I woke up to the sight of a new caretaker today. I was very sad when I learned that my old one's heart failed final last night. He had been very good to me. Ever since I hatched in that strange place with all those bones.

I wondered around a little bit until I think I found the treasure room. So I laid down on the box with a dead guardian, I guessed, in it. I was soon found by one of the sentries and he was surprised. Much of what happened next involved bright lights and warriors in blue uniforms taking me away in a cage.

I behaved like I was supposed to. However, I think I still made my master mad because he sold me. I know because I was set on a table and two groups of men had long talks over me until I was sent to my new home. I figured the ones I never saw again were my old masters and the ones that took me were my new ones.

They were very nice and lent me a bit of land and a small cave. Much more than an entire nest gets sometimes. However no sun reached me except threw some kind of clear stone. That is when I suspected my master did not need a warrior. Perhaps a thinker. I thought that because I received a caretaker and he fed me, cleaned me, and even helped me when I started developing words.

At first, he educated me with paper books than with a talking box called a radio. It was very strange but it produced nice sounds and I listened to it at night. During the day I have to entertain the vast number of my master's guests. I believed I behaved quite well and I quite enjoyed it.

All the attention was nice. Very rarely does one of us get to entertain. When I usually did good I was tossed small metal disks. If I didn't they would usually throw nasty tasting liquid-filled containers at me. Of course, that was also usually very young adults as well. They usually leave happier for a time so I think I do good anyways.

So I usually kept my place clean and kept the coins in my cave until I needed more room. So I started to expand my cave downward. I quickly wound up in a place I was not supposed to go and it was quickly discovered.

I felt very ashamed but I had a kind master. He gave me a place that was five times bigger and with trees. A good thing too because I was about to shed my born layer of scales and I needed one.

I wish I could keep my round coins but I guess it was a fair trade. My caretaker even provided me with a new entertainment device called a television. It had moving pictures. I also got my old radio as well. I still only used them when I was not entertaining. Which I was running out of things I could do.

Also, I was still waiting to talk to my master so I could earn my freedom. It was usually done by the first shedding. So on occasion, I would just lay around and read a book in secret. After a while, my caretaker was worried and asked me what is wrong. I looked at him very sorry and said, " I must talk to my master. I have been very good for many years but I have not been told what I need to do to earn my freedom."

His face grew white and he did not say anything. We did not speak again for many more days. When we did he only said one thing, " He will be here tomorrow night."

I was very happy and even happier when he finally came. He was short and very plump with a slightly red face. "You wished to see me?"

I was very grateful "Oh, yes master. I have been a very good pet. Yet I do not know what exactly my duties are other than entertaining your vast number of guests. Also, I do need to make arrangements with you. You see it is usually done within one year of hatching but I can see you are very popular. You must have better things to do than talk to me. I also think my former master did not tell you that when you acquired me."

My master's face grew white except his red cheeks. Then he said, " No, I was not. I do not think he knew either. You see the world has forgotten your kind."

I was a bit surprised. "Am I the last?"

I asked without thinking my place. My master grew a little sad as he said, " Very likely. As long as you stay with me you will be safe."

I thought about that offer for a moment. " May I come back after I am free. I like my place here."

I surprised my master a little bit because he waited a moment before saying, " Before I agree to anything I think we should discuss what you expect of me..."

So we spent a large number of nights discussing my duties and my way of becoming free. What he asked seemed reasonable. Unlike my mothers master, who was a breeder. He wanted a hundred warriors for his army. What he did not realize is that it sometimes takes us centuries to hatch. Like I did. All he asked me to do was keep entertaining his large number of guests and I could earn my freedom by collecting a large number of coins.

As always each coin had different values, but sometimes they were more valuable for other reasons. I got a book. So far I had a long way to go. I only had 19,263 of the five hundred million worth he was asking for. At the rate I was going it was going to take me most of my life to get it but it was a very easy one and I enjoyed it.

I was also allowed out onto more of my master's property. As long as I did not eat any of his other pets and was back by morning. That is when I became acquainted with others of my master's land. Many were scared of me at first and I didn't do much with most of them. If they wanted to keep to themselves then who am I to say otherwise.

I also decided to help out on the cleaning on occasion I usually find some extra coins or if I a lucky one of the paper ones called dollars that are worth a hundred times the number shown on the corners. A few more years passed and a war started called Vietnam.

Being bred a fighter I direly wanted to get involved but it was against my master's wishes. That did not stop me from start building up my strength and finding funny messages on my radio. I told my caretaker and he told my master. My master then told members of my king's army and they came to thank me.

