Being a green dragon hatchling, “Natalie” was saved by Lachesis and taken into Elysium for her own protection. Because green dragons somewhat mimic their surroundings and the people around them, Natalie began taking on a much more humanoid form at the onset of puberty.

A fragile innocent, she knew only of Elysium where both super naturals and human refugees with mystic or psychic powers got along peacefully.

On her 14th birthday Natalie began to develop curiosity for the “out-lands” (Normal reality). Eventually she discovered a portal into the mundane world.

Appearing on the border of the Glen-dale national forest and the James family farm-land, Natalie discovered she could manipulate plant growth, talk to animals, shoot paralytic spurs from her tail, and even change the colors of her skin akin to a chameleon to camouflage herself.

For awhile Nat watched hikers and campers from afar, secretly practicing their mannerisms and modern slang. (She was also able to acquire a revealing swimsuit and thigh high leather boots from a local yoga instructor who lost some of her unmentionables whilst going on a romantic woodland retreat with her boyfriend!)

But one night “they” came into her cave. They were not normal dogs. They seemed diseased, ferial, and deformed somehow. Natalie tried to communicate but in response one leapt at her face, just barely missing her with its’ chattering teeth and snapping jaws.

Terrified, Natalie fled through a small corn field, the dogs in hot pursuit. Suddenly, Natalie’s ears rang as a large booming sound reverberated through the air. Turning her head she saw one of the dogs now lay limp, its’ insides pooling out around it from the gaping wound in its’ chest and stomach. Ahead of her she heard a the voice of a girl every bit as scared as she was. “C’mon,hurry up!” Natalie now looked ahead, eying a teen girl with long beautiful ember hair who was shakily handling some kind of weapon. She put two large red cylindrical objects into two separate barrels and clacked it close, it’s stock pressed against her shoulder, one of her fingers on a trigger.

Natalie dived for the porch, scrambling up the steps as fast as she could. The freckled female in a turtleneck and blue jeans before her fired off another round and a distinct yelp was heard in the distance. “That’s it……no more shells…” without even explaining, the girl with the brilliant emerald eyes opened the door to her house and ushered them both quickly inside before latching it close behind them.

Natalie was warmed by the fireplace and took in the soft rug beneath her feet, the large television in the living room, the mahogany table in the kitchen, and the cabinets filled with mismatched china. She had seen objects like these before but not laid out in such a casual manner.

“Wow, look at you….” Her savior gently touched her shoulder, her slightly cherubic face adorned with a shy smile. “It’s okay….they can’t hurt you in here…..My name is Vivian…..yours?”

The name warmed Natalie’s heart. She had heard some humans could be very cruel……she was fortunate that she bumped into one of the good ones.

“Natalie…” She responded shyly as Viv took her by the hand and led her to a trap door above them, presumably leading to an attic. Perking a fiery eyebrow, Vivian put her weapon on a rack screwed into the wall then grabbed the broom next to it, using it to bang on the wooden ceiling above them. “Spin, we have a guest!”

Natalie tensed and stepped back a little as the trap-door opened, a stepping ladder descending downward towards them. Above, a short and squat green imp looking creature eyed them both with bright yellow eyes. His wide mouth was in a stubborn line as he looked Natalie up and down.

“She smells Elysian….hurry, come on up!” Spin spoke in a raspy tone as he waved his pudgy little arm and taloned hand. Both girls did as instructed and afterwards Spin quickly cranked the ladder back up and shut the attic door. A lamp was plugged into an outlet in the corner, shrouding the area in a soft comforting light. Vivian plopped down in a beanbag chair nearby and motioned for Natalie to do the same. Natalie hesitantly adjusted her tail and membranic wings, sighing in relief as she sunk into the soft inviting fabric upholstery.

Spin went over to a small table, picking up a plate with something on it. Pumping his pudgy legs he quickly walked up next to Natalie presenting the gift.

“It’s a hot-pocket…..crusty bread on outside, cheese and pizza inside…go ahead, it’s had time to cool off!” Natalie ravenously attacked the offering and at that moment it was indeed the best thing she had ever tasted in her whole life!

Spin finally sat on a random pillow that more than accommodated for his small stature. Adjusting the odd bowel shaped object atop his head, the broodling looked up at her. Though he was a mere child by demonic standards, Natalie saw true wisdom in his eyes as if he had seen many things come and go. Suddenly she felt guilty for ever leaving Elysium in the first place.

“She was being chased by dogs, Spin. But they didn’t look normal….” Vivian’s voice broke the silence making Nat sigh in relief when Spin finally averted his eyes from her to pay more attention to the other teenage girl.

“They weren’t “normal”. This much I know. They were infected by “something”. Spin’s golden orbs narrowed into slits as his head turned to look out the attic window.

“Spin, you need to take her back to Elysium…..” Vivian seemed insistent. Natalie felt terrible…..had she brought this danger upon the one who saved her life? Shaking Natalie began to cry….

“This….is not your fault….” Natalie was surprised by Spin’s kind words and even more surprised when Vivian hugged her.

“Spin’s right….things were getting weird before you got here, Natalie….” Vivian smiled reassuringly her eyes earnest and truthful.

“I could open a portal and take her back….but you’d have to stay behind as I can only accommodate one person for each trip…. that would leave you alone….with it…”Spin’s finger pointed at the scarecrow outside among the corn-stalks. The wind and rain that had kicked up outside made things eerie enough but both Vivian and Natalie tensed up when what should have been a mere straw stuffed mannequin tilted its’ head and stared at them with red pinpricks set within its’ gaunt face. Ever so slowly its’ mouth opened and smiled, revealing razor sharp teeth.

A part of Natalie really wanted to be safe back in Elysium but she also felt obligated to protect the person who had done the same for her. Gently Natalie clasped one of Vivian’s hands in her own. At least together neither of them would be left behind…..

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More about Natalie: So, when I first drew Natalie I didn’t even have much of an idea of what she was. She could have been a gargoyle or succubus too. Additionally she was sort of a joke/parody character of Lilith from Dark-stalkers….aka, a slim attractive teenage girl that has the personality of an innocent temptress. (Aka,Jail-bait!)

Eventually I decided that Nat was the hatchling of a green dragon and as such many of her abilities are linked to nature. Her mother used to be "the guardian of the forest" that gave the Glenn family their shamanic shape-shifting abilities. (Sadly Natalie's true mother was killed by Betty Thompson who cruelly experimented upon the dragon to absorb her dryad-like abilities.)

Lachesis is Natalie’s foster mother. This works well for narrative purposes because Lachesis is an introvert who would not even interact with the outside world unless one or more of her “children/students” were endangered. Natalie’s choice to adventure into “the real world” beyond Elysium gives Lachesis a reason to Actually “care” about the events going on in Gutter-Delve.