While there were plenty of Animalians traveling abroad for their vacations, most were going to where the other Animalian colonies were. There were few who were traveling to other parts for various reasons. For Nessa Lochhead, she was flying to Scotland just so she could spend a week in the land she was born in. Of course, she was born a human lass quite a long time ago. Now she was an Elasmosaurus and her body was considerably younger and fitter than it had been last year.
Flying to Scotland wasn't particularly difficult for Nessa, not with the jets they had these days. Her bendable neck made things easier than if she had been pure Elasmosaurus. Nessa was trying to keep her travel plans private, informing just her soon-to-be host and a few others back home. The last thing she wanted to be was crowded by the press after she landed. Though it was pretty hard for her to avoid attention as she left the airport in Edinburgh. After that, it was a matter of catching a ride on a ferry and then taking an open-topped cab to East Wemyss.
Finally, Nessa was in sight of MacDuff's Castle. The old castle was in remarkably good shape considering it was built around 1000 years ago. Of course, there was plenty of restoration work involved to keep the place standing and make it inhabitable. As Nessa was getting out of the cab, there was a woman standing at the castle's gate. She wasn't a world-class beauty, but she was fair in her own rural way. "Muriel Lochhead? If I weren't starin' at ye with me own eyes, I'd neva believe it," said the woman.
"Aggie Wemyss, as I live and breathe," said Nessa, "Ye sure are bigger when I last seen ye."
"Considerin' I was still in school, that ain't sayin' much," said Aggie.
"How's yer grandmum?" asked Nessa.
"Getting older and stiffer," said Aggie, "They're sayin' if she dies in her chair, we'll have ta bury her sittin' up."
"I could offer an alternative, but I won't force it on her," said Nessa.
"We'll, she'll be glad ta see ya either way this week," said Aggie. She was staring up at Nessa's head up high and said, "Ach, me neck's gonna be stiff by the end of the week."
"Sorry," said Nessa before bending her neck down until she was eye level with Aggie, "That better?"
"Can all ye dinosaurs do that?" asked Aggie.
"Well, I ain't a dinosaur, I'm a plesiosaur," said Nessa, "Not as closely related as ye might think. But they actually got stiffer necks like giraffes. I had them put a wee bit o' anaconda ta give me a more pliant neck. Better than bangin' me head on every door frame."
"Good thinkin'," said Aggie, "C'mon in. I'll pour ye some tea. That long neck must be parched."
"Aye, it is," said Nessa as she followed her host.
However, news about a visiting Animalian quickly spread, particularly since it was about a Dintopian who was nearly identical to the Loch Ness Monster. The first of the reporters arrived around the end of teatime. Nessa was rather annoyed to have her tea interrupted by people tramping up to the castle gate. Aggie was also not amused. "What do ye think yer doin' on my land?" snapped Aggie at the reporters.
"The people have a right to know what yer guest is up to," said the first reporter. They then turned towards Nessa. "Ms. Lochhead, what are ye plans here in Scotland?"
"Are ye plannin' on traveling to Loch Ness?"
"Do ye have anything ta say to the people?"
"Why yes, I do have something to say," said Nessa to the group of reporters, "Would ye consider...JUST SODDING OFF?!" The roar of an Elasmosaurus was not as powerful as that of a T. Rex's, but it was enough to make these reporters jump and start running back to their cars. "I'll go swim in Loch Ness in me own time, not yours! If I wanna look for the Monster, I'll tell ye! Til then, leave me alone on me vacation!" The reporters quickly drove off as the Dintopian berated them.
"Ye sure showed them," said Aggie.
"I didn't choose ta convert ta be the center of a circus," said Nessa.
"Ye actually want to see Loch Ness?"
"O' course, but I'm not gonna have a bunch of reporters doggin' me the whole way. This is me vacation and I've got other plans," said Nessa.
"Like what?" asked Aggie.
"Oh, strollin' the grounds, visitin' yer gran, havin' some proper haggis," said Nessa, "Ye know, proper holiday stuff."
"Well, I certainly know where there's good haggis," said Aggie.
"Better get plenty. I eat a lot more than I used ta," said Nessa.