UPDATE: After having learned some new things by trial-of-fire and reviewing my work, I have decided to rewrite "Across The Multiverse" to give the story a better flow.

As things are now, everything is so simple and straight to the point; The characters just end up where I want them to with no room for the journey there.

And chapter 1... Oh my word... I can't... I'm new to writing and all, but I didn't even flesh out his life story and give you a reason to care for his old life before going; "Oh no, he's dead... That's a real shameandall-NEW LIFE!"

And so here we are. There will be no more releases in this story folder, but I am keeping the original story both as a reminder and as a future testament to my artistic growth.

I may take a while, but I do not intend to disappoint. There will be actual story and steamy man-on-dragoness action yet!

A new friend:

Lilithandra removes her head from my chest and begin to fidget in place.

She finally looks up at me, her tiny voice in my mind *I'm hungry...*

I crack a smile at her innocent statement.

"Come. Lets find you something to eat" I say while holding my arm out at her.

She looks at my arm and cock her head at me.

"Climb up!" I say, shacking my arm lightly.

She moves in place a moment before pounching up at it, climbing along the fabric of my shirt and to its back.

I suddenly feel her claws as she climbs "Carefull! I am not claw proof."

She slows down, and once she reaches my back, she puts her head over my right shoulder and hold a firm grip on the cloth.

I could not help myself and scratched her chin lightly with my index finger. She is adorable!

And the scratching is well received, it turns out; A light purr now heard from her *That feels nice.*

I open the door out of my room and step into the main living area.

The house is a strange mixture of medieval house design with a few magic-based equivalents of modern day Earth utilities.

The main room is large: Serving both as kitchen, dining room and living room. It connects all the other rooms and holds the only entrance into the house.

The Western wall in the room separates the main room from the two bedrooms and the bathroom.

Above our rooms is an open space beneath the ceiling we use to store different unneeded furniture and materials. We have a steep staircase running up to it

The southern wall holds the only entrance door which is roughly on the middle of the wall from inside.

A few thick windows with surprisingly clear glass are spread around the room to let in natural light, two on the south wall, one on all the rest except the western wall.

In the North-Eastern corner of the room stands a stone hearth with an oven and cooking utensils of forged iron.

A trap door near the hearth leads down into the pantry. It is fairly cold, partially from being underground, but the main reason is a silver magic-circle inlay in the floor down there radiating temperature barely above freezing.

The kitchen-area has a sink and the bathroom a functioning water-filled toilet, all thanks to magic-powered plumbing systems pumping water from upstream the river and waste back out again further downstream.

The hearth had a magical fire going, a pot cooking on top of the oven section.

Lilithandra, full of curiosity, tries to look at everything in the large room at once.

Finally finding the most interesting spot in the room she turns her head completely around on her long flexible neck, and behind my back.

She had found Xerxes sleeping among the rafters and trusses in the ceiling, staring at him with curiosity.

My mom was busy stiring in the pot and did not see me walking up to her "Hi, mom. Is dinner ready soon?"

I had not left my room of my own volition in the last two weeks, and hearing my voice made mom turn around at once and come in for a hug "Reeon! How are yo-AGH!"

Not noticing the dragon on my back, mother had startled Lilithandra, and herself, by suddenly reaching around me and squeezing her against me.

From my back came a whistling cry of surprise, and my mother let go at once both from the sound and feeling something strange on my back.

The noise had startled Xerxes awake as well, who was now looking around the room "What the -HOOT- is going on!?"

A tiny sky-blue head peeked up from behind my right shoulder.

Her eyes and my mother's met, mom freezing in place.

Lilithandra, a little shy, hid behind my back again.

Mom stammered "Wha- what is t- that!?"

"Uh... Mom, meet Lilithandra. Lilithandra; my mom." I explain in an attempt to break the ice, gesturing between them.

"Remember the egg I came home with?" I hint at, attempting to make mom think the situation over.

