The air near the dragon’s lair clung thick with mist, a pale shroud that wrapped itself around the jagged cliffs. Each breath tasted of damp stone and the faint tang of sulfur. The adventurers moved in silence, their footsteps muffled against the slick, dew-covered rocks. Weapons drawn but low, they crept forward with the wary grace of those who knew danger was always one misstep away.

Ellie trailed behind them, her heart hammering louder than her boots on the stone. It wasn’t the climb or the cold that had her shaking—it was the knowledge that soon, far too soon, they would face the dragon. There would be no more walking, no more time to delay. There would only be fire and scales.

Ahead, the mountain rose in brutal spires, its peak hidden in swirling mist. The cave where the dragon slept was a gaping black maw, lined with jagged rocks like teeth. The smell of charred earth lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable.

“Steady,” Haldor muttered, his gravelly voice close at her ear. “Stay close.”

She nodded, too nervous to speak. Her fingers clenched around the hilt of her dagger, the blade feeling useless in her grip. The others—elite adventurers, each a veteran of a hundred battles—moved with deadly confidence. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t look back. Ellie, on the other hand, felt like a child playing at war.

As the path grew steeper, Ellie’s foot slipped on a slick rock. She stumbled, nearly tumbling into Haldor’s broad back. He caught her arm with a grunt, steadying her.

“Watch your step, lass,” he said, his tone rough but not unkind. “Not much room for mistakes up here.”

“Sorry.” She kept her gaze down, focusing on her feet. Just stay quiet. Keep your head down. Don’t mess this up.

The mist thickened as they climbed, swirling in eerie coils around their feet. The path was little more than a narrow ledge now, winding up the mountainside toward the lair. The adventurers slowed, their weapons rising, eyes scanning the cliffs. Ellie, struggling to keep pace, tripped again, sending a small cascade of pebbles tumbling down the slope.

The noise echoed unnervingly in the still air.

Haldor glanced back at her. “Easy, Ellie. We don’t want to alert the beast before we’re ready.”

“I know,” she whispered, voice tight with anxiety. Her hands shook as she adjusted her grip on the dagger.

Then, without warning, the ground trembled beneath them.

Everyone froze.

A low, distant rumble reverberated through the cliffs. Not from the lair ahead, but from above. The adventurers’ eyes widened in unison.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Move!” Haldor barked.

But it was too late.

With a sharp crack, the mountainside gave way. A mass of rocks began to slide down toward them, the thunderous roar of the avalanche drowning out any further warnings. Ellie barely had time to throw herself to the ground as boulders and debris crashed down, filling the air with choking dust.

Ellie pressed her body flat against the earth, heart pounding in her ears. She coughed, her mouth dry with fear. The roar of the rockslide slowly faded, leaving only the whisper of settling dust and the occasional clatter of pebbles.

“Everyone alright?” Haldor’s voice came through the haze.

Ellie pushed herself up on shaking arms. Her chest ached, lungs burning from the dust. “I-I’m fine,” she croaked.

The others were on their feet, shaken but seemingly unharmed. Their eyes weren’t on her, though. They were staring at the dragon’s lair.

The rockslide had crashed into the cave’s entrance, blocking it with a wall of debris. But there was something moving within, a massive shadow stirring behind the rocks. A low, angry growl rumbled from the darkness.

Ellie’s blood ran cold.

The dragon.

Through the settling dust, its enormous form became visible. A colossal beast, scales black as night, eyes glowing like molten embers. But it didn’t charge. Instead, it stumbled, disoriented, wings scraping against the cave’s walls as it tried to shake free from the rockslide’s aftermath.

“We… weakened it,” one of the adventurers breathed in awe. “Before we even started.”

Ellie blinked. What? No, no, no. That wasn’t right. She hadn’t done anything.

“Look how it’s struggling,” another adventurer said, their voice full of reverence. “She’s driving it into the open. Smart.”

Ellie opened her mouth to correct them, to explain, but nothing came out. What could she say? That it had been a complete accident? That she didn’t know what she was doing? They’d never believe her.

Haldor was looking at her now, his expression unreadable. But there was something in his eyes—a flicker of respect, maybe? Or was it suspicion? Either way, he gave her a short nod. “Good move, letting the mountain do some of the work.”

“B-but I didn’t—”

“Stay focused,” he interrupted, his voice gruff. “We’ve got a wounded dragon now. That’s a rare opportunity. Don’t waste it.”

Ellie swallowed hard. She wasn’t focused. She was terrified. She wasn’t some cunning strategist, manipulating the battlefield. She was just… lucky. And that luck wasn’t going to hold out forever.

The dragon let out a pained roar, shaking the cave with its fury. Its wings beat against the walls, sending more dust and debris cascading down. But it was trapped, disoriented, unable to fully free itself from the rubble.

“Prepare yourselves!” The lead adventurer raised his sword high. “We strike now, while it’s vulnerable!”

Ellie’s heart lurched. Vulnerable? It didn’t look vulnerable. It looked angry.

But the adventurers moved into position without hesitation, their eyes gleaming with determination. To them, this was just another battle. Another beast to be slain.

Ellie, her heart racing, had no choice but to follow.

“Stick with me.” Haldor moved to her side, his hand briefly brushing her shoulder. “We’ll see this through.”

She nodded, though her stomach churned with doubt. The dragon growled again, and this time, it sounded like a promise. A promise of fire, of death.

Ellie gripped her dagger tighter, hoping it wouldn’t slip from her trembling fingers.