A magi-tech civilization is colonising an alien planet. A field research team encounters an individual of a local dragon-like predator species. My satchel was almost full, and my mind inattentive, when I heard rustling from the forest. The sight made me freeze. There was a creature, 10 meters away, it's body as big as a draft horse, it's back on my eye level, yet it's posture was feline, that of a predator. It had two wings, currently folded against it's back, and was covered in scales, with a long slender neck, it's reptilian head raised and with three pairs of fin-like frills, longer than wider, extending from the back of the head in a star shape. It's body had a dark violet colour, with contrasting dark orange patterns and accents, while it's slitted eyes were light blue. And looking right at me. It's a quick read with a fight scene in it, give it a go.