Monday mornings for Owen usually consisted of waking up at noon, spending the next hour dying, and then debating on his prior life choices for the remainder of the day. Barry would give him hell, Blue, somehow knowing his condition, would always rile her sisters into making more racket than usual. The Frenchman found their antics endlessly hilarious. Owen, less so.

Now, watching the Indominus-or who he guessed was the Indominus- be carried away, his prior grouchiness had all but vanished. Now, he was only filled with the declining rush of staring down death itself.

"Just another day in paradise," The ACU trooper from before snorted as he approached. "You alright?"

"Yeah, I- yeah," Owen said, scratching the back of his head. "I just, ah…didn't really have this marked on my calendar, is all."

"I hear that," The man chuckled, extending a hand. "Name's Miller, by the way."

"Owen," The trainer answered, taking his hand and shaking.

"I heard you were crazy, raising raptors and all, but I didn't think it was true. Guess I owe somebody a beer."

Seeing the trainer's head elsewhere, Miller nudged him and nodded towards the newly made entrance to the paddock.

"She's in good hands, don't you worry."

Not offering an argument, Owen fell behind the trooper.

"Though I'm betting that's not the main question on your mind. Does 'what the hell?' sum it up?"

"Yeah," Owen chuckled. "Something like that."

"Well, sorry to say, but you never really get an answer. You just kinda get used to it."

Making their way back through the Indominus' path of destruction, Owen was still trying to make sense of everything. So far, the thought he clung onto was food; having missed his usual ritual of mid-day breakfast, he was starving.

"So how long has she been living here?" Owen asked. "On the island, I mean."

"Can't really say, to be honest. They don't tell us mooks a whole lot besides non-lethal only," Miller offered a shrug. "I've been part of the on-site security for about a year and a half, give or take. Judging by her size, I'd say she's been here a while."

Despite being a man that prided himself on being a grade-A smartass, Owen was at a loss for words. He didn't know how to frame his questions without sounding ridiculous. As it stood, he had nothing.

"The Doc's supposed to fill you in on the whole thing," Miller explained, as if hearing his thoughts. "The way it was supposed to go was that she went over the basics before things got too exciting. Guess Little Mama had other plans."

"Little?" Owen scoffed.

"Before I was guarding her I helped watch over Rexie. Big Mama's got a special place in my…ah, hell."

Pausing, the trooper heaved a sigh. Following his gaze, Owen saw an ACU helicopter sitting atop the observation building, engine still whining down.

"That's the Commander's bird," Miller said. "Chances are he and the Doc are already going at it."

Continuing on, it wasn't long before Owen found out just what he meant. Almost immediately upon re-entering the building they could hear the muffled shouting coming from deeper within. Rather than going back to the observatory they swung a left, winding through the hall until they came upon a spacious laboratory. The room hosted a dozen scientists and ACU troopers, all watching on as the leaders of both stood glaring at one another.

"…taking no chances, for those workers or my men," Commander Hamada growled. "If she had attacked-"

"Which she wouldn't have!" Amanda said, caring little for the Commander's personal space. "She's no threat to anyone and you know it."

"Tell that to the workers cowering under their cars, or the three currently in medical," Hamada said, eyes narrowing. "She hasn't always been your pampered doll, doctor."

"And neither has she ever been Frankenstein's Monster," Amanda scowled.

Commander Katashi Hamada was a man of legend on Isla Nublar. One of the founding members of the ACU, he was always among the first boots on the ground when an incident occurred. Having personally seen the man subdue a fully-sized angry triceratops while riding it, Owen knew the man as a true and blue badass.

Doctor Amanda, a gentle looking older woman standing under five feet, met his gaze and returned it without batting an eye. Were it not for the seriousness hanging in the air, Owen would have laughed.

The tension seemed to flood from the room as the door opened. In walked Masrani himself, greeting the anxious room with his typical easy smile. Though it was impossible to miss the atmosphere in the room, the CEO acted as if the whole thing was normal. Considering the day Owen was currently having, maybe it was.

