The forest had gone silent. His body lay motionless, pinned against the cold, damp earth. The searing pain from the lizard's claws still throbbed in his chest, radiating through every inch of his tiny, fragile form. His breath was ragged, his vision blurry. The world felt distant, slipping further from his grasp as each second passed.

I can’t... move.

His thoughts were sluggish, a haze of panic and exhaustion clouding his mind. The lizard loomed over him, its sleek, black scales glistening in the faint light filtering through the trees. Its predatory eyes gleamed with hunger as it prepared to deliver the final blow. He could see the sharp claws raised high, ready to strike him down for good.

This is it...

Just as the lizard began to bring its claws down, something crashed into it from the side—a small, buzzing force slamming against its body with surprising speed. The lizard screeched in shock, stumbling back as the impact threw it off balance.

He blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His vision was still hazy, but he could make out the familiar shape of the bee larva, her small body trembling with effort as she stood between him and the predator.

Bee... he thought, his mind struggling to catch up with the scene unfolding before him.

The bee larva had launched herself at the lizard, her tiny mandibles clamping down on one of its legs with fierce determination. Her wings buzzed frantically, and though she was much smaller than the lizard, she was giving it everything she had.

No... You shouldn’t...

His heart sank as he watched the bee fight. Her movements were erratic, desperate, and though she had caught the lizard by surprise, it was clear she was outmatched. The lizard snarled, thrashing its body violently in an attempt to throw her off. Its sharp claws swiped at her, and she barely managed to dodge, her tiny legs scrambling to keep her grip.

She’s going to get hurt... because of me.

The guilt twisted inside him like a knife. He had promised to protect her, to grow stronger so he could keep her safe. And now, she was risking everything to save him—while he lay there, helpless, unable to move.

The lizard let out a furious screech, its body coiling as it whipped around, finally shaking the bee larva off. She tumbled through the air, her small body hitting the ground with a sickening thud. For a moment, she lay there, motionless, her tiny form barely twitching.

No...

The lizard turned its attention back to her, its eyes burning with rage. It snarled, lowering its head as it stalked toward her, preparing to finish her off.

He could see the bee larva trying to get up, her legs trembling with the effort. She wasn’t giving up. Even though she was hurt, even though the lizard was bigger and stronger, she was still fighting.

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She’s fighting for me...

A surge of emotion flooded through him—guilt, anger, desperation. He couldn’t let this happen. Not again. He couldn’t let her get hurt because of him. But his body refused to move. The pain was too much, his limbs felt heavy and useless, and every attempt to move sent waves of agony through him.

I have to do something...

But what could he do? He had nothing left. The fight had drained him completely. His fire magic flickered weakly inside him, but it was barely a spark now—a dying ember with no strength left to burn.

Come on... he begged, his thoughts a frantic plea. Just one more time. Please...

The lizard lunged at the bee larva, its claws outstretched. She managed to dodge, but just barely. Her movements were slower now, weaker, and he could see her struggling to keep up.

I can’t lose her.

The fire inside him flickered again, a faint warmth spreading through his chest. He focused on that small spark, drawing on every bit of energy he had left. It wasn’t much, but it was all he had.

I have to protect her...

The lizard lashed out again, its claws grazing the bee’s side, sending her tumbling across the ground. She landed in a heap, her body shuddering with the impact.

No!

The fire flared inside him, a desperate, burning rage surging through his veins. He couldn’t let this happen. He couldn’t lose her.

With a raw, guttural effort, he pushed through the pain, summoning every last ounce of magic he had. His body screamed in protest, his vision blurring as he forced the fire to the surface. It burned hotter than before, fueled by the sheer will to protect his friend.

The lizard turned its attention back to him, its eyes narrowing as it sensed the magic building inside him. It lunged at him, its jaws open wide, ready to crush him in a single bite.

Now!

He unleashed the fire.

A torrent of flames erupted from his tiny body, roaring toward the lizard with a force he hadn’t known he was capable of. The flames twisted and coiled like a living thing, consuming everything in their path as they slammed into the predator’s body.

The lizard screeched in agony, its body engulfed in flames. The heat was overwhelming, the air crackling with the intensity of the fire. The predator thrashed wildly, its scales blackening and cracking under the relentless assault of the magic.

He could feel the fire draining him, pulling at the last remnants of his strength, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. The fire was everything now, his only chance to save her—and himself.

The lizard’s screeches grew louder, more desperate, as the flames continued to consume it. Its movements became slower, weaker, until finally, with one last agonized cry, it collapsed to the ground, its body twitching as the fire burned it away.

It’s over...

The thought barely registered as the fire finally died out, leaving him completely spent. His body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle screaming in pain. He could hardly breathe, the effort of using that much magic having drained him to the very core.

But it was over.

The lizard lay motionless, its charred body smoldering in the ashes of the fight. He had done it. He had saved her.

With what little strength he had left, he turned his head to look at the bee larva. She was still lying on the ground, her small body trembling slightly, but she was alive.

She’s alive...

Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. His vision was fading, the edges of his consciousness blurring as the pain and exhaustion finally caught up to him.

The last thing he saw before everything went black was the faint rise and fall of her breathing, the small, fragile life that he had fought so hard to protect.

Then, darkness.