The farther I travel from home, the more unique the creatures I locate become. When visiting the volcanic caves to the south on the mainland, I was introduced to these interesting creatures known as Volcanic Salamanders.

Their skin is a glistening white, making them quite difficult to spot amid the bright lava flows that they enjoy swimming through. They do, however, contrast nicely against the dark stones that jut out of the burning surface.

It was difficult to obtain a specimen for further examination due to what the locals call the silent death. I believe it is some sort of fume from the volcanic openings that is collected in the tight caves which is the deadly culprit.

Once obtained, I was surprised to find that these creatures that can walk through fire as a field were not just cool, but icy to the touch. The farmer assisting me told me of how his herd dog came to have a frozen tongue after attempting to eat one of them. If that is the case, it is little wonder the little things need all the heat they can find!

Other physical notes: they lie close to the ground, their legs splayed outwards more for swimming than walking, their eyes have a protective red film that seems to be a transparent heat shield, their faces are flat and wide, and their guts (as seen through their maw) appear to be full of swallowed magma. Most peculiarly, their teeth are very small and smooth.

With a diet of insects and fire berries that grow near the edge of their pools, I don’t find it too odd that their teeth would be smaller. However, there is something about how the smallest to the largest we could find all seem to possess the same variety: almost as if there was no difference between a juvenile and an adult. This seems unheard of, and there is a possibility that all the salamanders we see are prepubescent. Tales told by the local mention white dragons that emerge at a frequency of one every five years from the lava to expend heat into the air and to consume all it can. If true, it is possible this would be the adult form of a salamander.

Of final note, the salamanders do seem to require water in kind with every other species on the earth. After observing them for two days, I was able to ascertain how they were managing to get the liquid without plunging themselves into hypothermic shock by extinguishing their inner fires. Using their flat heads and backs, they are able to scoop or collect running water. Catching it by sucking in their flesh along their spines, the salamander will waddle back to their lava pools and wait. The heat turns the water to steam which the salamander is able to inhale without undue strain to its insides. Larger ones have been spotted making several trips and allowing smaller brethren to benefit from their labors.

I don’t know where life plans to take me next, but I do hope to return one day to see if the story of the dragon salamander is correct. Until then, I’ll continue to wander and record until I’ve seen all this world will show me.