The wilderness around them was silent, save for the occasional rustle of grass or the distant calls of unseen creatures. The dragon trudged through it, his steps heavy, each one sending a dull ache through his human form. Every movement reminded him of the injuries still healing from the swamp beast—a slash across his back, the deep punctures in his side. Though his body was mending, his mind remained haunted by the near escape, the uncertainty of the present gnawing at him.
The woman lay limp on his back, unconscious but alive, her body nestled close to the precious cargo she carried—his eggs. The faint glow from them through her satchel reassured him that they were safe, but their fragile state weighed heavily on his mind. His eyes constantly scanned the unfamiliar terrain, the grass here were taller, their stalks blocking the ground beneath his feet. Their leaves were thicker, darker than any he had seen before—strange.
