Chapter 16: Fire and Flight

The sky was calm that morning—too calm.

No wind. No bird calls. Even the buzzing insects seemed quieter, like the jungle was holding its breath.

But I was hungry.

And hunger didn't care about uneasy silence.

I flew low, wings slicing through the thick air, eyes scanning the forest for movement. Birds weren't in the sky today. Even the usual deer herds had vanished. Something was off, but I ignored the instinct.

I shouldn't have.

I spotted a lizard creeping along a sunlit log. Big enough for a light snack. I dove silently, claws extended—

CRASH.

The earth erupted beneath the log.

A Skullcrawler launched up from the ground like a nightmare, its pale body cutting through the jungle, dirt and roots flying in every direction.

Its gaping mouth was inches from me before I even had time to think.

I twisted mid-air, trying to bank away, but the thing's long tongue lashed out—slamming into my side and flinging me sideways. I hit the ground hard, skidding through the underbrush, branches snapping beneath me.

Pain shot through my wing. Not broken. Just bruised. But enough to scare me.

The Skullcrawler let out a bone-rattling screech and charged, its gaping maw wide enough to swallow me whole.

I scrambled to my feet, hissed, and let it out.

Fire.

It wasn't a roar. Not yet. But it was a jet of bright orange sparks and heat—enough to scorch the crawler's face.

The beast reeled back, hissing, its eye blinking rapidly as smoke curled from its snout. It wasn't enough to kill it—but it gave me a second.

I didn't waste it.

I ran, wings beating furiously, every muscle screaming as I leapt into the air.

The crawler chased after me, crashing through trees, howling with rage.

But I was faster now.

Stronger.

And this time… I stayed in the sky.

I rose above the treetops, flapping hard until the crawler was just a pale streak below, stomping and thrashing in frustration.

I didn't stop until I was miles away.

I landed high on a cliff edge, panting hard, smoke still curling from my throat.

I stared down at the jungle below, eyes sharp.

That was close. Too close.

But I fought back.

I survived.

My fire had saved me. Not a spark, not a flicker—but a true blast.

I curled up beneath a rock overhang, heart still racing, my scales still hot.

One day I'll burn them down completely.

One day I won't have to run.

But for now…

I lived.

And that was enough.