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Sandra rubbed her eyes; she had been looking over medical charts of various patients for over an hour and needed a break. She had been a nurse for fifteen years and was growing tired of her job. She was always there for her patients but never there for those that really meant something to her; her son Merlin and her closest friends. Work seemed to be all she lived for since Merlin had finished school and started college. She was glad that he had chosen a local college and stayed to help out at the house while she was away. He had even taken on two part time jobs to help her with the monthly bills.

She looked at her-self in the mirror next to her desk and smiled; for her age, she was still stunningly beautiful, even if she was a little unusual. She was thirty-eight and a half-wolf, half-dragon. She had received a good mix of her parent's genes, having elegant, light grey fur and smooth, virtually skin like silvery scales. Her hair was both light and dark grey with a subtle tiger stripe pattern to it. Her eyes were a soft smoky grey with violet speckles that could melt anybodies heart. She stood six feet tall and due to her dragonic and wolfen heritage; she had a well sculpted body with exceptional strength and stamina. Something she was also pleased that she had passed on to her son.

Throwing her charts back into her work tray she checked the clock and realised she only had another forty minutes until her shift ended; still she felt the time would drag regardless.

A knock at her office door caught her attention. "Come in." Sandra said while trying to stifle a grumble. The door was opened and then shut again quickly by Doctor Melville; he was the cheerful sort of person that kept everyone in the hospital's spirits up. The small otter waved at Sandra before crossing the room to her desk and taking a seat at the end.

Sandra looked up at him with a tired rising of her eye brows. "That good huh?" The otter chirped and patted her shoulder. Sandra sighed and leaned forward resting her folded arms on the desk and her chin over them. "Well look on the bright side Sandra, you've got a just over a week off starting in the next little while. Maybe you can use the time to recharge yourself." He said in a desperate effort to life Sandra's flagging spirits.

"I know Darren. Believe me I'm looking forward to the time off but I'm at a loss for what to do with the time." She sighed softly before flicking a small pencil off of her desk.

Darren smiled and looked thoughtful. "Well you've timed your vacation perfectly for the Autumn half-term. Maybe you should spend some of that time with your son before he leaves home."

Sandra lightly snorted a laugh in response. "My boy's a little old to be hanging around with his mom now don't you think? Besides he's got his own friends and all mine are either still working here or going away with their families for the break." She sat back up and gave a light giggle. "I think it might be some down-time for me. An extra work out or two, some extra ice-cream and a good movie at night and I'll be fine."

"Well if it makes you happy Sandra, maybe you should get away for a few days and see some sights." The otter said and gave her a friendly nudge as he got up. "You just have fun ok?"

Sandra chuckled and poked the otter in the ribs as he made to leave. "I'll try Darren." She smiled back at the otter as he left the room and then turned beck to her desk, opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a sealed letter. It was her pre-written letter of resignation. She tapped it on the desk a few times while she contemplated handing it in. After a few minutes she slipped it back into the drawer and locked it; she'd decide what to do with it when she came back from her vacation.

* * *

Opening the door to her house Sandra could hear music playing. She made a quick guess that proved correct; her son was home. She headed into the living room and sure enough Merlin was sitting on the couch his eyes locked to his laptop computer. "Hey Hun, I'm home." She called out. Merlin's head snapped round at the sound of her voice. He smiled and gave her a warm and welcoming wave before she headed into the kitchen.

Merlin finished what he was doing then got up and followed his mother, the sound of her heels clicking on the laminate flooring, made him aware that she was gathering things to cook for the night. Standing in the door way for a moment, Merlin took in the sight of his mother. Always graceful in her movements and soft in her manner; he doubted there was another female like her and it made him proud that she was his mother. He tried to picture another female in front of him wearing her same nurses uniform, but he found himself thinking no-one could fill her shoes at work or at home.

"So are you just going to stand there like an idiot or are you going to help me with dinner?" Sandra teased him while winking and sticking her tongue out at him.

Merlin chuckled "Funny Mom, really funny." He walked into the kitchen and around the centre counter and gave her a warm hug. "So what's for dinner?"

Sandra returned his hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Well I was thinking about those venison steaks I picked up a couple of days ago. I'll be honest I thought you'd be out tonight partying for the start of half-term."

Merlin smiled and went to the freezer to retrieve the steaks. "Venison sounds good. I won't be going out though, most of the guys are heading home for the holiday and those that are still around just want to play video-games for the next few days."

Sandra looked surprised. "Wow, I thought you'd actually have plans for the holiday."

