I watched the beast fly off, filled with awe and desire. That creature’s magic aura called to me. It reeked of strength and resilience. I wanted it. I would have it. I would not rest until I devoured it and made that power my own.

While I could not see why it would choose to consume such weak prey, it mattered not. My mind spun with new ideas. I was not unskilled in hunting through ambush, but if the nascent plan that was forming were to work, it would be a far cry from how I usually did things.

I holed up in a small burrow whose owner I had promptly eaten. I spent a full day cooped up in there, ironing out the fine details of my plan. It was the most complex plan I had ever come up with, and I felt a bit proud of it.

I would cripple some goblins, and leave them in the open in an area I knew my target would hunt. When it swooped down to take them, I would hit it in the head until it died, then I would feast.

Truly, a masterful plan.

The first step of the plan became a little annoying. I killed maybe twenty goblins before I figured out how to incapacitate them without them dying immediately, or shortly thereafter from blood loss. What weak vermin. The method I eventually settled on was to carefully snatch them in one hand, and use the other to squeeze their tiny frail legs until I heard the crinkling sound of their weak bones breaking. I collected six of them, then carried them to a spot near where I had seen my target descend previously. I found a nice clearing, and scattered them about near a tree that I could leap from to strike my target. Gingerly, I used one of my finger claws to poke through their legs, exposing their blood to the air. I rankled my nose at the scent, which had become indelibly associated with weakness and filth.

I climbed up to my perch and waited, focusing on reducing my presence. This was something I instinctively did when seriously hunting, although until I had eaten the human I did not really comprehend what actions I was taking. I was essentially taking the magic aura that normally overflowed from my body, reining it in, and holding it within my body. I especially focused on suppressing the aura that emitted from my eyes, as that was more potent and focused than the rest.

I waited there in my perch for half the day, ignoring the mewling whines of the insignificant creatures I used as bait.

Finally, the target arrived.

The first indication of its arrival was a shadow passing over the clearing. The pathetic cries of the bait became frantic, and they tried to squirm and crawl away.

Finally, with a great whoosh of stirred wind, the target landed on the other side of the clearing. I watched it and took in every detail. It had two powerful hind legs, which it balanced on, and two wings. Discounting the wings and tail, its body was roughly the size of a troll’s, though its head was larger and more saurian in appearance. Its scales were obviously thick, with those on its underside being a light grey-blue, and those on top being a vibrant green with red and black markings. The tip of its tail was covered in wicked looking spines that gave off the scent of a potent venom.

Once it landed, it kept its wings up high and out of the way, while its body and tail were held parallel to the ground. It sniffed the air, before cautiously approaching the goblins. Gradually, I tensed my muscles ready to spring out at any moment. Tentatively, it snatched up the closest goblin in its maw, and swallowed it in two bites.

The remaining goblins squealed and screamed in panic. Satisfied, it moved closer to eat the next morsel.

I sprang forth from the tree, swinging my club down at its skull with all my might.