Orestes IV was the hellhole of the Galaxy as far as Aurie was concerned. The twenty-two year old Space Marine Corporal hated everything about the planet: its thin dusty, barely breathable atmosphere; the barren rocky terrain that hardly allowed any vegetation to grow--and when it did, it was stinky, poisonous, or barbed. Sometimes, the plants were all three. It was bad enough that she was posted to this place, but to add insult to injury, her orders had posted her to a supply depot. Her! A trained and experienced combat marine! It was just too much. She could hardly wait to get through the last year of a four-year deployment. Aurie hated her job and the general supply depot mentality, so she often spent her time just beyond the base's perimeter, hiking through the small rocky ravines that surrounded the compound. It was on one of these hikes, that she came across Spunky. Spunky was a young adult dragon. He was about the size of a 40 or 50 pound dog--just about full sized. Aurie had seen plenty of the dragons on her previous walks, but they usually kept their distance from her, not letting her get too close. Spunky was different. He waddled right up to her and breathed out a happy sounding hiss of greeting. Surprised at the creature's boldness, Aurie stared down at him in astonishment. She could not help but respond to the dragon's friendliness. She felt an instant connection to the young dragon. The very intensity of the emotion overwhelmed her. Aurie knelt down and Spunky snuggled up onto her leg. She scratched his head just above his eyes and the dragon shivered with enjoyment. Aurie started to stand and the dragon dropped back down on all four feet. "Well, I've got to get going," she told the dragon. Aurie started to walk away. Spunky promptly followed after her. She turned, admonishing him with her raised arm. "No! Stay!" However, when she started walking, the dragon followed close at her heels. She stopped again. "Look! You can't come with me. Its not allowed. Go away!" Aurie started walking again. Spunky came right behind her. Aurie kneeled and took hold of Spunky's head. "You have to go back!" She pointed behind him. "Go back to your own kind!" Aurie got up, this time walking much faster. The dragon happily trotted behind her. TO BE CONTINUED. _______________ Thanks for visiting and for your comments and favs of previous postings. Jeremy CREDITS: Vue6 Pro Studio, Poser6. Terrain: One of Karen Verba's wonderful "Fairy & Fantasy" terrains (Cornucopia3d). Figure: DAZ's Victoria 4.2, with Jochen38's "Aurelie Petite for V4.2" morphs and skinmats (Renderosity) and Neftis's "Ceazarious Short Hair" (DAZ). Outfit: Halcyone's "Ray 4046" (Renderosity). Animal: "Dragon World: Dragon-of-Burden" by Digital I Designs (DAZ). Vegetation: "Sunwatcher Clump" and "Oddstalk Clump" from "Orestes Graphics-Alien Plants" (possibly DAZ).