Grind 1.5 For Want of Companions

I made my way up to my room. The Protectorate may have failed me but Dennis was nice. Battery and Assault had seemed like good people too. But what I needed now was more friends, and more practice with my power. I had to know what else I was capable of.

I already suspected I could bring back the powers of people that I acted out in the stories. But could I bring physical items out of the stories? What about animals? Did I have to enter every book I touched? Did my power work on things that aren't books? There was only one way to find out. Testing. Lots and lots of testing, but where to start.

The obvious starting point would have to be the little bookshelf in my room. Still I had to choose carefully or I could end up in another crappy situation.

As I scanned the shelves one book in particular caught my eye. A half remembered story about a girl that made friends with a small flock of tiny dragons. "Dragonsong." For months after I had daydreamed about having a tiny flock of winged friends all my own. Now maybe I could. I grinned something fierce grabbing the book off the shelf and opening to the first page.

Again the black space and the wall of annotated lights. I found the brightest one, the one labeled Menolly and touched it.

Drummer, beat, and piper, blow

Harper, strike, and soldier, go

Free the flame and sear the grasses

Til the dawning Red Star passes.

Oh right, this series started off each chapter with a little snippet of poetry or a rime. Why didn't more stories do that? It was such a classy thing to do.

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So this time I was actually a girl which was a good start. Unfortunately this particular girl had zero friends and emotionally if not physically abusive parents. How the hell did I forget something like that?! The Dad beat me! With a belt! For something completely stupid! Fucking asshole! Was there some universal law that stated the protagonist's life had to start off shitty in order for a book to be good?

Luckily I was out of "the hold" within what felt like a couple of hours. Not so great was the fact that my hand got sliced up first. But since Bink had been missing a finger and that hadn't carried over I wasn't worried.

Interesting thing was that I could actually relate a lot better to this girl. It felt right. I definitely seemed to be more emotionally invested in this book. I noticed my emotions mirroring hers. That was new and interesting.

But enough thinking! This was the moment I had been waiting for, that hatching of the little fire lizards! I clawed my way into their cave to escape threadfall. Threadfall being the unimaginative term for the deadly rain of all consuming organic string.

So here I was in the little cave of the fire lizards as they hummed to their hatching eggs. I had to feed the new hatchlings crabs too stop them from flying out into the deadly silver rain in search of food.

It felt great to save the beautiful little creatures. And as time passed I got to know the little wonders. I became truly attached to them. It was interesting, being in a book that I was coming to enjoy a great deal. I felt less of a need to rush through. When the book started to obviously hint at time skips I took the time to enjoy the freedom the more vague script allowed me. I would talk with the fire lizards for what felt like hours. I enjoyed their company and attentive listening.

I told them about the trio and Winslow. That always got them angry and agitated. They would project images of scratching at the trio and breathing fire down on their necks. It always made me feel better.

When I oiled their hides they would literally shower me with feelings of love and adoration.

Talking about Dad and my new friend Dennis always managed to elicit curious chirps and inquiring head tilts.

Best of all was going to sleep at night surrounded by my new friends. They were not the most intelligent creatures but they were certainly as smart, if not smarter than any dog I had ever met. And they were twice as responsive. The week mental link we shared made them attentive and loving companions.

There were quite a few portions of the book that had nothing to do with me. These dragged on as I found myself constantly distracted from reading the text in my head by my adorable new companions. I slowly worked my way through the book, taking my time and savoring the adventure.

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I just had to let my guard down! I cursed as I ran, quick as I could, trying to stay ahead of the thread raining down out of the sky. It was a bit like trying to outrun a rainstorm, if rainstorms could kill you. Somehow I was managing it, so far.

Then a shadow passed over my head. "Shit!" I tumbled to the ground fully expecting to get eaten by the least threatening, looking, plague I had ever heard of. Instead I looked up and saw a brown Dragon and its rider yelling at me to get on. I jumped right up onto the dragons back. I liked this plan a lot more than running.

The man was speaking to me again. "And don't be afraid. I'm to take you between to Bendon."

Between, as in step outside the universe for teleportation between?

"Crap."

It was almost like sensory deprivation. Except for the cold, I had never felt so cold in my entire life. It only lasted a second and then we were out again. Winging our way into the Dragon weyr. Huh, where the heck did the author come up with the word weyr? And oh shit I ran the skin off my feet. That was bad.

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One of the dragon riders and I took off to pick up a clutch of fire lizard eggs. It didn't seem like a big deal or anything but when we got back there was a crowd of people who were showering me, or Menolly, with praise and attention. I know it is part of the book. I know it doesn't really mean anything, but I can't help but feel overwhelmed. It's so nice feeling wanted.

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Watching dragon eggs hatch had been amazing. However, I was glad for the chance to catch my breath now. I sat in the corner of the kitchen tending the fire lizard eggs and nibbling on bread and meat. It was nice to have a break from the excitement of the story. I had a feeling we were reaching the end of the book anyway. Yup there it was Menolly is tricked into humming her own song and gets to go and be harper, like she always wanted. I can't help but smile for her. If she can be what she always wanted then maybe I can too.

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I stretch out my arms and look around my room. There, sitting on my bed, are three of Menolly's nine fire lizards! Beauty, Rocky and Diver all looking around my room with interest. "Yes, it worked!" I crowed my victorious success. "Come here you three. Lets go get you some food." The three little lizards crowed with joy and started to sweep and dive around me.

"TAYLOR!" Oh crap. Dad did not sound happy. The door burst open and Dad swept me up into a hug. "Taylor, what were you thinking? You've been gone almost a week! And I've been, Oww! What the hell are those things?! And why are they clawing me?!" My fire lizards were startled and taking it out on poor Dad.

"Stop that right now you three, leave Dad alone! And, wait; did you just say a week?" Oh crap. I was in trouble.