[ WP ] When everyone turns 18 , they receive a pet which is figurative of their personality . You 're the first person to receive a dragon ...

It was a month before my birthday when I felt it. I needed to go west. 
 
 When I got home, I called my mom and dad into the livingroom. My dad was accompanied by his ever present companion, Lobo, the wolf. Give him a break on the name, he was 18. My mom and her Newfoundland, Sammy, followed behind. 
 
 I told them, `` I need to go west. I do n't know what it means, but I have to.'' 
 
 `` Your grandfather told me about this. He was pulled north, to his'exotic.' He came back with his Polar Bear.'' My father said. 
 
 My mother chimed in, `` My father had the same. He was pulled to Ireland, where he found his Wolfhound. We know the pull must be strong. We'll start the paperwork to get you an exotic pass.'' 
 
 `` What's an exotic pass?'' I asked. 
 
 My father explained, `` It'll get you into any friendly country, but will expire two weeks after your 18th.'' 
 
 The next couple of days went by slowly. The paperwork was filled out. I was able to narrow down where I was being drawn to. I had some money saved up, enough to buy a plane ticket to Delhi, India. As well as have a little money while I was there. 
 
 On the morning of the third day, I got the call from the Offices of Companion affairs. My pass was in. I took my stuff to pick it up, then headed to SFO to hop a flight. 
 
 As soon as I got off the plane, I felt the pull even stronger. I immediately started heading north. I did n't even stop to gawk at all the people with their strange and exciting companions. 
 
 A few days of walking and I made it to the foothills of the Himalayas. It was slow going from there. I was searching for weeks as I climbed, and hiked through the mountains. Feeling the pull get stronger, and more urgent. 
 
 At one point, I took a knife across my face before I could throw my attacker over a ledge to his death, leaving me with a scar running from my hair line, barely missing my eye, down to my chin. I had to butterfly bandage that closed. I never knew why he attacked me. 
 
 I lost my small finger on my left hand to a leopard. I stabbed it with the knife I took from my other attacker. 
 
 I lost track of the days on my journey. I thought it would never end. Then one day, I found a statue. Then another. I followed them till I came across what looked like a temple. 
 
 The pull was coming from inside. I climbed the steps with trepidation. As I entered the main room I saw a bowling ball sized onyx gem. Perfectly smooth, and shining in the sunlight that trickled in through the large door. 
 
 I was drawn to it. I needed to touch it. With reverence and nerves aquiver, I reached out. Just as my fingertips touched it, three things happened. First, my watch chimed midnight back home, it was my 18th birthday. Second, a shock of electricity shot from my hand to the gem. Third, the gem began to crack where the shock happened. 
 
 As the crack enlarged a black reptilian nose started to poke out of it. Slowly it worked it's head out of the hole, and I saw small, sharp teeth. Horns that curved back from the top of it's head, and a fringe just behind them, all in the deepest of black. It looked at me, and I knew he was mine, and I was his. 
 
 Then he spoke to me. There were no words. His voice just appeared in my head: 
 
 *My friend. It is time for change. *
