Second Lieutenant Trakov Sokola slouched forward, dejectedly staring at the wall of rock that rose up in front of him. How had this gotten so out of control. Right now, he should have been walking leisurely back to Draughton with Jean and Franz after finding nothing unusual on their trip to the forest.

After setting out from the city, it hadn’t taken long for the three guardsmen to find the path leading to the pond Franz had previously come across. The other two had searched the clearing for disturbances and signs of travel without him, as he had had no intention of helping them with their fool’s errand.

Trakov had watched Jean and Franz quickly find a series of tracks in the damp earth, alongside ripped underbrush and scattered leaves. These marks had quickly led the trio to a faint but visible path through the forest, made entirely by the regular passings of forest creatures.

Sighing despite himself, Trakov couldn’t help but be impressed by Jean and Franz’s proficiency in tracking. Lesser trackers would have completely missed most of the signs of activity in the clearing. As they had trekked through the trees and brush, he felt a little sprout of pride worm its way out of his heart. Trakov had fought as a part of the Olivar Kingdom’s Scouting Corps 15 years prior: 3 of his prime years spent camping out in the wooded hills of the Esther Kingdom evading capture. He had survived his homeland’s last serious military venture, and had passed what he had learned to the 2 men in front of him now.

As much as Franz got on his nerves, Trakov had to admit the kid had an eye for the job. In a matter of a few years, the fool had gone from an incompetent womanizer to a near-expert tracker. Although the womanizer part hasn’t faded one bit, he thought.

His other student, First Lieutenant Jean Martine, wasn’t nearly as skilled at tracking as Franz was. He was, however, damned lucky. Stumbling directly into tracks hidden from the eye, noticing what others didn’t by sheer chance. Typical Traveler, he chuckled to himself. A good man to have by your side, and someone Trakov didn’t mind answering to.

And so, with one half of him watching on with pride like a father seeing his children walk for the first time, and the other half regretting ever teaching them anything at all, he joined his fellow guardsmen in front of the cave entrance Jean had found.

“I don’t like this one bit.”

“Yes, yes, we know. Lodge a formal complaint or something.”

Jean flashed him a grin before poking his head into the opening. Trakov closed his eyes for a moment, and gave a beleaguered sigh. Franz, he expected to act impulsively. But the First Lieutenant was being much more reckless than normal.

“Ah, this must be the shrine raised to my beautiful angel! As expected!!”

“This is really not a good idea, I can feel it.” Trakov shot Franz an exasperated look but directed his comment towards Jean.

“Well, the tracks certainly lead to this spot. Seeing as we’re here, we should take a look. Anything seems off, we retreat and leg it for the farms.”

Giving him a bright smile, Jean gestured once and headed into the passage with Franz on his heels. Mentally apologizing to his wife Flora for his irresponsible tutelage, Trakov Sokola whispered the incantation for the magelight spell and followed them in.

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I had woken up before the sun had started its daily journey through the sky. Or rather, I’d been woken up quite suddenly by a gust of wind and Mother telling me she was off to speak with the Elder about the upcoming gathering. I didn’t know where it was supposed to take place, but apparently Rehm would be gone for a few days at the least.

After falling back asleep until I could feel the heat of the midday sun pounding on my skin and scales, upon waking up I lethargically bathed in the pond and lounged in the shade of the tall oak. Weaving and intertwining the long grass with my claws, I’d been thinking about my conversation with Rehm the night before when a voice sounded faintly from the passageway in the rock wall.

“... almost…”

Sitting straight up, I froze completely for a second. Hearing footsteps sound from the darkness of the passageway, I shot around the trunk of the massive oak tree and braced myself against it.

Why are there people here? How did they even… I can’t let them see what’s here.

Glancing back at the opposite end of the clearing, I searched for the spot where the dragon egg rested. At least it was somewhat out of sight, hidden by a slight incline and tall grass. Without any more time to think, a man with a rough voice spoke only 10 meters away from me, the other side of the tree trunk.

“...What is this place?”

“Obviously a shrine, what else would it be?” A younger sounding voice retorted.

A third voice interjected between the other two, “For now, just stay alert. We don’t know if anything else is here.”

Oh god. Oh god. Think, Mia, think! I can’t let them search the den; not only would they find the dragon egg, but I doubt I could escape their notice and run for it. Should I make my presence known and tell them to leave?

Focusing, I could vaguely feel 3 sources of mana from where the voices had originated. Instinctively, I knew I wouldn't be able to connect with them via telepathy. I was able to start a telepathic bridge with my mother now, but doing so with kin was exponentially easier than establishing a connection with random strangers.

