Seven year old Lucy had been playing in her tree house when the earth shook and her life changed forever. The earthquake killed her mother, cost Lucy her right hand, and destroyed what little grasp her father had on humanity. The next six years were a nightmare for Lucy, one from which she thought she would never awaken. She suffered with abuse and bullying, at home, at school, and later at her part-time job. She found her only comfort with animals, the cows on her father's dairy farm and the patients at the animal clinic where she worked. Lucy had the incredibly rare ability to sense what other creatures were feeling, but she kept that a secret after her father ridiculed her and beat her for mentioning her ability. Lucy had a vague memory of being rescued after the earthquake by a purple dragon and her rider, Esmeralda and Emily, who then flew her to the dragon riders' hospital. Lucy treasured the feeling of warmth and caring that she had received then. She frequently dreamed about dragons and flying. However, her father had forbidden the dragon riders from ever returning to their farm, so Lucy hadn't seen them since the earthquake. Little did she know that the dragon riders, especially Emily and her dragon Esmeralda, were trying to find out how Lucy was doing. When Lucy was thirteen, after a particularly horrible day, she would discover the beginnings of a new life as Emily and Esmeralda rescue her once again.