Perception of the world differed drastically in this form. Before, I’d been surrounded by a quiet forest, with only a whispered sense of a threat due to the unnatural silence. Now, with primal, animalistic senses intact, that looming dangerbecame more weighted than gravity. A warning that pressed in on all sides with one clear message: run.
Shaking it off was like trying to peel off skin. It embedded into my being, priming me for survival. With every press of my paws against the ground, nature cried out, essentially begging for me to retreat. Ignoring the silent screams fought against my instincts, but I wouldn’t give in. Couldn’t. Reminded myself of that every time I shifted.
Trees and bushes became a hazy blur of muted green, the color fractionally as vibrant through tiger eyes while my lightning speed carried me effortlessly, like a bird on a breeze.
Instinct told me the stream was near. When I came to it, I slammed my body to a halt, creating four sliding craters into the soft dirt. I shifted, the dooming energy of the world removing itself from me, replaced by torturous throbbing pain. There was no warning before I hurled up the contents of my stomach into the grass.
Gods hear me, I needed a healer.
I dipped the waterskin beneath the flowing stream, the cold a blessing against my hand, pushing back the nausea. Once the container swelled with fullness, I set it aside and submerged my face. As much as it could, it reset my senses. I withdrew, running my hands over my face and pushing the wetness into my tied back hair. What I needed was to rest. To cool off, to treat the wound that was no doubt acquiring an infection.
But what I needed hadn’t mattered in a long time. So I braced my hands on the ground, and willed myself to change. I merged with the natural world once again, overwhelming pain in my leg reduced as the call of danger pressed in on me.
My tongue speedily lapped the water from the stream while I had access so I wouldn’t take from the only source the huntress had, then I retrieved the bulging waterskin and raced through the woods.
She hadn’t moved, laying in the same position I’d left her. Cold logic thrust my options at me. Option one, I leave the waterskin with her and take myself to the outpost. I could travel faster in this form and begin treating my wound, rationalizing that her fate would probably fair better if she remained away from Order members. Option two, wait till she stirs so I can ensure she hydrates before I order her to retreat. Now that she was weaponless, she might be forced to listen. I started to doubt if my conscience would settle, never knowing how she fared. Option three, I ignore her wishes, toss her on my back, then carry her south, far away from this malignant land.
Or option four. The cold, calculating choice. End her here and now, where she won’t ever know death came for her. A peaceful end, one that robs her of suffering she can’t even comprehend. In my predator state, it could be quick.
The dragon darted for me, circling around my head before racing back to her, a desperate call for help. Something about that banished the rationale for option four. I hadn’t witnessed care or worry in so long. Not until the fire in her eyes and the determination to save her friend, and now with this magical creature who’d stayed by her side despite the warning from the world I knew he felt. Her death wouldn’t be a simple calculation of least harm, because this tiny creature would mourn for her.
He couldn’t do anything to help her—but I could.
Pain erupted as I released my magic, feeling the world settle beneath two feet instead of four, but I focused on my task. Kneeling beside her, fighting against the splitting agony, I grabbed the waterskin, then hauled her onto my lap, bringing her in a semi-upright position. That damn quiver made it hard to hold her, so I removed it with great difficulty. My teeth clenched through the pain so tightly they threatened to crack, but I tossed the quiver to the side and cradled her in my arm. Then I carefully placed the container to her lips.
Raising my elbow to prop her head up, I used my thumb to gently pry apart her dry lips. A thin stream trickled from the waterskin, splashing over her mouth and creating a tiny pool inside. Balancing the water in my grip, my fingers dropped to her neck, massaging in downward strokes.
“Come on,” I urged in a whisper. The little dragon rammed his head into her arm over and over. I dribbled some water over her face and used the pads of my fingers to rub it against her heated skin.
“Come back, you can do it.” My thumb stroked the side of her cheek, the feel surprisingly soft. Her deep copper hair glittered under the sun. She was far too radiant to perish on the roadside, even despite having had a lethal arrow aimed at me.
I knew nothing about her, and yet, I knew she didn’t deserve to be here, to lose her life this way. Those who traveled this far for the cause had corrupted their souls long before Marvoe ever radicalized them.
Not her. Her soul remained intact, a vitality that bolstered her convictions for good. Dragons were thought to have gone extinct since the first dark magic outbreak, so to have one was extremely rare. They were known for their intuition, a creature born from wisdom in the gap between nature and humanity. To have ownership of a dragon meant a certain level of bonded trust. Evil hearts could never make such a connection.
As she lay in my arms, I realized I didn’t even know her name. Where she’d come from. How she managed to travel this far. The nearest populated city was days away by foot. So many unanswered questions about the brave beauty with a fierce heart.
My life had become a hollow shell filled with shadows and darkness. I’d chosen it, but maybe hadn’t comprehended the cost. If I could do one more good deed in my existence, I prayedto the gods that it would be to help her. She deserved to rescue her friend.
“Come on,” I said through gritted teeth, lightly shaking her.
Water sprayed my face in a cooling mist as she sputtered and choked. There were no clouds in the sky, but the world got brighter when she made those sounds. I scrambled to hold her upright, tensing my muscles that screamed in agony.
“Here, here.” I raised the waterskin again and tipped it to her lips. Her hands flew to it in desperation as she gulped down mouthfuls.
“Easy, you don’t want to throw it up.” I pulled it away, setting it on the ground out of her reach.
She breathed heavily as she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. The light returned to her dazed hazel eyes, and then she beheld me. I clocked the moment she registered her position. Her hand traveled with the speed of lightning, reaching over her shoulder for phantom arrows. She must be well acquainted with the weapon to have such trained reflexes.
Her hands found nothing, and panic flooded her eyes.
“You fainted. I got you water. I’m not going to hurt you.”
Her knuckles connected with my jaw at an impressive speed before she shoved off my lap, using my leg as leverage. I couldn’t stop from doubling over in pain. My arms shook as they braced me over the ground.
Her feet shuffled against the road, and I knew she made quick work to retrieve her weapon. “Why did you do that?” she asked, breath heaving with a hint of anger in her voice.
My mind was a swirling pit of everything it took to fight through the pain and stop myself from getting sick again. I barely felt the sharp prick of the jagged pebbles that dug into my palms, barely heard her question over the roaring flow of blood pounding in my ears.