Wait… I can understand them… so that means!

Coughing subtly into my claw, I opened my mouth and, without moving from behind the tree, used my voice for the first time in months.

“Pleasshe... leave.”

I felt the 3 bundles of mana freeze in place at the sound of my hoarse, scratchy voice.

Oh no, why do I sound so weird? I know I’m different now, but how come it’s so difficult to speak properly with these teeth???

“Uh, hello? Who’s there?”

The young sounding voice hesitantly called out, followed by the sound of swords unsheathing.

“Identify yourself, we aren’t here to fight!” another voice added.

Yeah right. Really believable with your weapons drawn.

“You can’t… be.. he-AGH”

Claws covering my mouth once again, I felt reflexive tears well up in the corners of my eyes. GOD! When I talk it’s like my teeth are all at war with each other. Feeling the blood start to fill my mouth from my bitten tongue, I silently cursed whichever god was supposed to be in charge of my reincarnation.

“Look, um, please just show yourself! I know you aren't dangerous, just humor my two buddies here?”

Rubbing my mouth, I placed a claw on the trunk and carefully peaked my head around it. In front of me stood 3 men: all in the same lightly padded armor, two of them holding unsheathed shortswords.

I quickly examined the intruders. One man stared warily at me with dark eyes, sword at the ready. He looked to me to be in his forties, judging by his greying hair and tired look. The other man holding a sword was much younger - maybe mid twenties. He had fairly short-cropped brown hair and a plain face, albeit one with sharp features and not unpleasant to look at, but his hazel eyes lay on something other than me.

The final intruder stood slightly closer to me than the other two, hands empty and spread wide in a placating gesture. With long golden hair, bright blue eyes and perfectly proportioned features disturbed only by his currently wide open mouth, I knew instantly that this pretty boy was the person I had encountered yesterday.

“Ah-”

I glared at the pretty boy as he quickly recovered his composure and gave me an elegant bow.

“I would first like to apologize for our intrusion, my lady, I hope we have not disturbed your rest. My name is Franz Diolle, city guard of Draughton. Myself and my two colleagues here find ourselves in your presence at my own insistence, I fear. I do endeavor to assure you that we mean absolutely no harm to you, my lady; I simply have wished to make your acquaintance.”

The pretty boy - Franz, I suppose - took a step forward as he finished his speech, but halted as I recoiled back around the tree slightly. Somewhat at a loss for words, I realized my face had gained an expression of disbelief, suspicion, and slight disgust. I’d seen enough of these types in my old life, apparently. Glancing at the reactions of the other two men, I was amused to find that the black-haired one held the same expression as me.

Gathering my thoughts and feeling if my tongue had stopped bleeding, I noticed that the brown-haired man was now drawing the attention of the older one to a spot to my left. Following his gaze, I looked around the area of the pond.

Ah.

Quite visible from our spots, bones lay scattered about by the water’s edge, picked completely clean and left by Rehm or me. Just next to the remains of some poor bovine creature, singed grass burnt from fire magic littered the area, the marks of my practice fluttering like quills tipped with ink.

Both the men wielding swords slowly made eye contact, then both turned their gazes to me. Franz, standing in front of them and none the wiser for their exchange, still looked at me expectantly. Awkwardly, but as naturally as I could, I tried to give a friendly smile. One that showed as little of my teeth as possible. God. I hope there isn't any blood dripping.

Slowly, cautiously, the two men in the back crept up to their unarmed companion. Then, in sync, they each seized an arm and began hauling him back the way they’d came.

“Please forget this ever happened!” one shouted.

Franz, taken by surprise, started to struggle as he was dragged backward.

“What- What the hell are you two doing, let-”

“We’re leaving, shut up. This has all been some horrid shared nightmare, understood???”

“Wait, stop- My lady! Wait! Let us meet again! By the pond, I shall wait! I look…”

Franz’s voice was soon silenced as the intruders exited the clearing through the passageway they’d come through, and disappeared into the forest. Unmoving, I waited for another 15 minutes after that before collapsing back down against the trunk of the oak tree, palms rubbing circles on my temple. Sticking my tongue out, I glanced down. It was slightly longer than a human tongue, like my old one mixed with a snake’s. Checking the spot I’d bitten, I saw it was pretty much already fully healed. Opening my mouth carefully, I awkwardly exclaimed.

“What ...the fuck.”