"Doctor," Masrani said. "I just finished seeing to the Indominus, ensuring she was being taken care of. Perhaps you would go and tend to your patient before she wakes?"

Though clearly wanting to argue further, Amanda nodded wordlessly, throwing one last scathing look over her shoulder at the Commander before leaving. As the CEO turned to face him, Hamada stiffened, posture straightening as if awaiting inspection.

"Commander," Masrani said, expression growing more serious. "While I approve of your rapid reaction and preparation, I ask that you refrain from causing the science team here any undue stress. That goes doubly so for the Indominus herself. She is not to be taken lightly; either as a threat or as a person. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir," Hamada answered, expression guarded.

"Good," Masrani's smile brightened once more. "As it stands, the situation has been calmed. See to it that the workers are tended to and assured of their safety. I'll speak with the foreman later."

Clicking his heels together, the Commander gave a curt nod before nodding for his men to follow him out, Miller included.

With that, the remaining scientists in the room seemed to remember to breath. As they began to slowly resume their previous work Masrani turned to Owen himself.

"You work very well under pressure, Mr. Grady," Masrani said. "I believe your little stunt has done well to making a good first impression on our little troublemaker."

Signaling him over, Owen followed the man to a nearby display. On it, Owen saw a medical bay. However, while it matched the ones he'd seen before on the island, this one only had a single occupant. The girl from before was laying on one of the beds, now donned with a medical gown. She was awake but groggy, speaking with a clearly worried Amanda.

"I'm certain you have questions," Masrani said. "Please, ask away."

After a few moments of thought, Owen decided Miller had it right.

"What… the hell?" Owen asked in an light, exasperated tone, looking from the screen to the CEO.

"Spoken with the local ACU, I see," Masrani chuckled. "I suppose it's best to start from the beginning, then. Six years ago we signed a contract with InGen, to break yet another new boundary in genetic science. To not only bring a dinosaur back to life, but to make our own. However, we couldn't make one from simple well wishing alone. So we borrowed, from other dinosaurs and other creatures. In the end, we decided on three defining genes."

The woman on the screen smiled at something Amanda said, their words lost in the buzz of activity within the lab. For the briefest moment, Owen could have sworn she glanced up at the camera.

"We wanted the size, the demanding presence, of the Tyrannosaurus Rex," Masrani explained. "The cold, sure cunning of the Velociraptor. But there was something missing. Something that we needed to make the Indominus truly one of a kind. Something to separate her from the rest."

"Human," Owen sighed, voicing what he'd already guessed at.

"Indeed," Masrani nodded. "However, you must understand. What has happened, what we are dealing with now, was never even remotely considered at the creation of the Indominus Project. We sought for a new creature to help bring life back into the park, not Eli."

"Eli?"

"Elizabeth. She chose the name herself," Masrani explained before continuing. "Our reasoning behind the usage of Human DNA was not for a hybrid. Even I have lines that won't be crossed. Instead, we wished for higher brain function, to be better able to follow instructions, and be more than a simple animal. Her first incident occurred when she was a year old, randomly changing between man and beast at intervals, acting on instinct alone. She was almost as afraid of herself as we were, but in time, Doctor Amanda managed a relationship with her. As time progressed she has managed to control her abilities much better than before."

"She sounds less like a dinosaur and more like a super hero," Owen mused.

"Perhaps," Masrani smiled.

"It doesn't really explain why she's the way she is, but from the sound of things, you still haven't figure that out yourself."

"Very perceptive, Mr. Grady. Yes, the exact cause behind Eli is still a mystery to us even after all this time. Perhaps it was simply a stroke of odd luck. Perhaps God has decided to amuse himself. I wish for something so light-hearted, yet I feel the truth is less bright."

The sudden change in tone, the small slump of his shoulder, set off numerous alarms for the trainer. Sanjay Masrani never had an off day, never walked out of his home without a smile. Now, though, it was clear the CEO had something weighing on his mind. Still in unknown territory, Owen kept his mouth shut as he waited.