The gears visibly turning in her head, mom manages to ask "Is that... Really?..."

"Yes; she came from the egg. And yes; she is a dragon." I answer.

*Hello...* Lilithandra says shyly.

Mom just stands there, mouth agape in surprise.

"...Hello..." She finally manages to get out still a little dazed by surprize; first from her simply being there, then by her talking.

"So, mom, how long until dinner is done?" I ask again.

Still focused on the small creature clinging to my back, mom half-mumbles "It's nearly done..."

"Any lightly or un-spiced meat?" I wonder at her.

Beginning to come over the surprize now, she replies "I- I put our last bits of meat in the stew I'm cooking. Why do you ask?"

"She's hungry." I say, while scratching Lilithandra under the chin again "-And I do not think vegetables will be that good for her..."

Mom wanders over to a shelf and opens a lockbox. Reaching into it she retrieves a few iron coins, giving them to me "Go to the market and buy some fresh meat, I'll cook up a piece when you come back."

I accept the coins and ask before heading off "Anything else we need, while I am at the market?"

Mom thinks for a second, trying to remember anything we need "Get some bread from the baker. That should go well with the stew we are having."

"Okay, mom. I'm going now!" I say and run to the door.

Forgetting myself as I do so, I hear another cry from behind me.

*Stop! Slow down!* I hear in my mind: Lilithandra had been thrown around and almost fallen off from the sudden movement.

"Sorry! I'm not used to ... having a passenger." I explain, finishing in a chuckle.

I put on my boots, pick up a wide rimmed basket, open the door and walk to the market.

Once outside, after closing the door, I notice the wide-eyed expression of Lilithandra:

The dark candle-lit rooms of my home had captivated the curiousity of the dragonette on my back.

The outdoors were nearly complete sensory overload in comparison.

Everything was new and unknown to her: The smell of earth and fresh air. The sun hanging low in the blue sky. The far off sounds of village life and the gentle breeze...

She had frozen in place, simply absorbing her surroundings while clinging to me.

A low chirping whease was all I heard before her mind contacted mine, a sudden flood of information pouring out: Boundless curiosity, fear, excitement, confusion... all of it mixed with simple abstract thought.

Unprepared for it all, the sheer volume all at once made me feel like someone had slapped my head from every direction... Hard!

I had trouble filtering out my own thoughts from the invading sea they were drowning in. And, a little dizzy, I stumble towards the fence around the garden.

" Hooofh!" I exhale as I steady myself "That is... ouch." I finally manage to say.

The stream of information retreated from my mind: *I'm sorry...* the underlying emotions of regret and shame bleeding through her words.

"No, it's fine!" I say with a sheepish smile trying to console her "It just caught me off-guard! I've never ... experienced something like that before. It surprised me, is all."

She perks up a little *It is ... fine?*

"Well. It hurt, a little-" she shrinks together again at my words before I continue "-But had you been a little more careful and eased me into it, I think that could have been a nice and interesting experience."

Now that I had regained my balance and calm mind, I pick up the basket again and continue towards the village center.

*You are not angry?* I heard after a short contemplating silence.

I laugh "Ha! No, I am not. You did not mean to do it after all, did you?" I looked to my right shoulder at her resting head.

*No?... I did not.* was the hesitant answer.

"There you go! As long as you did not mean it and apologize, it is fine. There are no lasting damages, after all." I scratch her under the chin again, eliciting another purring sound from her.

On the way to the market, I greet those I meet. Small village and all that: Everyone know's pretty much everyone else.

All of them do a double-take looking at me once they notice Lilithandra on my back.

On the village street just before the market I run into Henry; My classmate and one of the few true friends of mine.

At 8, he is barely a year older than me. Another farmers son, but not as interested (nor talented) in magical or academic matters, he is happy following in his father's footsteps.

Brown hair, round face, brown eyes. Already helping his father out in the fields, he has muscle I do not. I need to work out more...

