I awoke slowly, but was instantly filled with excitement. Today was important. I think. My mind was slushy from sleep. When I remembered, it jolted me like an electric shock. Today was Library Day. I scrambled out of bed, and tripped over my girlfriend, Layla, who was sprawled out on the floor. She yelped, and pushed me off.

         "What was that for. . . " She mumbled.

         "Library Day." I replied, scrambling to my closet and pulling on a shirt.

         She sat up immediately. "That's today?"

         "Yes," I replied over my shoulder.

         She rubbed at her eyes.

         I looked down at her, already fully dressed. "Did you forget to change into your nightclothes last night?"

         She adjusted the dress's neckline, and murmured, "Maybe. . ."

        I rolled my eyes, and tugged her onto her feet. "C'mon, we're going to be late."

       She stood up, muttering, "Fine, Mrs. Baylermoore."

       I lightly slapped her wrist. "No lollygagging, Miss Layla. Besides, you know you loooove me."

      She grimaced and pulled on a sweatshirt over her dress. "Only as far as I could throw you."

      When she was all dressed, I started to pull her along. "C'mon, Lay! We have to go now before we're late! "

     She grabbed our lunches from the fridge and then allowed me to lead her towards the library.

      Looking back on it, I'm sure we made a strange couple. Me, a 4' 2" small-chested pale girl with black and red streaked straight hair cropped short below my pointed ears(I probably looked like an elementary schooler), dragging a 6'11" mature-looking olive-skinned girl with long curly blond hair halfway down her back(who probably looked like my mom or older sister).

      When we finally reached the library, I was bouncing on my toes from excitement. Today was the day. There was no one else around, so we just went straight in, at which point the librarian's Assistant, a lithe air dragon, took us by the hands and silently guided us to the back room. He pushed us through the door and flew away, presumably to organize a shelf. 

     The librarian simply gestured to the nest upon a pedestal, which had 5 different eggs in it, and said, "Attempt the imprinting process."

    Layla shrugged and went first, slowly stroking each egg in turn, and then giving them a light tap with her fingernail. One of the eggs tapped back, so she took the rock hammer she was offered and rapped against the shell, helping the small creature inside be free.  The beast inside started to break through the egg, and finally wriggled its head into the light. Its scales were a deep crimson, and its eyes were bright blue. Once it escaped the rest of the way, a small, stocky, crimson dragon with black angel wings and a ruff of black feathers trailing down its spine was eating the scrap of chicken Layla offered before relaxing on Layla's shoulder, just happy to be close to her.

     I was shaking with excitement by this point. One of these would be mine soon. When the librarian finally nodded to me, I rushed over and began to try and kick start an imprinting.

    I gently stroked and tapped the eggs one by one, until one remained. Since they hadn't responded, I felt fear flood through me.

    This was my final chance. One egg left. 

    It felt like time slowed down until I was moving an inch an hour.  Finally, my hand touched the final shell, and tapped it. 

   Silence.

   No answer. 

   I slumped over. As I turned to leave, the final egg tapped hesitantly. I flipped round and used the rock hammer to break the outer covering. A beautiful scaly red dragon's head rose from the shards, and I offered it a piece of chicken. It sniffed my hand, and snapped at my fingers, not the chicken. I drew back in fear, and it turned to the librarian. The librarian gave it a shred of meat, and it clambered onto his shoulder.

   Seeing this, I turned and ran from the room. Layla followed, calling my name.