"InGen and I came to an agreement. They make the dinosaurs, we house them, and both of us make a profit. The same agreement went for Eli," Masrani explained. "However, being such an oddity, we had to take much greater steps to look after her. Without a prior basis to watch her growth with, health complications were limitless early on. Genetic boosts and modifications were done steadily as she grew, attempting to curb her various illnesses and complications. For all their talk of including me in the project, InGen was never keen on having me dig into the details surrounding Eli's exact genetic development."

The suggesting tone the CEO held was clear, and Owen wasn't particularly surprised. Having his own personal InGen thorn in his side, he wouldn't put it past them to try other ways of making a quick buck. Common human decency be damned.

"Perhaps I'm paranoid, and they simply didn't want to waste their time explaining the process to me out of simple curiosity," Masrani sighed. "No matter the truth, Eli is my responsibility. I'm not telling you all of this because I want you to take some sort of stand against InGen for me. I'm simply telling you the situation surrounding Eli, and how she came to be, so that you may speak with me openly and clearly. So after everything that has happened, I feel the need to ask you again. Are you willing to help her?"

It was no longer a question of handling a giant dinosaur. No, that would have been too simple. Instead, now he was having to decide if he wanted to get involved with a young woman who had the knack for turning into said giant dino. Once more, Owen found himself wondering if he was simply having the weirdest dream in his life.

Yet there she was on the screen, as real as he was.

"This means the Doc is InGen too," Owen noted, soft enough for other ears not to hear.

"Yes," Masrani nodded. "However, Miss Strauss has been head of the project since the beginning, and at my request. She is a friend, and I trust her. My trust fails with those above her."

Watching the two act, Amanda was acting less like an ornery scientist and more like a fretting mother. Eli, for her part, seemed uncomfortable with the attention. The scene made Owen smile, despite the uncertainty he felt.

"I'm not giving up my girls," Owen said, only now thinking about it. "They won't take anyone else, and I won't let'em. I can handle both if you'll let me."

"It was never my intention to separate you from them, Mr. Grady. Rather, I was hoping you would be willing to include one more."

He said it as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Maybe it was.

"I said it before, didn't I?" Owen asked, heaving a weary sigh. "I'll give it my best shot. Can't offer much more."

"Perfect," Masrani beamed. "Now, why don't we get the two of you properly acquainted?"

Having resigned himself to his fate, Owen wordlessly signaled for Masrani to lead on.

The more he remained inside, the more the trainer realized this place was much more than a simple observatory. A small army of staff seemed to inhabit the place, and it seemed to stretch on and on. Finally they came to the medbay in question, the door sliding away with a quiet hiss. Inside, Amanda sat on the edge of Eli's bed, both of them turning to face the new arrivals.

Locking eyes with Eli herself, Owen resisted the urge to shudder. They seemed to be looking through him, not at him. Though they were the eyes of a human, the crimson in them burned bright, looking at him as a hunter at its prey.

Then, turning her attention to Masrani, the image of a predator abruptly deflated as she cast her eyes down to her fidgeting hands.

"Elizabeth," Masrani said, tone becoming that of a stern father. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," She answered, frowning. "Was Mr. Hamada angry again?"

"He was," Masrani said, cutting off any retort Amanda had prepared. "You gave my workers quite a scare with your stunt. Three of them were seriously injured from the debris you caused."

Looking back up to Masrani, Elizabeth was clearly distraught by what she heard.

"I hadn't meant for anyone to get hurt," She said, gaze shifting to Owen before returning to her hands. "I knew the wall was being taken down for expansion, and I knew the new trainer was coming today."

"So you thought you'd give him your usual welcome?" Masrani guessed, trying to hide his amusement. "I bring in these people to help you, Elizabeth. Not to be your playthings."

She nodded.

"Elizabeth."

Owen couldn't help but smile at the gentle, fatherly tone Masrani used on her. Similar to his own way of coaxing his girls into something. It caused her to once more meet his gaze, offering a meek smile.

"You are no longer a child, and I do not treat you as such. I expect my trust to be rewarded, so please, promise me there will be no more of these incidents."

"Yes, sir," She nodded once more. "I promise."

