Itachi's Nest

You enter the cavern. It is made of smooth, grey stone. The ceiling is very high, a little more than a dragon's height, and and arched with geometric impeccability. The floor is just rough enough to provide foothold, but smooth enough to not scrape your knees if you fell. Unlike almost every *other* dwelling here, this cave isn't lit by flickering firelight. There is a large hole in the ceiling that lets in light. Nice.
You remember that Itachi was supposed to live here, and wonder where she is. Then you sense something behind you, and you turn around. Some winged thing is diving at you. You yell and drop to the floor, feeling the breeze as it passes over you. You stand up and look around for shelter as the screaming white firelizard comes around for another pass.

"Naiya! STOPPIT!"
It's a girl, only about 18 or so. The firelizard lands on her outstretched arm and looks at her adoringly. At the moment the girl is *trying* to look absolutely furious at the firelizard, but she's worried about it, and so she ends up looking vaguely in pain. You step in:
"I'ts alright. Your firelizard didn't hurt me."
The girl gives you a relieved smile before protesting, "I'm sorry about her actions, she isn't used to strangers, but Naiya isn't a firelizard. She's a firedrace. That's the Everondese equivelent. "Naiya" means diamond. That's the rank she is, too. Diamond is actually the highest rank of Everondese firedrace OR dragon. I hope I'm as lucky with my dragon..."
"Dragon?"
"Yes. I'm a candidate at Talon Nest . I'm really hoping for a Silver, actually. I mean, TWO diamonds would be a little much. If I get a dragon. There isn't a guarantee, you know. Sometimes, a few people are left on the sands... I hope I'm not one of them! That would be very embarrassing, don't you think? And I really want a dragon! So, I'm Itachi. Nice to meet you."
"Hi." you say.
"My name means ermine. Ermine are small animals a bit like ferrets."
"Are you a shapeshifter?" you ask. All the shapeshifters you know are named after their animal.
"No. I know, traditionally only Shapeshifters are named after animals. But I'm not from around here. I'm Everondese , actually. So the rule doesn't really apply to me. I got named after an ermine because my mother thought it was pretty. Well, you'd better be heading back ."