Of Flames and Gold

'How do I always end up in these situations?'

Yara stood frozen in front of the giant dragon, its putrid breath heavy with iron, the stench of the blood of those it had just killed, the evidence of battle still staining its snout. The fight was over already; had there been any survivors? Its golden-slitted eyes narrowed as it took in her form in its den.

'Was it sentient?'

"I- I mean no harm!" she raised her hands slowly. Its eyes followed her movement with suspicion. "I fell in by mistake. I-if you could just, just let me leave." she pointed towards the opening on the left, sunlight streaming into the cavern.

It growled low as she tried to move towards the exit, smoke trailing from its nostrils. 

The heat made her a bit lightheaded. 

She stood still, 'ok, no moving. Gods above, is the end?'

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Earlier,

Yara Marek cursed, dodging branches as she ran through the woods. The distinct roar of flames and battle echoed in the distance. She had just gone to gather firewood, and now she was running for her life. 

'Stupid men and their inability to think', she cursed in her heart as she ran farther away from the chaos. 

The woods seemed to come alive as critters also fled the crossfire. Some ran right into her feet and nearly tripped her.

The acrid scent of fire wafted through the air, carried by the sporadic gusts that rustled the leaves. Flames flickered in the distance, creating an eerie dance of light and shadow, painting the sky in hues of orange and red.

The treetops shook as a colossal shadow eclipsed the sun, casting fleeting darkness over the forest. An otherworldly roar echoed, sending shivers through the foliage. Heat seared through the air, and the scent of burnt foliage engulfed her senses.

Panic gnawed at Yara as she stumbled over uneven terrain; branches clawed at her clothing and snagged in her hair, and her hands grazed by sharp foliage, leaving traces of blood on the forest floor.

A particularly violent roar shook her to the core, distracting her for just a moment. Her foot caught on a moss-covered rock, and with a cry, she tumbled down a steep slope, her palms and knees scraping against rocks and soil. Rolling and crashing through the underbrush, she came to a halt at the bottom, disoriented and breathless.

As she struggled to rise, she noticed a hidden entrance covered with draping vines and flora. Desperate for shelter, she pushed through the vegetation and stumbled into the concealed cavern.

The chaos of battle faded behind her, replaced by her ragged breaths and the rustle of a stream somewhere in the cavern. The cavern's interior glittered with gems, jewels, and shiny treasures that seemed to glow in the soft, filtered sunlight. Yara's eyes widened in awe as she explored the dazzling surroundings. 

She ventured further, drawn to the heart of the cavern where a nest of golden eggs lay nestled amidst a bed of glistening gems. They simmered like molten gold, casting a warm radiance that contrasted with the surrounding gems. 

Without realising it, she reached out, her bloodied hands grazing the smooth surface of the eggs. The cavern seemed to respond, the air alive with a hum that echoed deep within her soul. A strange energy surged between them; she stumbled back and screamed as she felt something get pulled out of her.

Falling to the ground, she shielded her face as the light from the eggs grew blinding. In the middle of the pain and confusion, Yara felt a heartbeat, not just her own but something different—the heartbeat of the eggs.

'What was happening?'

Somewhere in the background, she heard a roar. Much closer than before, and the ground shook beneath her. She struggled to get up, holding on to the altar for the nest for support.

Just as she found her footing, a deep roar echoed from the entrance, freezing Yara in her tracks. A rush of adrenaline surged as she turned to face the gate, only to meet the intense gaze of the dragon. Its presence filled the entire opening; rippling scales gleamed like obsidian, and fiery eyes locked onto the intruder in its sacred space.

She, caught in a moment of pain and terror, tried to understand the situation. At the same time, the dragon, high on the aftermath of the battle, regarded her as a threat to its precious eggs.

And that's how they got to where they are now—locked in a stare-down, watching the other's movement with suspicion.

---Page Break---

At Present, 

the dragon's massive form lurched forward, and Yara stepped back, trembling. The cavern seemed to shrink around her as the colossal creature fixated on her with fiery intensity.

The golden-slitted eyes assessed and calculated, and the putrid breath enveloped her, making her wince. She could feel the waves of anger emanating from the dragon, and the predatory gleam in its golden eyes sent shivers down her spine, the warmth of its nostrils against her face intensifying the fear that gripped her.

She scanned her surroundings for any possible escape, her mind racing. As if on cue, the dragon lunged again, claws slashing through the air. Yara barely evaded the attack, stumbling backwards. She scrambled through the loot for a weapon to give her a chance. Her hands found a sword, and she tried to get into position.

Unfazed by her attempts to flee, the dragon prepared for another assault. Yara could almost taste the imminent danger; her senses heightened in the face of the impending threat. Keeping an eye on it, she tried to back away but tripped on a large ruby.

'Fuck!'

She tried to get up quickly, scrambling for the sword she dropped. The dragon lunged forward; teeth bared, claws extended. Yara closed her eyes, bracing for impact.

The dragon, mid-roar, abruptly paused. Its eyes widened with a mix of confusion and rage. Yara, too, felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Confusion clouded her fear as the dragon's gaze flickered between her and the golden eggs.

With a sudden gentleness that contradicted its fierce appearance, the dragon extended its snout towards the golden eggs. A low, rumbling sound came from its throat—a sound that seemed almost apologetic.

Confusion swept through Yara as she cautiously lowered her sword. The dragon recoiled, its eyes wide with something she couldn't grasp. It circled her, studying her with a mixture of anger and bewilderment. Yara felt a tug on her clothes, and the dragon's enormous claw hooked onto her fabric. With a powerful jerk, she was dragged across the cavern floor, the gems and treasures a blur beneath her. Panic surged anew, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let fear break her.

The dragon, still growling, pulled Yara through a hidden passage, the walls closing in on them. Darkness enveloped them, broken only by the faint glow of the gems on the cavern walls.

Yara's senses heightened, and she could feel the dragon's every movement, the heat emanating from its rough scales, the sound of its claws scraping the floor.

As they entered a more concealed chamber, the dragon released its grip, its eyes never leaving her. Now on her feet, Yara steadied herself and tried to catch her breath, her mind racing to understand the situation. The dragon circled her again, a low growl vibrating through the air.

She noticed the change in its demeanour. The rage that had initially consumed the dragon now seemed laced with uncertainty. It had something to do with the eggs; that much she understood. Yara cautiously stepped forward, her eyes locked onto the dragon.

She held out her hand, wondering once again if it was sentient.

'Did it want something?'

The dragon came closer, eyeing her hands, then pressed its snout against her forehead and recoiled. The sudden movement pushed Yara to the ground, where she stayed, uncertain. The dragon let out a roar of frustration and then, with a powerful beat of its wings, soared back into the cavern, leaving Yara seated in the passage, surrounded by the glow of the gems and the echoes of her pounding heart.