The dragon crouched low, his eyes sharp and vigilant as he kept a protective hand on the satchel that contained his eggs.
His hand instinctively tightened around the strap of the satchel, his senses on high alert as the faint sound of footsteps grew louder. The eggs inside were still, but their presence buzzed at the back of his mind. Yara lay unconscious at his side, her face pale, and he couldn't help but glance at her frequently. The tension gnawed at him, pulling him taut, ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger.
Through the trees, three figures emerged—a small group of human travellers, two men and a woman. They were ragged from travel, their clothes patched and worn, but their expressions were soft with concern as they spotted Yara lying on the ground.
