**A Bond of Fire and Scales**

Saphira. I whisper at her name and wonder, amazed, as I gaze at her beautiful body, shimmering in the moonlight that streams through my window. Her sapphire-blue scales glimmer and shine, like jewels scattered across her back, and her bright blue eyes sparkle with a fierce inner light. I could feel the joy as well as the pride emanating from her, due to the bond and connection that we now share. As I stand there, frozen in wonder, Saphira leaps onto my shoulder, her claws digging gently into my skin. She nuzzles her head against me, and I feel a surge of affection and warmth. I reach up to rub her head, and she lets out a soft, rumbling growl of pleasure, her eyes closing in bliss. For a moment, we simply savor the connection between us, the world around us melting away. But Saphira's excitement soon gets the better of her, and she begins to score around the room, her wings beating rapidly as she takes in her new surroundings. Her movements are fluid and graceful, but also a little wild, as if she's not quite sure what to make of this strange new world. And then, I realize that she's searching for something - food. Her stomach is growling, and she's hungry. The noise we've made draws the attention of my parents, and I hear them rushing into the room. My mother gasps in shock, her eyes fixed on Saphira as if she's seen a ghost. I can sense a mixture of fear and wonder in her, and I realize that dragons are not exactly common in this world. In fact, they're known for being extremely territorial and fiercely protective of their riders. Before my mother can react further, she subtly raises her hand, and I sense a faint humming of magic in the air. It's a protective spell, one that she must have learned in her studies as a historian and veterinarian. I can see the tension in her body, the way she's coiled and ready to spring into action, as if she's prepared to defend me from Saphira's potential wrath. But Saphira, sensing my mother's unease, merely regards her with a calm, almost regal demeanor. She doesn't seem to notice the magic swirling around us, and instead focuses on me, her eyes shining with a deep connection. My father, however, looks like he's about to have a heart attack. "Annie, what...what is this?" he stammers, his eyes darting between Saphira and me. My mother doesn't take her eyes off Saphira, her voice low and cautious. "I think it's a dragon, Josh. And I think it's bonded to our son." The room falls silent, as if the very air has been sucked out of it. I can feel Saphira's eyes on me, her gaze burning with an inner fire. And I know that nothing will ever be the same again.