"Good," Masrani smiled, taking a step back. "This is your new trainer, Owen Grady. You two have met, very briefly."

This time when she turned her attention to him, her expression was much more reserved and, dare say it, polite. She offered him the same gentle smile, and without much thought he returned it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Grady," She said. "I'm Elizabeth."

"I'd have shaken your hand before, but I wasn't too sure I'd have gotten it back," Owen said, making the woman laugh.

"I won't fault you for it," Elizabeth smiled, offering her hand.

His initial wariness fading, Owen accepted the handshake. Despite her previous scaly appearance, her hands were soft, unmarked by the hard labor the trainer was used to. She seemed to have similar thoughts, briefly keeping his hand in hers as a thumb brushed over his knuckles, inspecting him. Before he made a comment she released him, seemingly pleased with her evaluation. Owen was initially uneasy about her interest, but now it seemed more out of amusement than malice.

"She won't be in any condition to do much of anything for a few hours," Amanda explained. "Forced reversion puts stress on Eli I'd rather she not have. We should give her time to recover, and time for you to find another shirt."

Looking down at himself, still wearing nothing but a clinging undershirt, he heard Eli softly giggle as a small trace of warmth covered his cheeks.

"Ah, right," He nodded, rubbing his neck. "Mind if I get that back?"

Reaching over to a nearby bed, Amanda grabbed the ruffled item in question and handed it over. Flustered, Owen pulled it back on under the scrutiny of the two women. It seemed Masrani had stepped aside to speak on his phone, though it didn't appear to be anything important.

"Thank you, for that," Eli said. "It was very thoughtful of you."

"It's what I'm here for, right?" Owen said. "I'll be back later today to check in on you, maybe see what else you can do."

This caused Eli's smile to widen.

"I'm looking forward to it, Mr. Grady."

"Don't make me feel old," The trainer waved her off. "Owen works just fine."

"Very well then, Owen," Eli corrected herself, seemingly trying on the name. She seemed approving. "Until then."

Bidding farewell to the pair, Masrani led him back out where the helicopter waited for them.

"I can tell good things will come from the two of you," Masrani said as they walked. "I only pity Doctor Strauss."

"I'll do what I can to help keep her in line," Owen promised. "She seems like a nice enough kid. I just hope I can handle her."

To Owen's mixed feelings, Masrani merely laughed.

Life for Elizabeth typically revolved around four walls, a well-stocked bookcase, and a computer. Though she often changed back into the Indominus to ensure everything was fine, she spent the majority of her time in her room. While spacious, the room was sparsely decorated, pristine white walls better suited for a hospital rather than a bedroom. Not that she particularly cared; she had the freedom to decorate, she just didn't see much reason for it.

The door leading to the world beyond was never locked unless she was the one locking it, but that hadn't happened in quite some time. Beyond the door was the staff looking after her, the dining hall, and farther still, her paddock and the outside world.

And him.

She had dealt with every kind of trainer under the sun. There had been those with the stern, cold approach, thinking they could handle her with brute force. Then there had been the kinder, gentler ones, whose fear kept them on eggshells. There had even been those without any kind of compassion at all for their jobs or their charge, treating her with the same warmth as a piece of furniture. Those never lasted long at all, either because of her or Mr. Masrani.

But this one was an oddity. He had stared her down, not even having a weapon, dressed more for a church gathering than handling an animal. Yet there he stood, keeping her attention as the ACU trooper dragged the injured man away. She truly hadn't meant for that to happen, but there was little she could do to change it. She couldn't precisely go and apologize to them; though their contract stated a non-disclosure agreement, a walking, talking human dinosaur wouldn't exactly be an easy thing to gloss over.

Still, she felt bad for them.

She tapped the earpiece Miller has slipped her, reclining against the wall as she sat on her bed. The ACU had calmed down considerably afterwards, and things had returned to normal. Miller and his partner, Austin, had even already begun to joke about the whole thing, especially about Owen and his bravery. Though Miller was more vulgar, and explicit, about the exact source of said bravery.

