Author's Note:   When a dragon speaks through the mind, it will be in italics. When a dragon communicator speaks through the mind, it will be in italics and single quotes. When Autumn speaks out loud, it will be in single quotes. When other people speak out loud, it will be in quotation marks. When I go off track from the chapter but the information is needed it will be in bold italics.

     Then I noticed that the dragon's left wing was injured, possibly even broken. Even though my father despised dragons with a passion, I personally had nothing against them. Plus, throughout my whole life I've always been taught to care for ill and injured creatures, so I planned to do just that.

     I cautiously picked up the dragon and hid it under my shawl, which it blended into perfectly. At home I've helped treat animals and people (including broken limbs), so I figured treating the dragon wing wouldn't be that difficult.

     As I walked in the house I passed my father. Then the dragon squirmed around under the shawl and I was pretty sure my father noticed. I thought this was the breaking point; he'd come over and ask what's under my shawl, I'd have to show him, the dragon would be slaughtered, and I would be in trouble beyond belief. But, luckily he didn't notice, so I just continued to walk forward.

     I went up to the infirmary and gathered some of the supplies for animal treatment, and went back into my room. I pulled the dragon out from under my shawl. It seemed to like me, a lot. It crawled back and forth across my arms and shoulders, until I pulled it off and set it on my bed. I hurriedly, but correctly treated its wing and wrapped it.

     Thank you for helping me, but please don't make the wrapping so tight next time. The dragon started to speak to me; not out loud but in my head. Its voice was calm and almost dreamlike. How are you doing that!..communicating through my mind? It's easy dragon communicators and dragons can speak to one another through their minds by focusing on who they want to communicate with and what they'll say. My name is Shriauku (shrē•ah•coo); what's yours? My name is Autumn, and I'm sorry about the wrapping. I'll loosen it.

     I then walked over to Shriauku and loosened the wrapping on the wing. Thank you for adjusting that, it's much better. You're welcome. Could you try to speak into my mind like I am yours, so you don't have to talk out loud? I just find it better, plus people don't hear or know what you're saying. To do so just concentrate and do what I said earlier.

     I concentrated on saying hello to Shriauku. 'Hello Shriauku.' Hello to you too, Autumn.

     'Did I do it, correctly?' Yes you did, Autumn. Yeah! 'What type of dragon are you?' I'm a male snow dragon. 'That's amazing!'

     'Shriauku, since you are injured you'll have to stay here in my room for a couple of days. Is that okay with you?' Yeah, but I saw how you reacted in front of your father. What was that about? 'How do you know that was my father?' I read your thoughts, that was why I stopped squirming. I don't want to be slaughtered and I didn't want you to get punished since you were trying to help me. 'It is really cool and weird that you can read my thoughts. And the reason I reacted like that in front of my father was that about 50 years ago, when my father was eight, his father, my grandfather, was killed by a dragon.' Oh, I'm sorry about that; and on behalf of all of the dragons I apologize. Plus, once again, on behalf of the defense of all of the dragons; it was a man who started the the war between our kinds. 'I know and I apologize for him and all of my people.'

     'I'll make a small bed for you on the bottom of my wardrobe, so that you have somewhere comfortable to stay. Wait, are you okay with it being warm in there?' Yes, that's just fine. The type of dragon just affects the powers, not the climate they're comfortable in. 'Oh, that's cool.'

     I started to fold and place blankets in the bottom left-hand corner in my wardrobe since it was the only completely empty spot in my closet. Eventually I had placed enough blankets in my wardrobe that Shriauku could stretch out completely and stay on his bed.

     ' Are you hungry Shriauku and what do you normally eat?' Yes I am a bit hungry and I normally eat different berries and fish. 'Well, we don't have fish often here, but I can take you to the river to get fish and collect berries from the bushes on the riverbank. I'll do that tomorrow, though, because today is one of the few days we are having fish for dinner. I'll sneak some from the kitchen for you.' Thank you very much Autumn. 'You're welcome, but just remember to stay quiet.'

     I took off my shawl and amulet, hung my shawl up, and hid the amulet in one of my drawers. After that, I walked downstairs into the dining room for dinner. Even though I don't like fish, I put up with it since we rarely have it.

     I walked downstairs and sat in my usual chair at the table, ready for dinner; but Kaleb and father weren't there. 'Hello mother, where are father and Kaleb?' "I believe your father took Kaleb outside to practice sword fighting. They should be back quite soon, honestly." It only took a minute or two for father and Kaleb to show up. Kaleb is my 17 year old, older brother. They must have set their swords in another room because when they entered the dining room they didn't have them.

     Kaleb sat down in his usual seat at the dining table. My father walked into the kitchen and asked one of our maids if dinner was ready. Then my father walked back in and sat down in his usual seat. About a minute later our dining maid came into the dining room with a large tray of food and drinks. She set it in the center of the table, handed everyone a plate, poured everyone a glass of ice water, and started getting everyone food.

     Like always, we slightly discussed each of our days, except for me. I mostly kept to myself. I talked about my walk, but left out the parts about the dragon amulet and Shriauku, obviously.

     After a little while, I finished eating and was dismissed from the table. I took my dishes into the kitchen and put them in the sink. I washed the dishes the maids used to make the food and my dishes from dinner. The maids are technically supposed to do the dishes, but I normally do mine and the maids' myself. Unlike the rest of my family, I do some of the house chores that the maids and/or butlers are supposed to do.

     I asked one of our maids if she could grab me one of the leftover fish and brown paper bag for it to go in. She handed me the brown paper bag with a fish in it, no questions asked just like always. I walked upstairs and into my bedroom. Shriauku was sitting on my bed waiting. I pulled the fish out of the bag and pulled out an old toy mat from when I was about nine. I set the mat on the floor, and set the fish on the bag, which I had flattened out on the mat.

     'Here Shriauku. I have fish for you, but I'd rather you not eat it on my bed, so could you come down here.' Yes and thank you for the fish, Autumn.

     Shriauku climbed off of my bed and onto the mat I placed on the floor with the fish. He then started to gnaw on the fish until it was gone. I threw the paper bag away and cleaned the mat and floor the mat was on.

     Afterwards, Shriauku crawled into the bed I made for him in my wardrobe and fell asleep. I laid in my bed and followed soon after.