"Heya Reeo-WHOA! What is THAT!?" he exclaims loudly in his typical blunt and honest manner, standing on his toes trying to peer over my shoulder.

Lilithandra once again hides shyly behind me.

"Hello, Henry. Please lower your voice. I imagine he hunters want at least some game to remain near the village." I banter in a friendly tone at him "As for my friend here, her name is Lilithandra."

After saying her name once more, I get an idea I choose to hold on to for later.

Henry looks into my eyes and asks "Lilithandra? Is that your familiar?" straightforward as allways.

I hear her voice in my mind again *Familiar? What is that?*

Apparently Henry heard it too, as he begins talking again before I get a word inn "She can talk without moving her mouth!? Awesome!"

The moment I sense an opening, I speak "No, she is not my familiar. I have not asked her, yet."

Henry dons a look of confusion "Then how can she-?"

"She is a dragon. It is normal for them, I suppose." I answer, realizing I know very little about the creature on my back.

"Now. I have to go to the market before it closes. I'll see you at school!" I gesture goodbye and slowly begin to move past him.

Henry waves and begins to run home "Bye! See you at school!"

Once at the market, I look to Lilithandra "Can I make a short detour before I buy what we need at the market and go home?"

She looks back at me *I'm getting really hungry. Do you have to?*

"It is a short stop at the Elder's home. I have to ask her something. It will only take a minute!" I explain.

She resigns with a sigh *Fine...*

I cross the market; It is a large cobble paved street running North to South with permanent shops on either side and room in its middle for villagers to set up stalls when they have something to sell. The market is some 35-40 meters long and about 9-12 wide, I never bothered to measure. It does not simply stop but instead narrows into a normal street that eventually reaches the river, bridging over it, and reaches more farmland. It comes out in a straight angle from 'Farmer's road', named so because it connects the main farmlands on either side of the village, which runs West to East in front of the combined town hall, courthouse and school.

Once at the other side, I head to Elvira's home. A little further along the road from the market and knock at the door. Nothing happens, and I knock again.

From the other side of the door, I hear muffled speaking "Be patient! I am not so fast anymore."

The door swings inwards and my magic teacher stands in the opening "Oh, Reeon! So good to see you outside. And hello to you too-" she says in a gentle tone, looking at Lilithandra.

*Hello...* I hear. And nothing more.

I look at her "Go on. Introduce yourself. I can not keep doing it for the rest of time, and you are perfectly able to."

I see the look of someone shy being pushed outside their comfort sone and gesture with my eyes and head at Elvira: 'Go on. You can do it. She is right there.'

She eventually relents with a barely audible whine *...My name is ... Lilithandra. Nice to ... meet you?*

I scratch her chin, apology and reward for forcing her like that. A hint of 'Good girl.' hidden in the meaning of the act.

Elvira smiles a gentle grandmotherly smile at her "Hello, Lilithandra. It is nice to meet you, too."

I then turn to Elvira "Hello, master. I have come to ask something."

A sly smile on her face, she querries "And what might that be."

"Do you, by any chance, have books on dragons?" I ask.

She closes the door slightly and heads into her study: Emerging with a book covered in flaking binding and a broken layer of dust.

The faded cover writing reads, in the Coran equivalent of latin: 'Dragon compendium - Everything about the winged lizard'.

"Here you go, little apprentice." she grins.

I look at the book for a moment "That was ... fast."

Elvira begins to giggle "When you came into the village with that egg, and I heard it belonged to a dragon, I imagined you would need this. I thought you would come sooner to prepare yourself, like any good wizard knows they should, but I suppose you had your hands full until now. I have another book as well if you want, but that one is a short and clearly inaccurate childrens story."

I do not shy away from her kindness "Thank you! This should help. A lot!"

"It is no problem. You are my apprentice after all. But be warned; The book is quite old, and as I thumbed through it I got the feeling most of it is second-hand stories, myths, and baseless speculations. Now, do tell; Did the dragon you met really give you her egg willingly?"

