Boom

"Did you hear that?" one of the voices asked. My tail twitched lower into the underbrush, my ears pricked up as I listened closely to the humans.

"What did you hear?" another voice responded. The driver's door creaked open, and a slender figure stepped out. At her belt—at least, I thought it was a belt—hung weapons, stun guns, and ropes. The woman muttered something under her breath, her face twisted in disgust as if she didn't want to be here.

She kicked a rock with her boot, sending it clattering across the asphalt. "Something moved out here," said the first voice, deeper and more serious than the others. The tone made my fur bristle, every hair on my body sensing danger.

"Probably just an animal," the slender woman grumbled, scanning the surroundings like a predator on the hunt. "Or... it's what we're looking for."

A chill ran down my spine. Could they be talking about me? My breathing grew shallow, my muscles coiled, ready to bolt if needed.

The footsteps drew closer. Heavy boots crushed the grass, and I could hear the dry stalks crackle under their weight. "It was here," the first voice repeated. A man knelt in the grass just a few feet away from me. "I swear, something was here."

Tick.

"We're wasting time," the woman growled impatiently. "If we don't find it soon, the boss won't be... pleased."

"I've got an idea," said the second voice. "If it's hiding, we'll force it out."

Tick.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the unmistakable sound of metal clicking against metal. It was the sound I dreaded—a weapon being readied.

I tensed up. If I leaped now, maybe I could surprise them. But where would I go? The grass offered cover but no escape. The trees behind me were too far, and the light from their vehicle bathed the clearing in an unnatural, cold glow.

"Three seconds," the woman said, her voice sharp as a blade. "If it's here, it will show itself."

One.

My tail flicked.

Tick.

Two.

My claws dug into the damp grass.

Three.

A blinding light swept across the clearing, illuminating every leaf, every blade of grass, and every bump in the ground. I pressed myself deeper into the underbrush, squinting to avoid being caught in the harsh beam. It felt as if the night itself had held its breath.

A faint tick—was I the only one who could hear it?

"There!" the man kneeling in the grass shouted triumphantly. His voice made the fur on my neck stand up. They'd spotted me—or at least, they thought they had.

"What is it?" the woman asked as she stepped closer, her movements deliberate and heavy. The metallic click of a stun gun accompanied her steps.

"I… I thought I saw something," the man stammered, less sure now. His voice wavered like someone doubting their instincts. "There… in the bushes."

Tick.

I held my breath. The bush he was pointing at was barely two steps from my hiding spot. A gust of wind rustled the leaves, drawing their attention even more.

The woman crouched down, nearly eye-level with my hiding place. Her gaze was intense, piercing through the foliage as if she could see me. "If you're there," she said softly, almost a whisper, "I'd suggest you come out. Don't make this worse."

Tick, tick.

I felt my muscles trembling—not from the cold, but from the tension. Tick, tick, tick. I knew I couldn't stay here forever. But if I jumped now, tick, tick, tick, tick, it would all be over quickly. And probably not in my favor.

Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick.

Then came the blast.

Boom.

The explosion tore through the air, a thunderous roar that swallowed the night. Their vehicle was thrown like a toy, shrapnel flying in every direction. Metal fragments, shards of glass, and smoke filled the sky. I instinctively ducked lower into the grass, my heart pounding as the shockwave rippled through the ground beneath me.

The humans screamed. Chaos erupted—a cacophony of panicked shouts and the screeching of torn metal. The woman was thrown backward by the force of the blast, landing heavily on the ground. The man, who had been kneeling, was flung sideways and rolled several meters before coming to a stop, motionless.

Thick, acrid smoke billowed into the air as flames from the vehicle cast an eerie, flickering light over the clearing. For a moment, all I could hear was the dull ringing in my ears, mingled with the sharp scent of burning rubber and oil.

I had no idea what had just happened. Was it an accident? Or had someone—or something—caused the explosion on purpose? My mind raced, but I couldn't piece it together. All I knew was that this was my chance.

With a jolt, I sprang from my hiding spot. The grass rustled under my paws, and I felt the searing heat of the flames as I darted through the smoke. My eyes scanned for a way into the darkness, away from the chaos behind me.

I dashed into the forest, following the wall that had appeared to my left. The city gate loomed just a few meters ahead. Newhurst was becoming less appealing by the second.

I was crouched low, keeping watch, when something grabbed my tail. I whipped around and found myself staring into Tobias's eyes.

"AHH!" I yelped, slapping my claws over my mouth to avoid alerting the city guards.

"TOBIAS!" I hissed, trying to growl, though it was far too quiet to qualify as a growl. "What in the twisted bones are you doing here?"

"Uh… how am I supposed to get in there?" he whispered, pointing toward the massive gate. The explosion hadn't drawn any attention here—good for us. Rows of wagons lined the area, each harnessed to various beasts of burden. At the front stood a massive bull, behind it several horses, and at the far end, even a dragon with clipped wings.

"Poor creatures," I grumbled, glaring at the humans who rode a few meters ahead.

"We have to free them," I suggested, creeping forward.

Tobias hesitated, muttering, "This is a terrible idea," but eventually followed.

I crawled closer to the wagons, my paws silent on the damp grass. Tobias trailed behind me, his steps deliberate and far less graceful than mine.

"A terrible idea," Tobias whispered again, his voice barely audible.

"Terrible would be leaving them here," I snapped quietly over my shoulder. "Look at them, Tobias. Look at their chains."

We were now just a few meters away from the first wagon. The bull, massive and scarred, stomped one hoof against the ground. Its breath was heavy, fogging up the cool night air. I could see the raw spots on its neck where the harness had worn the skin away.

"That thing will trample us the moment we touch its chains," Tobias hissed.

"Not if we approach it right," I replied, crouching even lower. I could feel Tobias's eyes boring into the back of my head, but I ignored him.

"Okay, listen," I whispered. "We're going to start with the dragon."

"The dragon?" Tobias's voice rose slightly, and I shot him a glare so fierce he actually shrank back. "Are you insane? If that thing gets loose, it'll eat us alive. Or worse, alert the humans!"

"Dragon are not like Humnas," I muttered, reverting to my old tongue without thinking. "Dragons hate captivity as much as we do. He'll help us if we show we're here to help him."

Tobias threw up his hands in exasperation. "Fine, but if I get burned alive, I'm haunting you."

"Deal."

I crept forward, inching my way toward the dragon at the back of the line. Its scales shimmered faintly in the moonlight, a deep, dusky blue like storm clouds. Chains bound its legs and wings to the wagon, and its claws scratched idly at the dirt. Its eyes glowed faintly, reflecting a mix of weariness and suppressed rage.

"Hey there," I murmured softly as I approached. The dragon's head lifted slowly, and its glowing eyes locked onto mine. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. I felt the sheer weight of its gaze, ancient and powerful, and I had to suppress the urge to back away.

"We're not here to hurt you," I continued, my voice steady but quiet. "We're here to help. Just… stay calm, okay? Let me get these chains off."

The dragon let out a low rumble, almost like a growl, but it didn't move. Its massive body remained still, though its eyes tracked my every movement. I reached out slowly, claws poised to work at the metal chains around its legs.

"You better know what you're doing," Tobias grumbled as he positioned himself to keep watch.

The first chain was heavy and rusted, but my claws were sharp. I worked quickly, ignoring the trembling in my hands. The dragon's warm breath washed over me as it lowered its head slightly, watching me intently.

"Almost there," I whispered, the chain finally giving way with a soft clink.

Tobias shifted nervously, his ears twitching. "Hurry up. The guards are circling back."