I knew at that moment that I was in trouble beyond belief. I had to get Shriauku out of here. I stood up to go tell Shriauku to leave now, but my father had already grabbed my arm. "Are you going to answer me or ignore me, and where are you trying to run off to in such a hurry?" 'I found the amulet and liked the gemstone, so I kept it; and I was trying to go to my room.'

     I know I shouldn't have told him where I was going, but I can't lie to my parents. I can leave out parts of a story, but not full out lie.

     "Why were you trying to go to your room?" I either had to tell the truth about Shriauku or come up with an extremely vague answer, which I did. 'To do something.' "To do what?" I was silent after that. "Fine you can go to your room." At that moment my father let go of my arm.

     I darted up to my room and Shriauku was apparently still asleep in my wardrobe because I didn't see him in my room anywhere else. I opened the wardrobe door and pulled out Shriauku as I tried to wake him up. Then I heard my door creak open. I hurriedly turned and hid Shriaku behind my back.

     It was my father. My father had followed me to my room. That was why he let me come in here, to follow me so that he could figure out what I was going to do.

     My father snapped me out of my thoughts. "What is that behind your back?" Once again, I was silent. Shriauku must have woke up while I had him behind my back because I heard movement and apparently so did my father. He started to walk over to me as Shriauku started to stretch out. Shriauku's tail poked out from behind my back and my father saw it.

     Before Shriauku and I knew what was happening, my father grabbed Shriauku by the tail, picked him up, and walked out of my room. I ran after him and managed to catch up. I snatched Shriauku out of my father's arms and started to run back to my room; ready to lock everyone out, gather my things, and leave the same way I did this morning. Instead when I got about halfway down the hallway, my father ordered some of the guards on me. I tried my best to avoid them, but I failed to do so.

     One of he guards had caught me from behind and ;therefore, took me to my father. My father snatched Shriauku back from me just like I had done to him. Please help, Autumn. Shriauku's voice sounded soft and helpless, yet at the same time, urgent. 'I'll try my best, Shriauku, to get us both out of this mess.'

     While I was talking to Shriauku; my father ordered the guard to take me to the dungeon along with Shriauku, at least until he and my mother decided what to do with me. The main reason I was put in the dungeon, though, was that my father didn't want me to try and leave or try to free Shriauku.

     My father and the guard took Shriauku and I down into the dungeon. After my father and the guard walked out, they locked the door. About five minutes later Kaleb slipped through the door with the remainder of my food from dinner. He sat down on the cold, hard stone floor just like I was.

     "Hey, Autumn, why are you down here? Dad told me he put you down here but refused to tell me why." 'You know how dad despises dragons with a passion?' "Yeah, but what do dragons have to do with this. I mean they've all been gone for about 20 years anyway." 'Not all of them.

     'Shriauku come here please. This is my brother and he won't hurt you, I promise that.' "Why did you start staring off into space?" 'This is why.'

     Shriauku walked over slowly and cautiously, and he laid down in my lap. My brother was speechless. "I was taking my regular walk in the field and sat in a pine tree and found him with a broken wing, yesterday. His name is Shriauku and we can speak to each other through our minds." "Dragons can do that?... because that could have solved all of our problems centuries ago." 'They can, Kaleb.' "Prove it." 'Shriauku talk to him, please.' Okay, Autumn.

     Hello Kaleb, I am Shriauku and everything Autumn said is true. "The dragon can actually talk to me through my mind. Please tell me the dragon can actually speak though it's mind and I'm not going crazy." 'You're not going crazy, Kaleb. I can promise you that.' "Okay, Autumn, I believe you now." 'See, his name is Shriauku and everything else I said was true.' "Wait, how did you know what he told me?" 'I was also talking to Shriauku. Well, I wasn't talking to him, but he was talking to me. He told me what he told you.'

     "I'm sorry Autumn, but I should probably go, now. I hope that you and Shriauku figure a way out of this mess and soon." After Kaleb finished speaking, he left the dungeon.

     I ate the remainder of my dinner, which was ice cold by now; but I ate it anyway because I was hungry. I still hadn't moved from the spot I was sitting in when Kaleb had walked in. Shriauku had apparently fell asleep in my lap. Then I moved Shriauku carefully without waking him up, laid down, and started to doze off.

     After about an hour or so, I woke up to hear footsteps echoing in the hall outside the door. Then they stopped and I started to hear talking between my father and someone else. I only managed to get parts of what they said. "King Ike, are you... right punishment? This... harsh for her. I... technically a child!" "Yes... sure this is... punishment. I mean... our enemy and even... home, knowing that... war with them... disappeared. Plus, I know... a child, but... her supercede... kingdom. If any one... helping a dragon, I would... as well."

     Then my father opened the door and walked in, along with the guard from earlier. "Autumn, please follow me, and leave the dragon here," my father commanded me. 'That dragon,' I said referring to Shriauku, 'has a name you know.' "Oh really, and what might that be?" 'His name is Shriauku, just as much as mine is Autumn. Call him by his name or are you going to start calling me "that girl" like you call him "that dragon".'

     "If I call him by his name will you follow me?" 'Sure.' "Please follow me, and leave Shriauku here." I followed my father just as he had asked and left Shriauku in the dungeon. 'Shriauku, I promise I'll come back for you.' Then I walked out of the dungeon.

     I was nearly blinded by the unexpected brightness of the light. While squinting my eyes in attempt to block out the sunlight, I realized my father had led me into the dining room; where my family, the guards, and the maids were gathered. Everyone except for majority of the guards and my father looked sorrowful and sympathetic; but I didn't dare ask why, seeing as I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.

     "As you all know my plans of punishment for my dear Autumn; sadly, this is the only way I can guarantee that no one will, any longer, dare harbor any of our enemies, the dragons. Autumn Skotadi, you are; henceforth, exiled. You are permitted to stay within, and only within, these castle walls for the remainder of the day to collect your belongings and bid your farewells. You will also be accompanied by two of our best guards throughout the rest of the day, while you do so."