Tooth and Claw

Chapter 4

"Dio ... Dio .. Bambino pazzo che mi fa impazzire ... Dio non voglia...."

(Translation: God..god.. Crazy child driving me insane.... God forbid.)

"Ma...?"

"Ah! Figlia, piantagrane! Cosa diavolo è questo, un uovo ?!" My Ma fussed, bringing a blanket over and covering me, even though I already had 6 on.

(Translation: Ah! Daughter, you troublemaker! What in the world is this, an egg?!)

She shook her head, picking up the white egg wrapped in a white blanket from beside me, on a chair.

I snatched it from here clutching the cold egg in my arms, ripping the blanket off. "Ma, it's a snow dragon! It's supposed to be cold..."

My mom stared at me with a hard look. "Prendi subito quella coperta, Aurora!"

(Translation: Pick up that blanket right now, Aurora!)

I groaned. My head started pounding the second I stood up. After picking up the blanket, my Ma grabbed my shoulder and spun me around.

"Aurora, I paid a lot of money for school for you. You're leaving tomorrow, and there's no way we can find a replacemen-"

"Please!" I groaned. "Mom, this egg is probably the last one of it's kind! I'll still go to school, and handle this! Please..."

My Ma gave me a thoughtful look.

She cradled my head in her hand. "Tesoro mio," My Ma's sweet expression dropped into a frown. "bene. Ma nel momento in cui riprenderò quei voti, corro sull'oceano e vado in quella scuola, afferrò quell'uomo e lo lancio nell'oceano!"

(Translation: My sweetheart, fine. But the second I get those grades back, I'll run over the ocean and right into that school and grab that egg, and throw it into the ocean!)

I winced. "Thanks, Ma. I'll get ready for school tomorrow."

"Oh, e quel tuo ragazzo è in cucina." My Ma chattered.

(Translation: Oh, and that boyfriend of yours is in the kitchen.)

"Ma!" I blushed. "He's not my boyfriend! He... he.. he's my friend."

My Ma turned to me, her eyebrows raised. "That's what you guys are saying these days."

I groaned and ran down the hall. But as I turned the corner, I hit something hard. I staggered back,

"Ugh..." a voice groaned.

"Ryder! Where did you go?!" I grabbed his hands and pulled him up.

"Oh, the butchers were just trying to help us!!" Ryder winked. "But you disappeared before I could tell you, you dumb bitch."

"Shut the fuck up!" I jokingly laughed.

I bumped my hip into his. He stumbled. Ryder was pretty scary. He almost always has bags under his eyes, and a wicked sharp jawline. But he's like, the most crazy guy I know. He spends most of his time just making machines and carrying scrap metal around.

I usually help him, and get to keep anything he thinks is crap. And his opinion is pretty dumb, so 50 percent of what he gives me is actually great. He has dirty blond hair and dusty brown eyes.

"Um, you ready for school tomorrow? After this?" He asked.

I drew out my breath.

What better way is there to tell the truth than to just blurt it out! "Actually, I found a dragon egg..."