I stand in place in solemn silence, Lilithandra's ears drop.

Noticing our moods, Elvira frowns "Oh, I'm sorry... That was insensitive of me."

She reaches out and scratches Lilithandra on the chin "Can you forgive me?"

Lilithandra closes her eyes, and it does not take long for her to assume her normal closed-smile and begin purring *I forgive you.*

Elvira chuckles "There we go! That is much better."

I feel a little better as I see Lilithandra smile.

I look at the sky, sun hanging low, and wonder for how much longer the market is going to stay up.

"Again; thank you for the help. This book should give me tons of insight into Lilithandra's needs as she grows up." I stow the book in a purpose-made pocket on my shirt, created especially for the spell-book in case I ever needed both hands for my magic and had nowhere else to place it.

"I have to go to the market now before it closes and buy a few wares for mom. Goodbye!"

As I begin to turn, Elvira stops me: "There is one other thing I want to ask before you go. Have you made her your familiar yet?"

Behind me, Lilithandra looks between us and asks *What is a familiar? It is the second time I hear that word.*

"I have not asked yet. I were going to wait a little and explain before asking." I answer, to both of them.

Elvira looks between me and Lilithandra a few times "So you have not... I will not hold you any longer then, and I leave explaining it and asking her to you, Reeon. You go buy what you need at the market now, and have a good evening!"

"Good evenin, master!" I reply as I walk away.

Being too far away as she closes her door, I do not hear as Elvira mumbles to herself while shaking her head: "Limitless potential... Trusted by a mother dragon... Actually concerned about the hatchling's feelings and well-being... That kid just keeps surprising me. I wonder what he will do next?"

After reaching the market again, the first shop I go to is that of the butcher. He has the second shop on the right-hand side from the Town hall.

The moment the door opens and the smell of fresh meat reaches us, I sense the feeling of hunger beginning to leak from Lilithandra's distracted mind. And as I thought, it seems she is a carnivore.

I head to the empty counter and knock. From the back of the store, the slaughter room, a deep gravely voice emanates "Hold on!" and I hear the sound of metal being stuck in wood.

The doors to the slaughter room open and a large, burly man with an utterly epic braided beard enters: He is in a white apron, covered with enough blood that it could go for a two-tone Pollock painting, over normal clothing that has not escaped the carnage. Oddly enough his beard is pristine. Maybe the beads in it has some kind of ward against blood...

His name is Harry, but most who know him use his nickname 'Butch'. It comes partly from his job, but he earned it from his periodic stand-in job as a guard when the job is slow or the guards need extra hands. He's strong enough to wield a large axe, and has used it to cleave a wolf that attacked the village in two.

"Hello, Butch!" I greet.

"Hello, Reeon... No animals..." I hear him say in his normal slow tones, gesturing as if dragons were an everyday event at Lilithandra.

Insulted by his statement, she gives him the silent treatment. I feel a little bad for her, but it is his store.

"Ah, sorry. I will not take long then. Got any pieces of meat left? Enough for four people over two days or so. No salt or spice."

Butch grunts and turns to lift a piece of meat from behind the counter, before placing it on the large scale hanging from the ceiling and above the counter's surface.

He places down and swaps out increasingly lighter weights until he has the meat and weight balanced out in equilibrium.

Counting the weights and adding them together, he pulls out an abacus and calculates the worth of the slab.

"Hrm... That is ... five Ferren." he finally arrives at.

I scoop out a handfull of iron coins from my pocket and pick up one by one with the other hand until it holds five, putting the remainder back in my pocket.

"Here. Five Ferren, Butch. Could I have that wrapped in wax paper? I'm buying bread afterwards." I say as I hand over the iron coins.

He gestures for me to leave them on the counter with another grunt while wrapping the meat as asked before handing it over.

I place the wrapped meat in the basket "Thanks! Good evening, butch." and I walk to the door.

