A/N: I'm finally putting this up! I've been wanting to write in this style for a while. I usually don't use this style, so it might not be quite as good as my other stories. Anyway, let's begin.
Huh? Who's there? Oh, a tourist. Nothing new there I suppose. Hm? You want to know how I got here? Well.. I suppose I can tell you my story. You might want to make yourself comfortable. It's quite a long story. Heh heh. Anyway.. Oh where are my manners? Before we begin, I better introduce myself. My name's Ten Cents. What's yours? Huh, that's a nice name. It's nice to meet you! Well, I better not keep you waiting. You humans don't like to stand still for very long.
It all started all the way back when I was just a pup. Hm? Oh, a pup is a young tug. It usually refers to a little baby though. You see, my mother's nest was close to a human's house. She was originally just going to pass through, but she unexpectedly had me at the last minute, so I guess she was forced to stay there. I mean I didn't have a problem with it, but I wouldn't care if we moved away to somewhere more secluded, not that I had any reason to complain. I guess it's better than just wandering from place to place.
One day, when I was seven years old, I was hot on the trail of a mouse near the creek, only to loose the scent. I was a little disappointed, but my mom had probably caught something for me anyway. I turned to go back home, when I heard a twig snap. I jumped a little, and looked around. That was when I encountered my first human, but I didn't know what it was at the time. It looked so strange. It was standing like a bear, but it had no claws, and its fore-paws. which I later learned were called hands, looked disfigured and almost looked like my own claws, except their claws, which I later learned were called fingers, looked dull and harmless.
I was frozen. I didn't know what to do, and it seemed the human thought the same thing. It was small, a child. I could have just substituted him for the mouse, but I was more curious than hungry. I inched a little closer. The kid jumped a little, but didn't run from me. We simply sat there, staring at each other in wonder until my mother called me back. I really didn't want to leave, but I knew better than to cross my mom, so I reluctantly left the kid behind.
Everyday after that, I returned to the creek, and the kid did the same, except this time he brought food with him. I didn't complain of course. I mean, come on, it was an easy meal, and every little bit helped. This continued for a few years until one day, he didn't show up at all. I didn't know the kid, but I was a little worried. A human could easily get lost, or hurt out there. I chirped to call him. He didn't come. I sniffed the air to get an idea as to where he was, but the scent was stale and old. He wasn't out there. I have to admit, I missed that little guy. He didn't talk to me or anything, but I felt like I lost a friend. When I was about thirteen years old, my mom finally booted me out of the nest. Hm? Oh, we tugs are able to sustain ourselves when we are just thirteen years old, so once I could live on my own, my mother let me go.
I just wandered all over the place. I ate whatever I could find, and slept under the stars. Even after all those years, I still remembered that kid. I doubted we would meet again, but if we did, he wouldn't recognize me. One night as I was scrounging for food, I stumbled across a grown human. He smiled at me. I wasn't sure where this human had seen me before, but I never saw him before. I thought he was mistaking me for another tug. I raised an eyebrow at him, and he pulled out an old picture out of his pocket, and pointed at it. It was a picture of the kid that that came out everyday for the longest time to feed me. I didn't see any resemblance between him, and the photo, so I drew in his scent. I took a few seconds to think about it, and that was when it hit me. This human was the kid that met me everyday to feed me. He told me he had graduated from high school, found a wife, and got a job. Ironically, he worked for Captain Star. He told me that Captain Star was looking for another tug to join his fleet. It couldn't get any easier than that. I would have shelter, plenty of food, and find protection in a group. I took up his offer, and let him climb onto my bow. He showed me the way, and I joined the Star Fleet. The rest is history.
Well... that's pretty much it. I better get back to work before Captain Star gives me an ear full. It was nice talking with you. Hm? Oh, yeah. Sunshine is on break if you want to talk to him. See ya later!
A/N: A tug chirp sounds like a cheetah cub chirp, and is usually used to call their mother...or beg for food from us. Those who know about Dr. Ernest Drake's past would pick up on the references of his first encounter with a dragon throughout the story. Next chapter will be up shortly!