It's kind of nice to just relax and do whatever you want to do.  I surfed the web for a few hours just trying to kill time until I remembered a box that had arrived the other day.  It was a new graphics card and monitor for my computer and I decided to install them because I had nothing better to do.  After some modifying to my original set up I had a new workstation complete with dual monitors and upgraded graphics.  I glanced at my watch and it read 5:06 when my mind remembered that there was a dragon tied up in the back yard.  She was awake and lifted her head when I came out carrying the Five-seveN and a knife.

"I don't think you where faking the cooperation earlier, but I'd rather be safe than sorry." I said coldly.  She looked genuinely scared as I slowly got closer.  "I'm going to cut the ropes off you and I don't want to hurt you so please don't move.  This is an Emerson CQC-7D, a custom knife that can cut through dragon scales fairly easily so let me cut the ropes and step back before you move.  I'm trusting you to not move until I've stepped back but if you make a move to attack me I will kill you."

She nodded a silent yes before I stepped closer and placed the Five-seveN in my pocket before I cut the ropes around her jaw.  She let her head rest on the grass as I cut the ropes around her wings and legs.  I was able to take a few steps past her head when she suddenly jumped up and knocked the knife out of my hands.  I reached for the gun but her tail whipped around and wrapped around the handle before I could grip it.  She pulled it out and threw it a few feet away before turning her attention back to me.  She stared at me for a good minute.  I stared back at her, frozen in fear as she stood up on two legs and glared at me.  On two legs she stood at 6'9" and I knew she was going to kill me.  She leaned forward and I shut my eyes, bracing for what would happen but it never came.  I opened my eyes in shock to find that she was actually hugging me.  It felt strange to be hugged by something that you where sure was going to kill you.  Her head rested on my soulder and I could the air passing through her nostrils come in shuddered breaths.  She sounded like she was about to break out crying and I ignored the fact that she was a dragon who had just tried to kill me earlier as I returned the hug in the hopes to calm her down.  Her voice was strangely calm and soothing considering everything that had happened.

As she spoke, she sounded like she wasn't sad, but happy.  "Thank you for getting me out of there." she said, "I don't know how it happened but I'm glad that you decided not to kill me.  I thought that I was going to be trapped in there forever."

I was diffidently confused now, "What do you mean?"

"I was feral and you brought me back, I don't know how but you did and I am extremely grateful." She said as she hugged me tighter.

"Elsie…  Air!" I gasped.

she let go and took a step back, "Sorry about that.  It's just that, well, everything that I've said is the truth."

"It's okay, and also, I believe you." I said gasping, "Well anyways, I have some food in the oven and it should be done soon so why don't you come inside and wait.  Oh, but first, let's get you washed off a bit.  You are kind of dirty."

"I guess I do need a wash." she said, looking herself over, "And what was that about food?  I haven't eaten in days."

I was a little worried about that last part but I ignored it and grabbed the coiled garden hose off the ground.  After a quick rinse and dry she followed me into the house.  I could tell by the way she was looking around that she like the open space inside.  Our living room and dining room was separated by only a border between tile and carpet and an L-shaped couch.

"So it looks like we have 10 more minutes on the pizzas but we can watch TV while we wait."

"Pizza?" she asked, "I haven't had that in years."

"These are the best frozen pizzas you can get." I said as I jumped on to the couch, "Now come over here and relax.  Watching the pizzas isn't going to make them cook faster."

She came and sat next to me on the couch and I put on The History Channel, there was a Modern Marvels on camouflage playing.  The pizzas were soon done and I brought them out and set them on the coffee table.  By the time the modern Marvels had finished, we had eaten one meat lovers and two pepperoni pizzas.  I cleaned up the table and we watched The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.  It was a good 20 minutes in before curiosity got the best of me and I asked, "So when did it happen?"

She looked me straight in the eyes, "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes." I said without hesitating.

She sighed and looked down at the carpet before beginning, "Two years ago, I was on a hike with my parents somewhere in Nevada when it happened.  We where hiking along a dry riverbed and I had decided to jog ahead for a bit.  I was far ahead when I finally stopped and sat down for break.  I sat for a bit, taking in my surroundings when my eyes wandered to something half hidden inside a bush.  It was a long dead thorn bush and deep inside was what appeared to be a necklace tangled in some branches.  I reached carefully inside and had a hold on it when a gust of wind rustled the bush and sent at least five thorns into my arm.  Scales spread from the cuts and I was soon a dragon.  I couldn't let my parents see me so I shakily ran on all fours further up the riverbed.  I eventually found an old mineshaft and quickly ducked inside."

"Then what?"

"I was recruited by The Clan a few days afterwards when they spotted me hunting.  I stayed with them in another abandoned mine in the area.  After a few months I became a high altitude courier, carrieng messages between hideouts.  After the war I stayed a courier and was resting at a hideout near LA when I went feral.  I don't remember how but I don't recommend it.  It was like me conscious and my subconscious traded places."

"What do you mean?"

"It was like I was kicked in to the back of my mind.  I was aware of everything that went on but I wasn't doing it."

"Don't you want to go back to your family?  I could help you find them."

"No!" she growled, "they left me when I was seven and came back 10 years later, a few months before I became a dragon."

"I'm sorry.  I didn't meant pry, but I just want to help.  If you don't want to go back to your parents then you could maybe stay here?"

She paused a moment before she replied, "That sounds nice.  Plus, I don't think I could leave even if you wouldn't have let me."

I gave her a weary smile before turning my attention back to the TV.  I pretty much zoned out for the rest of the movie thinking about everything Elsie had said.  As I snapped back to reality, I realized that Elsie was sound asleep on the couch.  It was only 8:00 but I decided to turn in for the night as well.  I turned off the TV and made sure Elsie was comfortable before I made my way to bed.  I must have been really exhausted because as soon as I was under the covers I fell asleep.