Madas’s Falling Star featuring Madas’s Unexpected Gift

Chapter 1

1

The meteorite glowed, turning a molten red as it entered the atmosphere. Large outer pieces began to disintegrate from the heat. The small reptilian creature deep inside curled into a tight ball. Sorrow coursed through him. He sniffed and buried his head under his tail.

He had been in his second hibernation, hidden deep beneath the surface of his home world when it was destroyed. One moment he was peacefully slumbering and the next he was hurtling through space.

He had tucked his body into the narrow crevice he had carved out for his long sleep when the large section of rock was blasted into space. The force of the explosion had melted the iron embedded in the rock around him, sealing him inside. Now, the sheltering iron shell was slowly disintegrating around his small body.

The meteorite broke through the atmosphere of the planet, and he floated upward inside his small prison. It began twisting and turning in its downward trajectory. He grunted as he was flung around inside his prison. Seconds later, he heard the snap of trees breaking and he was tumbled over and over with dizzying and bone-jarring speed. His head felt like it was still spinning when his rock capsule came to an abrupt stop.

He lay on his back, dazed and disoriented. Through a crack in his rocky prison, he could see a sliver of light. A moment later, a shadow blocked his view. He hissed when the light brightened as it reflected off of a sharp metal blade.

He closed his eyes momentarily when the shadow moved and brilliant sunlight flooded the sterile interior of his iron bubble. When he opened his eyes again, he was staring into the warmest, softest brown eyes that he had ever seen—and he felt an immediate connection. That connection solidified when the creature staring down at him in awe suddenly smiled and spoke. “Aren’t you the most handsome little creature that I’ve ever seen,” the soothing voice murmured.

Warm hands reached inside his former prison and scooped him out. His body rippled with changing hues when she held him close and ran her hand over his head. He had never felt anything this good in his life. In his world, his kind were avoided. They were fierce and deadly to anything that came near them—yet, this creature acted like she had never seen or heard of his species before.

She lifted him to her lips and pressed a light kiss to his head. He closed his eyes in delight when she followed up by rubbing her nose affectionately against his cheek. His body vibrated with pleasure. He opened his eyes wide and grinned at her.

“You are adorable. My very own fallen star,” she laughed.