The scorching desert behind them gave way to the rough, cracked earth of the southeastern lands as Yara and the dragon trudged through the borderlands.
Yara wiped her forehead, relieved to be free of the oppressive sand dunes. She glanced at the dragon walking beside her, his human form deceptively ordinary, though his mere presence exuded a predatory aura. His short, dark hair caught the dying rays of the sun, and his gold eyes gleamed, making his tan skin appear almost luminous.
"Finally," Yara muttered, kicking a loose pebble with her sand-crusted boots. "I thought we'd never make it out of there."