They were very surprised that I could actually speak. So I managed to help my master's king by doing that. They called it counter-intelligence I really don't know but after I was done they offered me a reward. I told them I would like some coins. They offered me much more than I thought I deserved. In the end, I got a hundred thousand and I was very grateful As an additional reward they gave me a gold medal for doing a good job. I almost cried. I keep it close to me when I sleep.

By then I had what my caretaker called a bank account. It was a secure place that people lend their wealth to and they get a little extra interest back each year. I was also investing in war-bonds which were safe ways to increase my wealth and in the stock game. I lost it a few times but I usually get a good profit from it.

Closer to the end of the war a clan called hippies emerged. They spoke of peace and were non-fighters who did not want the honor of dying in service to their king. No dignity in them in my opinion. They had nice music though. Really the only thing I cared for about them.

It was during then when my master's lands were violated by them. They tied up all my master's watchers and sentries and started to steal the other pets. I was not aware of this until they came to my assigned area. At first, I did not know what was going on so I followed along with them until they tried to make me drink something I did not want to drink. That is when I grew suspicious and wondered out of my privacy door. I noticed my caretaker and others tied up and grew angry about stealing from my master but it was too late to do anything. They stuck me in between my scales with poison barbs. I blacked out. When I woke up again several days later in some remote place surrounded by some of my master's pets. They know I care for and protect them. So I gathered them up and brought them back with me.

When I got there what happened was called a media frenzy. I became very popular for a time and instead of being punished like I should have been for being stolen, I was praised for bringing so many of my masters pets back. They liked being back into their places as well. Unfortunately, I could not bring them all back and I think they became food for the native predators. The ones that stole me were caught with my help and they were to serve ten years in a cage. Much too easy of a punishment I say so myself.

It took over a year for things to settle down again. That is when a bad thing happened. There was an accident and my master died. I grew very sad but I was still glad I still had my caretaker. My old master was even mentioned a few times on my television.

Then it was the time my new master started caring for the lands. He is my old master's son. The first thing he did was release many those under his care and sell many of the pets. Not me. He made me his very first greater. He moved me into a very small cage. I went along with it for the first day and entertained like I always did but at the end of the day, he took away my coins.

So over the next week, I ignored the guests. Which made them mad. My new master was not happy and my caretaker came to me after speaking to him. " If you keep this up he said he would fire me."

I didn't want him to die like that but I wanted my coins back and would like my old place as well. " You tell the young master if he wants me to work then he is to give me back all my two hundred and thirty-six in coins and I wish to have my old place back. I have no room to put on my show in this cage."

So I got my coins back and was moved back into my old area. That did not stop him from putting up the more clear glass so nothing could be thrown at me. I consider it nice of him. It made keeping my area clean easier. Besides the little, I get as a compliment was nothing compared to what I was getting daily. I was halfway there.

Another few months passed and I finally checked on the stock on an item called an apple computer. It seemed like it would be a very nice snack item so I also bought one myself. Not realizing it was an entertainment device. It became much easier for me after the internet was made. Well, I decided to check on my stock and I fell over by the number of dollars that I owned was worth.

So I sold what I needed to and my caretaker was very surprised when I said I wish to finally buy my freedom. It took several days for everything to be set. When the young master came to me he thought it was a big joke. That is until I opened a box holding fifty thousand of the hundred number dollars. The amount to buy my freedom. He must have mistaken my intention because I did not only buy my freedom but the land I've been living on as well. I freaked out a bit when I discovered that fact.

I had no idea how to be a master. Of course, that was the least of my problems. I quickly found out that my former master had put the land upon his debts. The place had always done well before him. I had to pay those as well.

The internet made that easier. That is when I could get around all the odd mating ritualistic things on it. When the land was inquired on how it got the money I had my financial transactions shown to them. Then the question was could I legally own? I got in contact with some of my friends in my king's army to help me out.

I was made a legal member of my king's people. After all, I hatched in his kingdom and served master and king faithfully. In turn, I helped them with some problems they were having with the family. A powerful guild that my former master owed gambling debts to.

When everything was put right I decided to search for others of my kind. Mainly for breeding and company. First I used the internet. That was a dead end. Then I started traveling. Usually looking in museums like where I was found in. I got no luck there over a year of searching. So I decided to visit other lands and I got permission to travel. The first place I went to was called Europe. I searched there for a few years because we use to be all over in that land. The closest I came was a half-made nest. Then I went to Africa. A very hot and hostile land. I barely survived there. Then I went further west into Asia. That is when I was in luck. In the mountains, there was a Buddhist temple and it was like I was expected.