Merlin shook his head. "Not really. I did have an idea to run by you after dinner." He said with a cheery smile. "I think it might get you that break you wanted too."

Sandra smiled and rubbed his back. "Well you get too preparing those and I'll get the rest of dinner ready. You can spoil me with your idea once we've eaten." Merlin set to work defrosting the steaks and preparing a marinade. Sandra kept an eye on him to make sure he was getting it right. He was no chef, but at least he could cook reasonably well.

As she watched him work, she observed him properly for the first time in months. He was tall, a little taller than herself but not by much. He was however physically bulkier that her; His father had been a red dragon and much of him had carried over, but had been exquisitely blended with Sandra's own genes. He looked like a wolf, but with a few subtle and unsubtle differences. His ears much like hers resembled horns in a way. His tail was a little broader than normal wolves would be; his claws were broader like a dragon's but as short as a wolves. His eyes were a deep grey with yellow speckles that occasionally seemed to look more reptilian than those of a mammal. Most striking of all was his fur; unlike her, he had a full coat of fur but it was red and charcoal grey. Sandra had often thought that if he weren't her son she would be terrified to even approach him, thankfully she knew his mannerisms well enough to know he wasn't the type who looked for trouble, even if trouble often found him while he had been growing up. Regardless of the knocks and bumps he had taken in his life, Sandra knew he was a well rounded young male and couldn't have wished for more from a son.

* * *

As they ate dinner they made small talk about their days and joked about their co-workers. Merlin even poked fun at a college lecturer he was not particularly fond of. They enjoyed their meal and after clearing up after themselves settled down for the evening.

Sandra sat on the couch in a simple black tank-top and loose grey sweat pants, her feet curled up under her tail as she watched a wild life documentary. Merlin had been in his room for the last twenty minutes looking for something he said was important. Another few minutes of his rumbling had irritated Sandra enough; she got up to see what it was that was making him seem to tear up his whole room. She quickly got to his room and knocked on the wide open door. "Do you have a permit to make all this noise, or is it ongoing building work I have to put up with?" Sandra joked.

Merlin looked back at her over his shoulder from behind his bed and gave her an unimpressed but humoured smile. "I'm looking for a brochure for a holiday site up north. It's what I was going to tell you about earlier."

"Really?" Sandra barked happily as she looked around his room. She spotted something on his bed side dresser under his mail. "Is this it?" She said knowingly as she pulled it out and opened it up.

Merlin sighed and stopped his search. "Yes, that's it." He clambered back over from the other side of his bed and straightened himself up as his black t-shirt and jogging pants were covered in a little dust.

"So, tell me about this camp site." Sandra said with a bit of surprise as she flipped through the brochure.

Merlin sat on the corner of his bed and started to explain. "It's a really old reserve; the site's been looked after for years by different families. It's got some pretty rich history there and some stunning scenery."

"Mmmhmmm, what else?" Sandra said softly, as she looked at some of the photos in more detail.

"Well I know you loved camping years ago; I just wondered if you'd want to head up there for a few days, take in the sites and just let go for a while." His ear's drooped as he lowered his head. "I know, you've not had a great time at the hospital lately and I know you've thought about quitting." Sandra dipped her own head felt a little stupid for leaving her notes around in her study room.

"I'm sorry Merlin, I'm just not happy there any more." She said softly and tried to hold back her tears.

Merlin stood up and moved over to his mother and held her close to him. "That's why I thought it would be a good idea. You get some time away from all this to clear your head and plan what you want to do next."

Sandra gave him a reassuring hug and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Thank you Honey; now what did you want to do at this place?"

Merlin smiled. "Well I thought we could get our camping gear, and take a few days to trek up a few of their mountains. If we plan our route right we could pay a little more and use one of the cabins they have on site so we wouldn't be under canvas every night."

Sandra stepped back from their hug and looked at the prices in the brochure. "Well it would be nice to get away again. How soon do we have to book it?"

Merlin took the brochure from her paws and grinned. "I actually hoped you'd say yes Mom; I put in a provisional booking two weeks ago, I just have to confirm it and pay the balance and we're good to go when you're ready."

Sandra cupped his cheeks in her paws and nuzzled him softly. "Silly boy, but good thinking." She whispered. "Call up the site and I'll pay the balance, we'll head up in a day or two; you ok with that?"

Merlin gave her a big hug and kissed her cheek. "It's all good with me Mom; I just want you to be happy." Sandra smiled and sighed happily; she really couldn't have asked for a more thoughtful son.