Rolling her eyes, she muted the ear piece and slipped it between the mattresses. Her cat nap had lasted several hours, and she had to admit she was looking forward to seeing what this new trainer could do. His reputation suggested he might actually be the one, but Eli didn't hold too much stock in rumors.

A knock on the door drew her from her thoughts, looking to seen who it was. However, several moments passed and no one entered. When it came to people entering her room, a brief knock was all it took before the scientist or Miss Amanda came in, giving her a moment to be presentable. Now, though, the door remained closed.

Puzzled, she stood and made her way over to the door. Upon opening it, she found Owen waiting for her, dressed more casually and looking much less anxious. Before, she could faintly smell a hint of alcohol on him, but now it was covered with a touch of cologne, and the hint of a recent shower.

"Hey," He greeted.

"Hello," She said, head cocked to the side. "What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Seemingly not expecting the question, Owen paused. "I… came by to check up on you?"

"Why are you asking me?" Eli asked, smirk threatening to widen into a grin as he grew more flustered.

"I, ah, I dunno. You opened with a question, and I got a little confused," Owen admitted, chuckling nervously.

"You are an amusing man, Owen," She noted, taking a step back. "Would you like to come in?"

Though it wasn't required or desire, she enjoyed his courtesy all the same. He stepped inside and inspected his new surroundings, as if stepping into another world.

"Nice place you got here," Owen said. "How's the wifi?"

"Spotty, at times," Eli admitted. "It's a nightmare during bad weather, but that's a rarity. It tends to get a standard ten megabytes a second."

She paused, blinked once, and then felt a tint of warmth spread across her face.

"That was sarcasm, wasn't it?" She asked.

"A little," Owen chucked. "Don't sweat it, though. It's nice to know there's a good signal somewhere on this island."

Eager to retake the lead in the conversation, Eli took a seat on the edge of her bed, signaling to her computer chair. Taking the hint, Owen grabbed the chair and turned it around to face her, taking an odd care to ease into it. Staring at him expectantly, his newfound confidence seemed to briefly flounder.

"Ya know," He said, reclining in the chair. "I thought I had a whole list of things to ask on the way over here, but now…now I'm drawing a blank."

"Well, why don't you start with something simple, then?" Eli offered. "You said you can't get an internet signal on the island where you live. Where exactly is that?"

"Oh, I live in a shack, in the middle of nowhere."

Eli cocked a brow at that.

"A…shack? Mr. Masrani doesn't offer anything better?"

"Nothing like that. I chose the spot myself; away from the noise of the main park, close to my girls. Plenty of space to get into trouble without anyone finding out."

Interesting.

"It sounds pleasant enough," She said.

A weighted silence dragged on as Owen stared. It wasn't a look of scrutiny, or judgment, instead simply…uncertain.

"I promise I won't bite," Eli offered an encouraging smiling. "If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask."

"I know, I'm just trying to figure out where to start," Owen said. "So, what do you like to do? For fun, I mean."

Now that certainly wasn't a question she was expecting. Questions about her diet, exercise, training preferences, anything. But fun? That one was new.

"I enjoy reading," Eli said, Owen's uncertainty growing infectious. "I also use the computer a lot, browse the internet, what have you."

"Playing those violent video games?" Owen joked.

Eli simply rolled her eyes.

"And what about you?" Eli asked. "What is it you do for fun?"

Drinking was clearly a favorite of his, but Eli felt as if that wasn't something he'd willingly tell her.

"Can't really say I have much in the way of hobbies," Owen shrugged. "I look after my girls, work on Jena, and try to stay outta trouble. Dunno about that last one."

"Jena?"

"My metal baby," Owen explained. "A Bonneville model bike I brought back from the dead a while back. She gets me where I need to go."

Eli had no idea what a Bonneville was, but Owen seemed to have relaxed considerably as he went on about how he and his companion, Barry, found it among the ruins of the old park. They continued this idle back and forth for some time, talking about nothing in particular. Eli admitted it was nice, once Owen stopped fidgeting.