Unlike most, I encounter they were very nice. Even better they had not one but two eggs. From different family lines and they appeared to be females. I was jittery with excitement. It meant our children could crossbreed and our kind can once again thrive. Yet more were needed. However, when I asked if I could have them their leader said, " Fate has deemed its servant paid with your most prized possession."

I was very happy as I responded with, " Sometimes the task is the best payment. The reward a job well done. However, I have three things I hold over all else. My caretaker, who has taken care of me for many years. He is of free will so I can not give him away. The second is the land where I was raised. I shall need it to raise them and others. Besides, it is halfway around the world from here. The last is this."

I bring out the gold medal I received many years ago. " This was given to me for doing a good thing long ago. The only item of praise I have received. This I offer for them."

They gladly accepted. I decided to continue to look for others and grew very lucky when I found an abandoned nest with three in it and one more in someone's private collection. I spent a large number of millions of dollars to acquire him. By the time of my return, I had most of my empty land turned into a breeding area.

With five females and one other male, we would have no problem revitalizing our population. All I needed to do was then wait. Within a month of my return, they all hatched in order of acquisition. I made a very simple arrangement with them. They all become breeders and they were allowed to be as they saw fit after that. They could only not leave my lands because it was not safe for them at the time. They entertained as I did and I also gave them the same things I had. A very cozy life. I was a very good master and they said so.

So for four years, we waited until the first female came to breeding age. Mating was a very wondrous experience. I even had the infertile become a pleasure breeder. A lot like the ones my former master use to get when my old one died.

Very soon eggs were being laid. I realized quickly that I needed more room. So I bought much more and contacted my king Barack Obama. I made arrangements for an audience. I arrived at his white house a little early and his personal guard was very surprised when I said, " I have a two 'o’clock." I ended up being late.

The dark-colored king said it was all right. Then I offered him the choice of eggs from the nests. His response was, " This is the land of freedom. Forced servitude is against the law."

He continued to explain it further and his duties as President. A very noble king to be allowed to be replaced by a successor only after four years. I always wondered why the books I read on the subject confused me. I then explained something to us.

" Well not to go against your word but we need to have a master. You see they give us a purpose or we never do anything but lay around and eat. We want to be valuable members of the land but we have no urges or guidance on our own. If someone becomes our master then we follow their commands and try our hardest to make them proud until the day we earn the right to be on our own. Many times we continue working with our former masters or continue doing things that we did while we served. I still entertain vast numbers of my guests at my zoo. I like doing that. The others I have enjoyed it as well even thou their duties are only to breed to increase our population. They like every part of their lives as I do and I am proud of my old master for treating me so good. It will be the greatest honor for them if you would take a few of them for yourself."

At the end of our discussion, he said he would have to think it over. Which took hours past permitted to finish and some of his caretakers were angry about that. I had gold arranged for them when I discovered they were coming to my home. I made it as lovely for them as I could. He was very surprised in my offering and said there was no need for the gold. They needed to be more flexible with such a thing. I then showed him the nests and the others were very honored to meet him.

We had thirty-two eggs so far and one of the females was pregnant again. I pointed out what each would likely be best for. He chooses the best six fighters, three thinkers, two with greater hearing and eyesight, and two that would grow small and have very soft scales for each of his own children's personal pets. In return, he granted us a large amount of unsettled land to us. Just in case we needed it.

So I use my wealth to create homes for the new ones with the usual comforts that made my life happy. The real challenge was finding masters at first. Every time a new president they always had choice picks over the nests but the others were not as lucky.

Many became thinkers for big companies or part of the law enforcement departments. Most went into transportation or farming. Some joined the king's army. All went well and our numbers grew rapidly until the murders started happening. Some of the ones that got our eggs started hunting us for game. It was not discovered until after the thirteenth time our new president chooses her personal eggs.

Before any action was taken I went to our Lady President. I told her that if it was not stopped then that all those of us who know will stop doing our duties. By that time we had spread far and wide over the kingdom. We replaced those smelly gas machines called cars in most places.

Sometimes we fly our masters, his guests, or some shipment someplace. We watched the borders of the land to keep those who do not belong out. Many of us were warriors in the army. The list goes on.

So new laws were passed to protect us and when one of us was killed again we caught the rich business owner and took him to the law upholders. It did not happen again after that and that was around the time I was a century old and my caretaker became sickly.

He really did not care for me anymore for about forty years but we were always close to each other I let him have my first child for a pet for his grandchildren. We all were very sad when he became very sick. I stayed close to him as I could but I somehow knew he would not last long. I was so sad I did not want to breed or entertain my guests. Which were few nowadays. Now I had to train a new caretaker.