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

I have always been a relatively calm person. I try to be nice to everyone and I do what I can to help other people ( within reason, of course ). But today I do n't care about anyone else. I know it is a bit selfish, but it IS my birthday after all. My 18th birthday. The day I recieve my animal companion. 
 
 Of course, as is the custom, I have no idea what type of animal I am going to get. I know there are people who claim that they can read you and tell you what your animal will be early, but most of them are scams. Even if they did actually have that ability, it is severely discouraged to try and find out beforehand. Rumour has it that the Masters of the Companionry can feel when you find out what it is you will get, and they will then deny you your animal. To be denied your animal is death. 
 
 Everyone I know is probably already at the local Companionry Selection Hall, preparing for the ritual and then the party that immediately follows it. The party is bigger the more prestigious your animal is. I am of course still at home, awaiting the convoy that will take me to the Hall. It is the custom that the subject of the ritual be escorted from his home to the Hall by a group of four Apprentices. The Apprentices are those people who have been chosen by the Companionry to be the next masters. 
 
 A knock on the front door signals their arrival and I rush to join them. We make the rather short trip to the Hall. I am left standing in front of the big golden doors leading directly into the Hall, while the apprentices disapear into two small side doors on either side of the big door. I can hear the ritual music starting inside the Hall and I can feel my hands getting sweaty from the anticipation. 
 
 As the music strikes a high note, the doors swing open, revealing the great Hall. On either side of a narrow aisle, hundreds of my friends are standing, watching me. As I walk in they start cheering me on. I take in the Hall around me. I've never been in here, as you are only allowed entry once you have your own companion. The aisle ends at a golden podium. Beyond the altar is a concave platform with a giant orb seated in it. On the left side of the podium is my dad, looking proud and excited. On the other side is a man dressed in a robe with a hood over his head. He is one of the Masters, but I ca n't tell which with his hood in the way. 
 
 I make my way to the front. When I reach the podium, the Master removes his hood. A sudden gasp echoes through the entire hall as everyone suddenly kept quiet in shock. The man had long silver hair and golden eyes. It was the head Master. The master of the Masters. If he is here, that means I must be getting quite an amazing animal. 
 
 `` You are here today,'' the master started saying, his voice a deep baritone that I could swear made the floor vibrate, `` for the commencement of your Companionship. You will kneel down before the podium and place your hands on the flat tablet.'' I did as he said. I could feel energy rushing through my as I touched the ancient stone slab that rested on the podium. My dad puts his hand on my one shoulder and the master on my other. 
 
 `` Feel the energy rush through your bones,'' the master continues. `` Let it consume you. Feel as the orb recognizes you and begins to respond to your energy.'' A deep buzzing sound starts as the orb began resonating. I look up at the orb to see it getting brighter and brighter. It is time. I can feel my companion. Suddenly I hear a loud heartbeat. And another. A steady rythm builds up and suddenly the orb splits in half, one half floating up to the ceiling and the other remaining seated. Golden smoke escapes from the orb and as it clears a creature raises its head. It lets out a vicious roar, and as it does a beam of red hot fire escapes its nostrils. 
 
 The crowd starts screaming and suddenly everyone is falling over eachother trying to get out of the hall. The master is frozen solid, his eyes big from shock and focused on the horrible creature in front of us. A moment of sudden silent passes. 
 
 `` A dragon,'' the master begins. `` The prophecies spoke of this day. A day when all of the world as we know it will come to an end. The dragon chose you, son. The dragon knew it was time to come into the world. IT can only mean that great devestation is coming. Only you and the dragon will be able to stop it. But I must now go. My role in life is done. The age of the dragon means the end of the age of the Companionry. You and your dragon will be the last. Good luck.'' 
 
 As he finishes his sentence, the dragon moves closer, stretches its long scaly neck and, suddenly, in a flash of motion locks its jaws around the master and swallows him whole. He lets out another roar, this time spitting green fire. 
 
 `` It is time!'' the master's voice booms from within the dragon.