Eventually, though, the time came for them to actually meet and begin their first session together.

"Alright," Owen said, standing. "Mr. Masrani says you're meant to be revealed to the public two weeks before Christmas. In the meantime, I'm supposed to…train you?"

"Not precisely," Eli smiled as she got to her feet. "I know how to sit, stay, and roll over. The exact need for us is to try and establish a dynamic, to better entertain the crowds."

"Huh."

"You sound disappointed."

"With all the papers I've had to sign and all the secrecy, I was expecting something more exciting."

"Don't be so quick to judge," Eli said. "And before we begin, I should offer one warning."

"What's that?"

"Try and talk to me like one of your raptors again, and I just may bite you."

Seeing his reaction, Eli couldn't stifle her laughter.

Leaving her room, Eli led the way towards the entrance to her paddock. It was a path she'd taken dozens of times before, so much so that she could walk it blindfolded. Owen followed behind diligently, still taking in the sights around him.

They soon came to a large room, a slab of metal being the door between them and the paddock itself. Above them, on the right side of the wall, Amanda gave the pair a small wave through the observatory window.

"There's no need to rush this," She said through the loudspeakers. "If you don't feel up to it, we can wait until tomorrow."

"I feel fine," Eli answered, sighing. "The workers were sent home for the day, so there's no worry."

"Then we're ready when you are."

Turning to Owen, she found him inspecting the room, barren as it was.

"You may want to stand back," She suggested.

Catching her meaning, he took several long steps backwards. Smirking, Eli looked down at her uniform. It was the same as that of the ACU, simple matte black and easy to pull on and off. Perfect for her needs.

She heard Owen curse as she began to unbutton her shirt, glancing up to see his back towards her. The very model of chivalry, it seemed.

Her clothes were soon placed in a neat pile nearby, and Eli gave a pleasant sigh as the cool metal touched the bottom of her feet. Closing her eyes, she took several deep breaths. The world slowed down, all the background noise falling away. The only remaining sounds came from her own heartbeat, slow and rhythmic.

She called out into the void, and the Indominus answered.

At the time they had first met Owen hadn't had the time to register that Eli had been bare to the world, still high on adrenaline from the whole scene. Now, watching her pull her shirt free, exposing her pale midriff, the fact that she was a young woman became abundantly clear.

The act caught him off guard, but he turned on his heel as soon as he realized what she was doing. She didn't seem to care, but it only seemed right. A few moments passed of rustling clothes, followed by silence.

Growing uncertain, Owen shuffled in place.

"So, uh…can I look now?" He asked.

His answer was a puff of warm air against his back.

Turning, he once more found himself staring down the Indominus Rex. She filled up the room with her size, her snout inches from the trainer. The same crimson eyes from before looked at him, but the amusement in them were clear.

"Good dinosaur?" He offered.

She released a contemptuous snort, raising up and looking over at Amanda, nodding. Do dinosaurs nod? Apparently so. The large metal doors began to slide open with a soft groan, revealing the inner paddock. Owen followed her out, watching her move with surprising grace. Taking several large steps away from the door, she turned around to face him.

"Alright," Owen said, hands on his hips as he stared up at her. "You're gonna have to bear with me, darlin'. I'm used to dumbing things down a bit."

She nodded once more, though her gaze near constantly shifted between him and the window of the observatory.

"Hey, eyes on me," Owen called, smirking at the growl it earned him. "Well you're not payin' me any attention, so what do you expect?"

"Is something the matter?" Amanda asked through the loudspeaker, making Owen cringe.

Yeah, this was gonna be a problem.

"Hey, Doc," Owen said. "This half of the island's meant to be under lock and key, right?"

"It is."

"And all the construction workers are gone for the day, right?"

"They are," Amanda said, tone not liking where he was going.

"Then how about me and El here go for a walk?"

Eli cocked her head to the side, curious.

"And why do you feel the need to do that?" Amanda asked dryly.

"My job's to help her prepare for her debut, right? To do that I need her complete attention, and I'm not getting it staying right here."

There was a pause, and Owen wondered if Amanda thought he was calling her a distraction. Because he was.