Butch follows me to the door and flips the 'open' sign in the window, now saying 'closed': "Late... Closing shop... Good evening." then he smiles and waves goodbye before closing the door and locking up.

He only looks scary; He's really just a quiet teddy bear who is good at his job, never turning down a hug.

Next stop is the baker's shop. It is placed nice and snug in the left hand corner away from the town hall, where the street narrows and the market ends.

The shop is an open-air first floor to let out the excess heat from the ovens and it has the constant smell of fresh baked goods.

The widest wall, the North-facing one, has the counter running from end-to-end in the arched opening in the stone wall. Neat design: Keeps most curious people away from the work area. The baker himself is still standing behind the counter.

He is a short man. Only a few centimeres taller then mom. Beard stubs cover his oval face.

"Reeon! Are you here to buy bread?" he asks in a cheery tone, eyes closed.

"I just finished the last batch of the day! One Ferren a piece!..." he opens his eyes as he finishes the sentence and pales a little at the sight of Lilithandra.

"Hello, Roland. I will take three pieces of bread." I greet him, placing one side of the basket on the edge of the counter and the correct amount of coins on the counter.

I hear Lilithandra greet him: *Hello. Why did you change color?* which makes Roland turn completely white.

I laugh on the inside, reveling in what I realize may be the last time someone reacts like Roland does to me having a dragon on my back: The rumor will have spread by mid-day tomorrow and then everyone will be prepared.

He stands still for a moment, completely silent, before he shakingly picks up and uses a set of iron tongs placing three pieces of bread a little larger than an adults fist besides the wrapped meat in the basket.

Still shaking, his brain is running completely on service-drilled autopilot "H- here yo-u g-g-go. That wi-will be three ferr- ferrens."

"I already gave you three ferrens. They are on the counter." I reply, finally breaking appart into giggling "What is it, Roland? Oh- her? She won't bite you or anything. Will you, Lilithandra?" I turn to ask her.

She cocks her head at me in confusion *Why would I bite him?*

Roland regains some color and I can sense he is about to begin asking questions.

I break him off to cut things short "Before you ask; She is a dragon."

Before he recovers his wits, I say "It's getting late now. Good evening, Roland." picking up the basket in both hands and walk home.

A few steps later I hear a monotone "Good evening..." from behind me. I giggle again.

Lilithandra asks me as I walk *Why are you making those sounds?*

I calm down and begin explaining to her "I'm having fun."

*Why?* she wonders.

"Because he was terrified of you." I answer.

*Oh... Why is that funny?*

"Because you are too adorable to be scary!" I laugh.

She growls weakly and headbutts my neck, barely hard enough for it to even hurt.

"That was also adorable." I say before giggling again.

The only response I get is an exasperated huff from a tense and annoyed dragonette.

Well that is not good: I did not want her to get angry at me.

I try to comfort her "Hey now. You are only adorable while you are little. Once you grow up you will undoubtedly become a large and fierce dragon."

*You really think so?* She begins to relax again and lifts her head up from my shoulder.

"You are a dragon, are you not? Fierce should come naturally with time."

She purrs and slowly brings her head into contact with mine *Thank you*.

We walk the rest of the way home enjoying the serene silence of the late evening.

I open the door and find dad sitting at the table "Hello, dad. How did the fields look today?"

"Crops are doing well. Almost ready to harvest before autumn comes in full." He looks at my right shoulder, directly at Lilithandra "And I do not believe we have met before. Hello. My name is Nathan. I am Reeon's father."

*Hello... My name is Lilithandra.* she replies.

I look to my mom "I bought enough meat for two days, and three pieces of bread." I say as I set down the basket in the kitchen.

Mom moves over and unwraps the slab of meat "This looks good. How much did it cost?" she asks as she cuts off a small slice.

"The meat cost 5 ferrens, and the bread was one a piece." I answer as I move to put the remaining two coins back in the lockbox.

