Alexei awoke with a start. He had been in bed when Pictor had barged in, and launched himself upon the bed. "ALEXEI! WAKE UP!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Alexei had already been up by the time Pictor had hit the bed. He didn't find it very pleasant to have his friend yelling in his ear. With an annoyed batting at his friends face he said, "Go away."

"ALEXEI! The contest results are in!"

Alexei rolled over, and stared at Pictor for a few moments. It took a bit for it all to register. "I'm sorry. Did you say what I thought you said?"

Pictor nodded.

He threw off his covers and sat up. Sitting in his street clothes he narrowed his eyes at Pictor. Why would he be so excited about this? It wasn't his contest entry anyway. Unless.... oh. Alexei cocked his head to one side, "And I'm guessing you have the results in that letter?" He pointed to a small piece of paper.

Pictor nodded, "You have to open it!" He shoved it into Alexei's hands. 

He raised an eyebrow, and opened the letter slowly. Reading it he just blinked a few extra times. He read it again, and again. He raised  his other eyebrow he looked to his Pictor. "Read it."

Pictor sat on the bed beside him, and did what he was told. When he read it, he gasped. Then he smacked his friend on the back, just for the sheer fun of it.

"Thanks." Alexei said rather annoyed. "Shall we go and pick her up without Hosanna?"

"Errr.... I think she might be hard to get by."

"Right then, Let's go. Now." Alexei stood up and head to the door. Only to be squished behind it as it flew open. It was none other then Hosanna.

"Alexei! I've got great--Where's Alexei?"

Pictor sighed, "He's behind that door."

Hosanna finished with "Oh." not sounding all that surprised. She let the door sing back and watched as Alexei fell to his knees.

"I think you broke my nose."

"Well, I still have good news."

"That I won? I know," he stood up as a small amount of blood trickled out of his nose. Ignoring it he stalked out of the door and headed to the realm. Stopping for no one and nothing.

***

It didn't come to as a big surprise that the realm was rather busy. Alexei almost jumped when he was tapped on the shoulder. When he spun around he saw a young woman, with bright red hair. He stared at her when she addressed him.

"You would be Mister Alexei Crux?"

He simply nodded.

"Congratulations on winning the fluffy ice portal dragon. I'm Indyana, and if you will follow me, I'll escort you to your new friend." She began to walk off to a cabin set aside of the main area. She swiftly led Alexei into the cabin and shut the door after he entered.

It was a very cozy setting, with a fire place and all. A desk sat in a corner covered in a large amount of paper. Toys were scattered on the floor, but the rest Alexei didn't have time to notice.

Indyana had made her way behind the desk to produce a wicker basket. Inside that basket was a purple fluff ball, hugging a little plushie. It stirred a bit as Indyana set it upon the desk, beckoning to Alexei. He eyed the ball of fuzz from afar before doing as the red head commanded. It was the dragon that he had signed up for, but he didn't think he would win for having a good home for her.

The dragon stirred a bit more before waking. With a soft chirping sound she seemed to yawn and take a look at its surroundings. Her eyes stopped on Alexei. In a sudden blur of purple, the fuzzy little wrym made for Alexei's chest. Being Alexei, he automatically caught the wrym before it tried to knock him over. He looked down in at the squirming create who seemed to be squeaking happily. Odd. It was just asleep a few seconds ago and now it decide to act like it was on a sugar high.

*Hey! Let's be friends!* a voice high pitched voice  projected in his head. 

Alexei looked to Indyana for clarification. She, thankfully did, but it wasn't what he had expected.

"Well, congratulations. You two are officially bondmates. I hope you're a good match."

*He's my bondmate? Really?* The little wyrm looked to Indyana.

"That's right. Do you have a name picked out for her Mr. Crux?"

The wyrm gave another happy chirp and, once again, tried to pounce Alexei to no avail. Alexei looked at her once more, "I have the prefect name for her. Anastasia, just like another bouncy person I know."

The newly dubbed Anastasia, stopped fidgeting long enough to comment on her new name. *That's... different. It's pretty though! I like it!* She resumed straining to give Alexei a pounce until he had had his fill. He set her back down in the wicker basket and put his hand on her head asking for a moment. He then turned to Indyana.

"Is there anything I have to do? Fill out a form, sign something?"

"Just promise to take care of her, and maybe grab a cup of tea before you leave."

"Gods... I miss vanilla tea," he muttered to himself before answering the proposal. "I'm afraid I can't. I left my friends rather quickly and they would expect my quick return. Possibly some other time," he grinned and tipped a bow. No, he wasn't about to tell her that he couldn't drink tea even if he wanted to. 

Picking up Anastasia, he headed to the door, before leaving he turned, "Thank you." 

***

Ana and Alexei had made it to the tavern. Ana bounced upon her bondmate's head, as many times as he objected, she remained there to watch the crowds of people. Once they had made it inside, the company was spotted. Pushing his way through the throngs of people, Alexei sat down in front of Pictor.

"Hello all, this is Anastasia!" he pointed to the dragon bouncing on top of his head.

They all looked at her for a moment, before bursting out laughing. Ana just laughed a long with them. Then she suddenly pounced Pictor, *Hullo!*

Pictor fell off his chair with Ana in his lap. "Nice to meet you too...."

*Fweee! Let's be friends!*

"Okay."

*Yay! Snuggle!* she rubbed against Pictor like a cat would, almost purring.

Pictor looked to Alexei, "This one's going to be a handful."

"You said it. Doushi and you better help me--"

"Hey!" Hosanna interrupted, "What about me?"

Alexei glared at her, "You'll get your turn. If that's what you want."

Doushi decided it would be best to put his two cents in. "Shouldn't you give her something Alexei? I mean, so she won't get into TOO much trouble."

"I was thinking about that too, Thank you Doushi.  I know exactly to what to give her." Alexei reached into his pocket and pulled out the cross that had been given to him. Since he had no idea how to use, and  dear Anastasia could not, he figured it would give her a bit of protection. It could turn out to be more useful in her hands then any others. Collecting her from Pictor, she finally settled down. Looking at him with her huge black eyes, he grinned. "Now, I'm going to give you something Ana. It's not something to play with, be careful with it too." He slipped the cross around her fuzzy neck and adjusted the string.

Ana giggled a bit looking at her brand new gift. She looked back to Alexei, *Can we go on an adventure now?*

Hosanna answered for him, "Yes. We can go on a grand adventure. Alexei, will you do the honors of paying the bill so we can get going?" She rose and headed to the door, Pictor and Doushi both followed with a smug look on their faces.

Alexei smiled down at Ana, "Shall we pay the bill?"

*'Kay. Then we get to go on an adventure right?*

"Yes, then we do."

After they paid the said bill everyone headed to where they had first arrived. In a few split seconds they were at Utica Point, the coldest place in all of their world. "What were they going to do here?" you might ask. Well, they were going to start the adventure of a life time.