Dragon and Princess 2

Elera felt a mix of awe and unease. The dragon's actions were beyond her understanding, and the more she pondered, the more questions she had. Why had it helped her? Was it simply returning a favor for her healing touch, or was there something more to it? And how could it possibly consume so much food and then regurgitate more?

As she gathered her thoughts, she realized how little she truly knew about dragons. They were complex creatures, far more intricate than the stories told by bards and scholars. This encounter had given her a glimpse into their mysterious world, leaving her both fascinated and wary.

The dragon's gifts, both the rabbits and the saliva-rich lick, disgusted the pampered princess but after today's ordeal she really didn't feel like going hunting. She reluctantly accepted the handouts. She also understood that this was the dragon's way of helping her. Even if to her humanoid mind it was disgusting, to the dragon, it was a kind gesture. In the forest, a free meal meant a full stomach earned danger-free which was a complete luxury.

"Thank you," she murmured. It gave a final, tired glance before turning and disappearing into the trees. Elera watched it go, a mixture of relief, gratitude and a tinge of sadness washing over her. She had survived another day, and with the dragon's unexpected assistance, she had a better chance of surviving the next.

"If only I could've convinced the dragon to become my ally," she sighed, it would've made her life infinitely easier and safer. As a wood elf, she was more acclimated to nature than most other races, and she understood very well how bright the dragon's future could be if it survived long enough. There was a reason why dragons were considered uncontrollable forces of nature, and she had experienced it firsthand. The baby dragon had swiftly done its intended work and left despite her pleading, not caring for her beyond a lick and a free meal.

She wondered how it would've reacted to her proposal if she hadn't healed it beforehand. Would it have regarded her with the same indifference or responded with a swift swipe of its claws to her throat? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

Elera sighed deeply, her mind racing with what-ifs and maybes. The dragon's departure left her feeling both relieved and oddly empty. It was clear that the dragon was a creature of instinct and survival, not one to be swayed easily by offers of companionship. Still, she couldn't help but marvel at its raw power and the potential that lay within it.

As Elera sat in the dim light of her makeshift camp, she pondered how much she had changed in just a few days. It felt like a lifetime ago that she had fled the palace, leaving behind a life of luxury and privilege. The thought of her former life made her shake her head in disbelief. Who would have thought she, a pampered princess, would be thankful for a couple of regurgitated rabbits?

She recalled the events that had led her here. The midnight escape from the palace, slipping past the guards with a mix of fear and determination. The first night in the forest, where every rustle and crack had her jumping in fright. The struggle to use her druid magic, only to find it woefully inadequate for survival. And then, the orc ambush, where her desperate attempts to defend herself had failed, leading to her capture.

And now this. She had met a dragon—a baby dragon, no less. It had saved her from the orcs and then, inexplicably, licked her face like a hound. She could still feel the rough texture of its tongue and the surprising warmth of its breath. It was a mythical, once in a lifetime encounter, something she would have read about in ancient times or heard in tales spun by the elders. Yet, it had happened to her.

Elera looked at the rabbits again. In the palace, the mere thought of eating something so raw and unrefined would have made her gag. But now, she felt nothing but gratitude. These rabbits were a gift of survival, a precious meal in the unforgiving wilderness. She was surprised by how much her circumstances had changed her perspective. Comforts she once took for granted were now distant memories, replaced by the harsh realities of life in the forest.

She realized how thankful she was for the rabbits, even if their origin was far from appetizing. Her circumstances had forced her to adapt, to appreciate the small victories and the unexpected acts of kindness from unlikely sources. The dragon's gesture, as bizarre as it was, had given her hope. It showed her that even in the darkest of times, there could be moments of light, however strange they might seem.

Elera's thoughts drifted back to the dragon. She wondered where it had come from, what its story was. It seemed so different from the dragons of legend, solitary beings far removed from humanoid society unless they felt the need to terrorize the feeble mortals a bit, but those moments usually happened from a distance, usually a single breath from a grown dragon was enough to overwhelm any city defenses—this one was more curious, more willing to interact with her. Perhaps it was because of the dragon's young age, it was less aware of just how legendary its own species was thus it wasn't overly arrogant. She felt a strange connection to it, a shared sense of survival in a world that was both beautiful and perilous.

As she prepared the rabbits for cooking, Elera made a silent vow. She would survive this. She would learn, adapt, and grow stronger. The forest had changed her, but it had also revealed a resilience she never knew she had. And perhaps, in time, she might even find her place in this wild, untamed world.

As she gathered the two rabbits the dragon had gifted her, she considered her next steps. Life in the forest was harsh and unpredictable, and the encounter with the orcs had only reinforced that reality. But she was determined to survive, to find her way through this wilderness, and perhaps, one day, earn the trust of such a magnificent creature.

She needed to level up her soul core urgently and gain proficiency with her spells, and to do that she decided to walk back towards the outer areas of the forest where monsters were much rarer and weaker.