The meat is thrown into a small pan to cook. Mom turns to me as I open the lid of the box "Don't worry about the change. Keep it. You could save it up for something you want."

"I sort of need an allowance to save up..." I reply while shoving the coins in my pocket "But thanks."

I realize Lilithandra is still on my back and look over at her "Do you want to come down now? You have been hanging on for a while. You must begin to get tired."

She looks as if contemplating a great mystery, before she finally replies *My legs are starting to feel a little ... weird.*

I bend down to let her off. She drops onto her hind-legs first and then stands on all four.

She is about 30-40 cm at the shoulder, I see now.

I move to the table and sit down, not taking a plate at first. Lilithandra sits down besides my chair.

"Are you not going to eat?" mom asks.

I look at the pot on the end of the table, quite hungry, and reply "I don't want to eat before Lilithandra gets to."

Mom stands in place a moment, thinking, before speaking again "That is fine. It is not long now, anyhow."

Lilithandra chirps and rubs her nose against my arm. I look down and whisper with a smile "Carefull. You are being adorable again."

She stops at once and slowly retreats to her upright sitting position. I giggle at her reaction which gets me a small scowl.

The meat is done cooking and gets placed on a wooden plate before mom sets it on the floor at the end of the table.

Lilithandra lets out a tiny squeal and pounches on the plate, devouring the slice whole before licking away the juices on the plate and around her mouth *That tasted good!*

I take a bowl and pour some stew into it from the pot with the ladle hanging from its edge.

I eat a spoonfull of the meaty stew before I ask Lilithandra "So. Want to know what a familiar is?"

She has been waiting for this nearly the entire trip and jumps over *Yes! Tell me - tell me!*

I eat another spoonfull before I continue "Alright. So I am a coran wizard." she sits still and look wide eyed up at me.

I continue "... And while we don't have that much magic in us to start with, we have a way to increase that."

To Lilithandra's horror I eat another spoon instead of talking.

I continue again when I won't choke "We make something called a 'Contract' with an animal, or a tool..."

Hungry, and willing to tease her a little, I eat another spoon. Lilithandra is vissibly annoyed at having to wait for the explanation to continue.

"...which binds the magic of the contracted being or tool to our own magic, increasing it many magnitudes over." I continue.

"The 'contracted' being is called a familiar as it basically becomes family having been granted intellect and a sense of companionship with the Contractor."

She looks down, clearly thinking about my words, while I stuff another spoonfull into my mouth.

As I continue, she looks up again intent on hearing everything "Most people do a contract with innanimate objects or normal animals without much fuss. You are a different case as an intelligent being."

"Your mother..." I take a solemn pause before continuing "-she told me she did not have much against me putting you under a contract. But I thought I would ask you first."

I put down the spoon and turn towards her in full "Do you want to make a contract with me and become my familiar?"

By this point the room had gone silent, everyone not in the conversation carefully listening for the answer. Lilithandra was clearly thinking everything over.

After a long time, she finally spoke *And if I find other dragons?*

The question surprised me with its forward thinking "I uh... I remember hearing the contract can be broken if both parts desire to do so..." I answer.

She thinks again, but not for long this time *Until I do not want be so any more, I guess I can be your familiar.* she answers.

The answer, while not a decidedly final one, makes me smile anyway "Then we will go see my Master tomorrow and get her help creating the bond."

Lilithandra lays down as I finish my dinner.

I help cleaning up afterwards by washing my own plate and haul the large pot of stew down into the cellar cold storage.

It is pretty late now, getting dark outside, and I decide to go to my room. Lilithandra follows me.

Once inside, we see the remains of her egg, and I ask "Do you want me to clean this up?"

She looks it over *I want to keep a piece... It is the last thing my mother touched...*

I nod in understanding and help gather the shell pieces in a larger one, plucking them from the basket and the floor around it. The pieces are sky-blue the entire way through.

