then, a shift. the careful ministrations —
then, a shift. the careful ministrations —
alec’s words, a low murmur of reassurance, reached graciela through the haze of her pain. “just hold on,” he’d —
alec’s words, a low murmur of reassurance, reached graciela through the haze of her pain. “just hold on,” he’d —
eglantine, her magnificent dragon, nudged graciela’s cheek again, a warm, comforting pressure that offered a different kind of solace. the dragon’s usual —
eglantine, her magnificent dragon, nudged graciela’s cheek again, a warm, comforting pressure that offered a different kind of solace. the dragon’s usual —
Eglantine snorted softly, her breath warm and damp against the witch's cheek. Despite the pain —
Eglantine snorted softly, her breath warm and damp against the witch's cheek. Despite the pain —
Her breath hitched as he gently brushed her hair back, his —
Her breath hitched as he gently brushed her hair back, his —
A pained hiss cut off his reassurance as her ribs shifted with her shallow breathing. Eglantine growled anxiously, smoke curling from her nostrils as she cradled her injured rider close.
"W-Wild.. dragon," Graciela managed to gasp out, each word —
A pained hiss cut off his reassurance as her ribs shifted with her shallow breathing. Eglantine growled anxiously, smoke curling from her nostrils as she cradled her injured rider close.
"W-Wild.. dragon," Graciela managed to gasp out, each word —
With a soft trill, —
With a soft trill, —
Beneath the dragoness, Graciela made no sound, her face pale and blood-flecked, yet Eglantine could sense her rider's heartbeat, weak yet steady. —
Beneath the dragoness, Graciela made no sound, her face pale and blood-flecked, yet Eglantine could sense her rider's heartbeat, weak yet steady. —
When Graciela stirred slightly, a whimper escaping her, Eglantine's snarl turned to a worried trill. The dragoness nuzzled at her rider, breath hot against Graciela's neck.
A large, careful talon curled around the girl, shielding her from Alec's sight as he —
When Graciela stirred slightly, a whimper escaping her, Eglantine's snarl turned to a worried trill. The dragoness nuzzled at her rider, breath hot against Graciela's neck.
A large, careful talon curled around the girl, shielding her from Alec's sight as he —
The dragoness shifted slightly, shielding more of the girl's battered form with her own, wings twitching as if preparing to launch into the air at a moment's notice.
Alec's familiar scent washed over Eglantine, but she paid it no mind, focused solely on the —
The dragoness shifted slightly, shielding more of the girl's battered form with her own, wings twitching as if preparing to launch into the air at a moment's notice.
Alec's familiar scent washed over Eglantine, but she paid it no mind, focused solely on the —
Then silence fell, broken only by the creak of settling wood and the rasp of Eglantine's —
Then silence fell, broken only by the creak of settling wood and the rasp of Eglantine's —
Graciela squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact. But Eglantine curled protectively around her, shielding the girl with her body. The dragoness's wings wrapped tight, tucking Graciela against her breast as they slammed into the forest.
The world exploded in a —
Graciela squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact. But Eglantine curled protectively around her, shielding the girl with her body. The dragoness's wings wrapped tight, tucking Graciela against her breast as they slammed into the forest.
The world exploded in a —