[Note: Where you see, ('dialog') , that's a translation of the pokemon language]<br/><br/>"You wished to see me Professor?" Orana asked in her meek little way as she stepped out onto the patio to meet her teacher, who was currently watching the heavy rain, deep in contemplation. If it hadn't been for FlameMane, his Flareon, suddenly rising to its feet at her approach, he wouldn't have even noticed her at all.<br/><br/>"Ah, Orana...." Professor Ceder greeted with a smile, but there was something clearly on his mind. "I wanted to talk to you about your thesis..." He began. "The Dean denied my proposal didn't he?" She asked, lowering her head in assumed defeat. Ceder had been helping her negotiate an extended leave of absence, essentially excusing her from the last two semesters of her degree program so she could travel around and conduct field research for her thesis paper. Something that was entirely unheard of before.<br/><br/>"He agreed." Ceder informed, delighting in the way her face lit up from the somber expression she wore just a moment before. "But...what are you going to do?" He asked. "Go find a pokemon.....watch what it does.....take notes." Orana responded cheerfully, like field work was the easiest thing in the world. Obviously not fully grasping what she was getting herself into.<br/><br/>"You really think it's that simple?" Ceder asked. "Well...no." Orana admitted. "Not all Pokemon are used to humans in their territory...a lot of them can be really dangerous." He warned, face going stern with concern for her safety. "I know....You gave this lecture last quarter." She reminded him, hoping she wouldn't have to sit through the rest of it....again.<br/><br/>"How will you defend yourself?" He asked, cutting right to the point. "I....don't know." She responded regretfully. Realizing that without a pokemon of her own, she was practically helpless. "I'll befriend a pokemon I guess." She offered. "I was hoping you'd say that." Ceder responded, reaching into his lab coat to retrieve a pokeball from his pocket, and tossed it to the ground, releasing the Evee that was held inside it.<br/><br/>"Oh, how cute!" She practically squealed in delight as she crouched down to greet the adorable little pokemon, offering her hand so he could investigate her, and see she meant it no harm. Flamemane suddenly moved toward her, locking her in a steely gaze as she reached out. "Flamemane's offspring." Her professor informed as the fire pokemon circled her, studying her carefully. "His mother's keeper asked me to find him a good companion." The professor added. It was then she fully realized what was truly happening. This Evee, the son of her friend and mentor's pokemon, was to be her very first.<br/><br/>Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she realized the amount of trust they both had for her. The faith they had in her.<br/><br/>"O-Oraaa-Oran-aa." ('I'll good take care him') She said as resolutely as she could, speaking to the worried father in his own tongue. A trick he himself had helped her learn. As usual her grammar was way off, but any pokemon who cared could figure out what she was trying to say. The simple fact she understood the language enough to try was impressive.<br/><br/>Flamemane simply nodded, showing his approval of her as his son's first human. Orana stood up, wiping the tear from her eyes as she hugged her professor, thanking him profusely in a rather emotional display. Up until now the growing Evee was raised mainly by his parents in the rather tame wilderness that surounded the school grounds, with intentionally limited human contact as part of an observational study of pokemon parenting. There were lots of hidden cameras involved.<br/><br/>But he isn't a cub anymore. Its time for him to set out into the world and learn what type of pokemon he really is. ('Try to keep her out of trouble. She's too curious for her own good.') Flamemane informed, giving his son one last piece of advice he could about his son's new owner as the two humans embraced.<br/><br/>"Right...well...I'll let you two get to know eachother...." Professor Ceder said, a bit embarassed by the sudden hug. Such behavior wasn't anywhere near proper between student and teacher. He reached down and retrieved the pokeball from the ground and handed it to Orana. "Good luck....Come on Flamemane." Ceder said before leading the way inside, desperate to escape the situation before someone saw them and started another rumor about them.<br/><br/>('Bye son.') Flamemane offered before following his own human inside.<br/><br/>Orana looked at the pokeball in her hand, then back down at the Evee. She had imagined having a pokemon of her own for a long time, now that she had one....she had no idea what to do.<em>Treat it with respect</em>, she mentaly reminded herself the first and most basic rule in dealing with pokemon. She offered a warm smile as she moved to sit down on the ground with her legs crossed, a non threatening posture. "Or-Ora-Orana." ('Hi I Orana') She introduced herself in the pokemon language, once again reaching forward gently, this time to attempt to stroke at the Evee's cute ears.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>[Another Note: Holy bajeezus that came out longer than expected.]