Once we think we have found every piece, she looks them over and points one out *This one.*

I gently lift it and find a piece of string, tying it to the basket she hatched in "There. The basket is big and well padded with pillows, it should be a nice bed for you. And the piece will not be far away."

She gently jumps into the basket and curls around herself, closing her eyes.

Approachign autumn, the nights are getting cold and I get a fire going in the fireplace.

I go to my bed and begin to undress for the night.

I feel something hard in my shirt and find I had forgotten the Dragon Compendium entirely.

Setting it on the bedside drawer, I decide to read a little before I sleep.

The air in the room is still a little nippy. I find a spare blanket and pull it over Lilithandra before I go to my bed.

I slip beneath the blanket and pick up the book, lighting the candle on the table for light. (No longer explodes. At all. Go me!)

The compendium lists many sides of content: Dragon habitats and hierarchy, general and gender specific physiology, common habits and instincts, witness accounts, and more...

I begin with general physiology; I want to know about any dietary needs she may have.

-'Dragons eat nearly every part of their prey. Meat, bones, heart, liver...' I skip ahead a little '...observed to periodically eat plant-matter and wild vegetables...' now that is interesting... seems she is actually an omnivore and sometimes needs fiber, vitamins and minerals from food-plants '...not true reptiles as they are warm blooded...' Ooooh. That's good. Winter won't be too bad then. I skim forward again until something catches my eye: '...can stand and balance on their hind legs using their tail as counter-weight: Their forelegs are fully capable to be used as arms with thumb-like toes protruding similar to the hand of a coran...' huh. I did think her fore-paws looked like hands... 'Males are larger to protect the females...' Gender difference; present. Let's see what it says about females; '...has more pronounced, muscled chests for greater flight strength when gravid or carrying flightless offspring...' they are very supportive parents then, but I also knew that already. The next page details the aging process: 'Newly hatched dragons are on average a meter in length...' that's good. She has a healthy size then '...grow to 20-25/female 24-30/male meters and maturity at the age of 30...' and here I thought I had a long childhood, heh. Wait, 20-25? Vildanathoria was easily 30... '...Continue to grow through their lives...' ah, that explains it '...has not been confirmed, but dated reports suggest dragons can live well past 1000 years of age...' ...that's a long time... If it is true... the rest of the chapter goes into greater detail regarding biology. I'll save that for another day!

I jump to the chapter about habitat and hierarchy: -'...are social creatures living in packs and clans...' okay. She should have an instinctual need to socialise then '...habitats are large cavern complexes carved by claw into mountains...' note to self:get her a rock scratching post if she ever feels like raking her claws on something '...mate for life...' a thousand years of the same mate! Wow! They must be very patient with each other. That or the sex is amazing '...hierarchy consists of one alpha male and one alpha female controlling the pack...' standard pack behavior there '...other pairs are allowed to breed by the alphas...' but that's not... This is also written like the author considered them nothing but animals. I am beginning to think it may not be entirely factually correct...

My reading is disrupted by a moving lump under my blanked, a small blue head popping up in front of my book looking a little glum.

"Hey. What's wrong?" I ask, putting the book away.

She is silent for a while before answering *...I can't sleep...*

I think long how to help before I realize; she may be able to talk but she is still a newborn.

Remembering times in my previous life, where I had trouble sleeping, I have an idea.

I slide down under the blanked from sitting upright and give her a little room "I could sing a nice song I know, if you think that will help." I ask.

*You could try?* she replies and coils up again, her head above the blanket.

I think long and hard, but only one song I remember now is nice and slow.

I begin to sing 'You are my sunshine' to her, translating it to coran as I go, gently petting her as I do.

"You are my sunshine... My only sunshine..." ...

I stop singing as I remember the rest of the text, opting to hum over the sad lyrics.

By the time the song is over, she is sound asleep. Yep, she is still a child. No matter the race.

I put out the candle and go to sleep as well.

End of chapter 4