chapter three
I felt my heart flutter with panic. The darkness of the room shrouded any chances of being able to understand what happened. The crash of a tall lamp falling to my left made me jump, my eyes quickly darted toward where the sound had emanated. The only thing that seemed out of place in the shadows was the barely distinguishable the pilled up mass of what seemed to be my cloak. I carefully placed my steps around the shattered glass and oil that now littered the floor, reaching a hand out to collect it up I realized it was not the only thing occupying the corner.
I almost missed the faint ebony glint from the creature before me, it's size was no bigger than that of a small cat. Hesitantly I sank to my knees slowly as my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. A smile took up my face as I watched the tiny preoccupied hatchling sniff ravenously around. His tiny body was delicately embossed with thousands of onyx scales that blended in with the darkness. He had a long thin snout and rather large expressive round yellow eyes with slanted pupils.
What ever scent he had caught, he soon discovered it to belong to me.
Taking a few tentative steps forward he made a quiet, nonthreatening noise of curiosity. I cautiously reached my hand out, watching him intently. He ignored the gesture all together and darted forward clambering up onto my lap where my cloak lay, he tightened himself into a ball half on the thick woolen material and half on me. I sat still for a long while, simply taking in the situation. After he decided he had made his point he pranced down off me my cloak clenched in his tiny jaws, looking proud.
After I had cleaned up the glass and oil I sat down my bed, watching the dragon before me. Part of me doubted he was even real but my gut said otherwise. The storm outside had begun to quiet and I could tell both the hatchling and I were tiered, his eyes would flutter closed briefly and his head would sink, with the cloak he curled up in the same corner where I had found him. Seeing the opportunity I laid my own head to rest and was soon swept into a dreamless sleep.
I woke the next morning to a small stinging pain on my neck, opening my eyes I realized my little dragon had found his way onto the bed and had nestled into the curve of my neck. I had no idea how long he had been there but he certainly was awake now, looking as groggy as I felt. The sun had not yet risen but the rain had stopped.
Sitting up I looked my reflection and winced, my scarlet hair was sticking out in every which way, running my finger through the knots I gasped when I had moved the hair that had been stuck to my neck. Thin black lines were spread like spiderwebs across my skin, traveling up and down like climbing ivy. I heard a chirp behind me and I turned to see the hatchling sitting on my cloak looking at me with what seemed to be concerned eyes.
With a haze of panic I yanked cloak out from under him and half ran from my room. When I hit ground level most, if not all the crowd that had been here the previous night had left. I found Susanna cleaning the empty tables, humming to herself.
"Good morning! It certainly is early for you!" She said brightly looking up at me. With a frown she added "if you need a change of clothes we wear the same size"
I nodded and accepted her offer, she handed me the washcloth and went off. I took up her job and willed my hands to stop shaking. Not five minuets had passed when she returned with a bundle of clothing, "will you be leaving?" She asked and disappointment swept over her features when I nodded.
I stepped forward and pulled her into a hug "thank you, for everything" Susanna smiled and nodded. I left her to her work and having calmed down a bit I returned to my room. Looking in the mirror once again I sighed running a hand over the marking, I changed into the simple attire Susanna had given to me. It was tight in the bodice mainly because that's what looked good on her, not necessarily me. Smoothing the skirt I realized it was silent, spinning on my heel I noticed the room was empty. I looked every where, squinting in the morning darkness I saw that the window was cracked ever so slightly. I raced down the stairs for the second time that day and ran out side.
Despite the sun having not yet risen the streets were packed with early shoppers and merchants. I pushed my way through people I searched desperately. My first reaction was the butcher and my judgement was correct, wedged in between two barrels munching away at what appeared to be a stolen leg of some animal I sighed with huge relief.
"Some friend you have there." A voice said behind me.
A/N: I know it's moving real slow right now, we get to meet a few important characters and the dragons name. I hope you please take the time to review, it helps inspire me!