The morning after their passionate night together, the air in the Dragon Kingdom was serene, the sky painted in soft pink and orange hues as the sun rose behind the mountains. James, Lynara, and the others had started to settle back into their routines. The Dragonkin, now more united under James's leadership, were preparing for the days ahead. Everything seemed peaceful.
Until the first screech cut through the air.
It was a sound unlike any they had heard before, high-pitched, guttural, and filled with hunger. From the distance, over the jagged peaks of the northern mountains, a flock of dark shapes descended rapidly, their wings beating hard as they approached the Dragon Kingdom's walls. They were swift, terrifying in their sheer number, and as they drew closer, it became clear what they were: harpies.
"Damn it," James muttered under his breath, grabbing his sword from where it rested against the wall.
