The beast's secret.

The air in the dungeon felt heavy with the echoes of Amara's footsteps. Each one was a reminder of her decision to sneak away from the safety of the castle and the women she had been helping. Her heart raced with a combination of worry and curiosity. 

As she reached the entrance to the dungeon, her hand brushed against the keys she had stolen from Rhys earlier. She hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of what she was about to do. But there was no turning back now. Her feet moved on their own, leading her down into the depths where the beast was being held.

The dungeon was cold and dimly lit. The air smelled of damp stone and old iron, a place where the past seemed to linger in every shadow. Amara moved silently, her pulse quickening as she neared the cell where the beast was confined. The creature had always been dangerous, but now it was weak, exhausted, and chained. It was no longer the powerful force of nature it had been when they first captured it. The glow that once surrounded it had faded, leaving it looking like just another wounded animal.

But still, Amara felt an overwhelming sense of pity for it. She had no idea why. This inexplicable connection she felt with it.

She slowly approached the bars, and that's when she noticed that the beast had managed to break one of its chains. Her breath caught in her throat. It wasn't as weak as it seemed. Perhaps the creature still had enough strength to escape.

Amara reached out, her fingers trembling slightly, and without fear she gently touched the beast's stomach. As soon as she did, her senses flared to life. She could feel something inside. A living, growing creature that was intricately tied to the fire beast.

And she gasped softly, "You knew they would come for you," she whispered to the beast, her voice barely audible. The creature turned its eyes toward her, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as if the beast understood her words.

Amara continued, her mind racing with possibilities. "You didn't fight back when we captured you. Why?" She didn't wait for an answer, answering herself instead. "Uh-huh. Yes, because of the baby. You didn't want to put it in danger." She paused, her heart pounding as the realization hit her with the new force 

Her eyes darted over the beast, noting how tired and drained it seemed. It was only by being in its home, the firelands that it could truly be restored to its full strength.

Then, something strange happened. Her pendant started to glow. Amara's hand shot to her chest, where the pendant hung. She gasped as she felt a growl reverberating in her mind, followed by a soft, faint, but unmistakable whisper.

"Help me."

She clenched the pendant tighter, trying to focus on the words, but the voice didn't come again.

Amara's heart raced as she couldn't took in the full meaning of what the voice was saying. But what could she do?

Her eyes darted to her pocket, where she had tucked away a vial filled with a mysterious liquid. She wasn't sure of its exact use, but she knew it was meant for healing. 

Without thinking, she pulled the vial out and uncorked it. She hesitated for only a moment before gently tilting the vial and letting the liquid drip onto the beast's tongue. After a moment, the creature seemed to react. A shudder ran through its body, its muscles twitching as the potion began to work.

The beast growled loudly, the chains rattling as it yanked against them with renewed strength. Within moments, the chains snapped. The beast broke free with an explosive surge of energy, knocking the bars aside with a single swipe of its massive claws. Amara stumbled back in shock, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the beast move with a power she had not expected.

With a renewed sense of urgency, Amara rushed forward, following the trail of blood that had begun to pool around the beast. She could hear the creature's whimpers echo through the dungeon as she followed the path deeper into the cold, stone chambers.

And then, she saw it.

Beside the beast, lying limp and bloodied, was a child. A young boy, no older than seven or eight, naked and covered in blood, his body frail and weak. His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

Amara's heart skipped a beat. Her hands trembled in disbelief. Her knees came to touch the cold floor beside the child, trembling with disbelief.

A cold shiver ran down her spine as she gently scooped the boy into her arms, her mind racing as she tried to process everything that had just happened. 

The dungeon was silent except for the soft sounds of Amara's breath, quick and shallow. Her mind didn't stop to race, trying to comprehend what had just happened. The beast had given birth to a human child. She couldn't fathom how this was possible, but there was no denying the tiny, fragile body in her arms.

As she observed the beast, it's chest was heaving with shallow breaths, and Amara knew it wouldn't last much longer. Its body was already starting to grow cold, its once-powerful frame weakened by the strain of childbirth. The fire that had once roared within it had faded, replaced by a dull glow. 

Amara stood frozen for a moment, her heart heavy with sorrow. She wasn't sure why she felt so connected to this creature, but it was clear that the beast had fought not for itself, but for its child. She could feel , deep within her, the mother's instinct, even to a creature of fire. The beast had tried to protect its offspring, and now it was dying.

Her hands trembled as she gently lifted the child, the small form feeling fragile in her arms. The child was covered in blood, but it was still alive, breathing softly, though weakly. She instinctively wrapped the small body in the shawl she had taken wrapped around her neck.

The beast gave a low, guttural growl, its head turning to face Amara with tired, unfocused eyes. Its gaze was filled with sorrow, as if it knew its time had come. Amara whispered softly to it, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the dungeon.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, "but I'll take care of your child."

The beast let out one final breath, its body shuddering before it collapsed. Amara's heart ached as she watched it die. 

Suddenly, she heard the distant sound of shouting. It was coming from outside the dungeon. Chaotic, panicked voices of men growing louder by each second. The ground trembled beneath her feet as something heavy moved through the castle. She froze, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what it was. The fire beast had somehow managed to make his way into the castle.

Amara quickly looked down at the child in her arms, then back at the lifeless form of the beast. She couldn't stay here. She hurriedly leave the dungeon, her footsteps echoing down the hallways. The child's soft breaths were the only sound that kept her grounded. She made her way to the stairs, moving as quickly as she could without attracting attention. She reached the castle's outer chambers, where she could hear the soldiers preparing for battle. Rhys and the king were at the front, trying to defend the castle as much if their strength can.

Outside, the sky had darkened, and the air was thick with smoke. The people of the kingdom were running for cover, shouting in fear as they fled from the massive, fire-breathing beast that had broken into their walls.

Amara quickly found her way to the castle courtyard, where she could see Rhys and the king standing at the front with their soldiers. The beast was just inside the walls, its enormous form looming against them. It was far larger than any of the others, its claws grinding against the stone ground, sending shivers through the soldiers' ranks. The beast's growls echoed across the castle grounds, each one more terrifying than the last.

Rhys stood tall, his face set in determination. His armor was battered from the previous encounters, but he didn't seem to care. His sword was drawn, ready for battle. The king was beside him, his posture the same.

"Prepare the ropes!" Rhys shouted, his voice commanding as the soldiers scrambled to follow his orders. "We need to restrain it."

The soldiers rushed to form a perimeter around the beast, their weapons raised as they tried to hold the creature at bay. The fire beast roared, its enormous jaws snapping in fury. The fire it emitted was so intense that it burned the air around it, making it nearly impossible to approach.

Amara could only watch from a distance, hope seemed to slip away from her eyes.

Suddenly, a soldier cried out, and Amara's heart skipped a beat. The beast had begun to lash out, sending soldiers flying through the air with one swipe of its massive claws. 

Rhys continued to bark orders to his men, and they fired spears at the beast. The creature let out a deafening roar, but it didn't stop to fight back against the attack. 

"Stay back!" Rhys shouted to the king, his voice full of urgency. 

The king shook his head, he didn't step back. He was determined to fight along his soldiers until the end. But even from where Amara stood, she could see that they were losing ground. The fire beast was too powerful to their weak defense.

The battle raged on. Amara felt a surge of helplessness flood through her. What could she do with a child in her arms ?!.