"I don't want you taking her far, or for too long," Amanda said. "I'll sick ACU on you if you do."

"Yes, ma'am!" Owen looked back to the observatory and gave her a thumbs up before turning to Eli. "So, you up for it?"

Eli, clearly intrigued by the idea, gave a bark of approval. The main doors to the paddock opened, revealing the parking lot. Jogging over, with Eli following lazily behind, Owen found his bike and hopped on, keying the ignition. His trusty stead roared to life, and he flashed Eli a grin.

"How about a race?" He asked.

Eli answered his grin with her own, and it was terrifying.

"My money's on you, Little Mama!" A familiar voice called from the observatory entrance.

This only seemed to spur Eli on further, crouching to take a prepared stance while Owen pulled up beside her.

"First one to the coast wins," Owen said, revving his bike. "On three: one…two…three!"

He took off, kicking up gravel all the while, and Eli followed behind right on his tail. And damn, did she move fast. Having gotten a head start, Owen found himself being overtaken before they had even reached the edge of the jungle. Not that he'd let her win that easy.

They tore through the jungle, avoiding obstacles, or occasionally in Eli's case, going through them. It was just a little bit reckless, but it was also clear Eli was enjoying herself. Eventually she began to pull ahead, Owen lagging behind to avoid a small pond that Eli had simply ran through. Following her trail, it abruptly came to an end, the jungle ahead untouched and all at once silent. Coming to a halt, Owen furrowed his brow as he looked around him.

"El?" He called. "Where'd you go off to?"

The jungle offered no answer, and the trainer's stomach began to sink. Had she just given him the slip? Had he just let her loose on the rest of the-

A shrill, demonic scream caused him to whip his head around, seeing a giant maw of teeth flying towards him. Eyes going wide, he could only cry out in terror as he went flying off his bike, arms coming up in a feeble attempt to shield himself. He hit the jungle floor with a muffled thud, the only sound being the ragged breathing of the predator looming over him.

Slowly opening his eyes, Owen lowered his arms a fraction to look up. Snout all but pressed against his stomach, the same red eyes as before seemed to burn a hole through him. Staring right back, Owen released an annoyed huff.

"Is this gonna be a regular thing, then?" He asked.

Raising up, Eli only snorted in response.

"Think you're a trickster, do you?" Owen asked as he stood, dusting off his clothes.

Eli mimicked a whimper, hands raising up in a mockery of his own response as she let out a soft, shrill cry. It only lasted a moment before she broke down into snickers.

"Yeah, yeah, real funny," Owen said, unable to keep a smile off his face. "I'm billing you for my dry-cleaning."

She answered with an affirmative hum, and with that they continued their trip at an equal pace. Shortly after the jungle cleared away and they were on the coast, pristine white sand greeting them before a vast blue ocean. Killing the engine, Owen leaned forward, looking outward. Eli came to rest beside him, her breathing steady once more.

"Not a bad view, huh?" He asked, receiving a nod. "Makes you feel small."

She scoffed.

"Okay, maybe not you, but it does for me. Have you ever come out here before? Just sat down and listened to the waves?"

A shake of the head. Owen frowned.

"When was the last time you stepped foot out of that place? Got some fresh air?"

He resisted the urge to say cage, but she still looked away regardless. It was all the answer he needed. He leaned over and gently patted her leg, gaining her attention once more.

"I'm your new handler, right? It's my job to look after you, make sure you're in top shape. I'd say going for a run now again would do you some good, let you stretch those long legs of yours."

He was pleased at her eager croon of approval.

"Glad to hear it. Now, how about you show me those tricks you talked about?"

Hadn't expected such a positive response from you guys, but it's a pleasent surprise. Keep'em coming, if you don't mind. They keep me going.

I don't have any particular plans from here on out, but I'm amused enough to keep writing. Things will range from small snippets of life to overarching stories, depending on my mood/desire to not be a lazy gibbon. Will this be a romance story? Maybe. Saucy scenes included? It's a calculated possibility, but man, am I bad at math.