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

NSFW SUGGESTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 
 
 Cena woke to a crash and a muffled scream. The neighborhood was silent, except now for the grunting and heaving breath on the other side of the door. Next to her Neca whimpered in her sleep and clutched at the thick quilt on the bed. Cena let her hand fall on her sister ’ s back, not daring to make a sound. No sense in inviting the beast to come through the door. The grunting ended abruptly, and a trail of clattering and smashing made its way away from the girls. Soon Cena ’ s breathing matched her sister ’ s, and the house was silent. 
 
 Cena glanced around the square, looking for her parents. A glimpse of Neca ’ s thin frame through the crowd, and there they were. Her father stood, his thin frame hunched as his hands clutched at his daughter and wife. A weasel sat at his feet, toying and mouthing at a small brown mouse. Her mother had almost disappeared into a deep shawl which she ’ d wrapped around her head, believable in the cold of this February. Not that it was fooling anyone, of course – the whole town knew of her father ’ s heavy hands and the way he took out his daily embarrassments on his wife. Why a weasel and a mouse had married in the first place no one understood. 
 
 They were waiting for something, and for a moment in the bright sun Cena couldn ’ t remember what it was. She was focused on her sister ’ s face, so much like that of their mother ’ s. Downcast eyes, mouth in a thin line. She was just blossoming into womanhood, and Cena marveled at father ’ s restraint. He hadn ’ t tried anything with Cena in a long time, not since the night with the iron fire poker kept next to the bed, but now that she was 18 she ’ d be expected to marry and move out, leaving Neca behind. 
 
 Of course, that was why they were waiting, why they all were here. She walked slowly to the platform in the middle of the square, pulling her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. She felt his eyes on her, appraising as they always did, and her stomach turned, bile rising in her throat. Swallowing quickly, Cena reached the platform with the others for her nameday, and tilted her face to the sun. 
 
 A priest said a few words, and all around her the sounds of animals filled the air, mixed with giggles and excited clapping. A cat for Rincy Bellows, an ox for Wil Marten, and for her – Cena opened her eyes, looking straight ahead. She didn ’ t want to see the mouse that she knew must rest at her feet, or worse the weasel ready to strike. 
 
 A roar shook the square, and screams scattered through the square. She couldn ’ t be sure, but Cena was fairly sure one of them had been her father. No mouse for Cena, the town drunk ’ s daughter, or weasel either. Above her rose a dragon, its scales glinting gold in the sun, its back to her as it roared and snorted smoke at everyone around. For the first time Cena smiled, and across the square a younger face answered her back. 

