The corridor stretched before her like a polished canyon. It was dim and empty except for the faint hum of the ship’s heart beating through the walls. Lieutenant Junior Grade Itata sh’Zeles walked alone. Her boots struck soft, sharp notes against the floor as she neared the recessed entrance marked ‘Pyrao – Security Clearance Only’.

She tapped the chime and waited. Her Andorian heart beat just a little faster than usual. Ship reports had barely mentioned the Grayth n board. Pyrao was just a notation under Security Assets, easy to miss if she hadn’t been thorough. But now as she stood here, her mind slipped backwards in time. The image of a dark-spotted Grayth she’d adored as a child flooded her memory. Itata remembered her old companion’s quick tail flicks, the warm “grrrth”s of greeting and soft-pawed leaps onto snowdrifts taller than herself.

No answer came. Itata tapped again. The low tunnel remained dark and silent.

Itata sighed and folded her hands behind her back. Maybe today wouldn’t be like home after all, she thought as her hopes began to crash. Maybe the Security team had the Grayth out on some duty. She turned and began the long walk back down the corridor. Alone.

A sudden clatter of claws on metal was light but quick. It made her stop and glance over her shoulder.

Rounding the corner came a streak of blue-coated, supple movement. Pyrao approached with a headlow trot. Her hind legs drove her forward like a swift hound, but with a feline lift to her shoulders. A long, curling tail flicked the air with excitement. Her upright triangular ears stood behind her fox-like face. Eyes the color of a tropical sea excitedly greeted the Andorian intelligence officer.

“Grruth!” Pyrao barked sharply, the sound bright and eager.

Itata laughed without meaning to, dropping to a knee as Pyrao stood upwards to rub her nose towards the Andorian’s face. Itata leaned forward to brush against the smiarly colord blue fur. Pyrao then sniffed her boots before offering a warm “grruthhff”. She stretched the sound as she looked up, tail swaying.

“You are adorable,” Itata said, reaching out carefully to run her fingers behind one soft, powerful ear. Pyrao leaned into it with a low, pleased rumble.

“I could use someone like you,” Itata said in Andorian-accented Standard with a grin. “I’m the only Intel officer aboard. That’s a lot of secrets for one shen to carry alone.”

Pyrao tilted her head, ears twitching forward. Her tail curled into a question mark. She then solemly gave a brisk, dutiful, “Grruth”!

Itata’s cheeks colored with delight. She fished in the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out a small, vacuum-wrapped slice of beetle steak. She always kept some frozen in the officer lounge freezer, tucked behind human rations no one else wanted. It wasn’t home cooking, but it was close enough to Andoria’s comfort.

“Come on,” she whispered, holding it out. “For you. And maybe a partnership?”

Pyrao sniffed once, before retorting a gentle “uffff.” She took the treat with a soft nuzzle.

Itata smiled. For the first time since joining the Brawley, it didn’t feel like she was alone at work anymore.

Footsteps approached from down the hall. Itata glanced up as a figure rounded the corner. A petite Bajoran woman carried herself with a military sharpness that felt carved from stone.

Petty Officer Naz Jadi.

Though shorter than most around her, she walked like somebody twice her size. Pale skin caught the light, her nose ridges framing a sharp face where a smirk seemed forever half-formed.

Jadi’s dark eyes caught Itata’s and lingered. “You’re making friends,” Naz said, voice dry with a flicker of humor.

“Trying to,” Itata replied as she straightened and approched. Pyrao pressed lightly against Itata’s calf, claiming her.

Petty Officer Naz crouched beside the Grayth.”Pyrao is famous down here. Caught a Ferengi trying to steal on Deep Space 9 when we visited last month. She didn’t even scratch the guy. Pyrao just sat on him until backup arrived.”

Itata chuckled, warmth blooming at the though. “I had one growing up,” she replied. “Spotted dark, almost black on blue. She once took down a wild six-legged creeper twice her size. Dragged it back to camp like a trophy. We nearly had to build a second fire just to roast it all.”

Jadi’s smirk deepened as something softened around her eyes. She rose smoothly to her feet, brushing off imaginary dust. “You sound like you were born to wrangle chaos,” she said gazing into Itata’s bright scarlet irises.

Itata’s antennae tilted forward just slightly, not bothering to hide the amusement at the suggestion. “Maybe that’s why I ended up here.” The Andorian stroked the soft fur along Pyrao’s neck.

Jadi chuckled softly. “Maybe that’s why we’re all here”, the Bajoran mused.

Pyrao let out a low, contented uffff. Her tail waved lazily between their boots.