It always seemed to start with a cold rising in her stomach and then the coldness would seep out into her veins, then into her muscles causing them to ache. It would wrap itself around her heart and her mind like a blanket looming over her mind and covering the goodness of her being with an all consuming darkness.

Ashalan worked hard to push through it but its grip tightened and weakened the source of her true self - her soul. She was brought to her knees as she struggled against it, she fell forward onto her hands panting heavily and began writhing on the ground. It twisted her torso and her head jerked in unnatural positions as it fought her from the inside.

As her head snapped back, she let out a loud and resounding guttural growl. The stinging sensation she felt on her skin lasted only a few seconds then was replaced by an odd numb feeling.

Stolen story; please report.

She looked at her hands, brilliant red and orange scales now covered the majority of her body. Her shoulder stopped aching and the rest of the poison was discarded from her veins as the magic took hold. Her muscles heaved and contorted, turning her human form into a monster, shaping it, sculpting it. She screamed as she felt the wings push and rip themselves from the flesh on her back, sending pain so intense throughout her body that her vision blurred because of it.

As the wings formed in their entirety, she ran and jumped into the air. Beating and flapping, they raised her high up into the air. As she flew higher, her head was muddled by thoughts of rage and heartache fuelling the burning within her heart.

She was no longer human. Despair and anger clouded her thoughts and an insatiable hunger tore at her soul.

She had no control over the beast she had become. A beast that was hunted. A beast that was feared. A beast that was referred to in whispers of legend around campfires – a beast they called dragon.