Liam’s two companions lift their eyes to the sky at the question, squinting in unison at the dark shadow approaching from the south. Jessa is quick to dismiss it, shaking her head before going back to packing up her spell books and bedroll.
“It’s likely just a bird.”
“Seems rather large for a bird at that distance,” the ranger, Morton, frowns as he continues to look at the shape.,
“Maybe it’s a big bird,” she sighs. “What does it matter – by the time it reaches here, we’ll be gone.” She glances around the rest of the camp, then back to her friends who are staring, transfixed. “Or we could be if the rest if you would get packing.”
Liam snaps his head towards her and flashes her an awkward, crooked smile, before doing as he’s told. “You’re right. Probably nothing.”
Morton, on the other hand, doesn’t respond. Instead, he leaps towards the nearest tree, grasping the lowest branch and hoisting himself into the trees. Jessa’s hands flop out towards her sides as she watches him go.
“By the gods, is he trying to make us late?” She pauses to raise her voice, so she’s shouting up towards the canopy of the trees. “There’s a lot of money riding on this, Morton!”
Morton doesn’t respond again, pushing himself upwards with his usual ranger grace. All the same, the shadow continues to get larger and larger, creating a much more ominous presence in the sky. “That’s no bird,” he finally acknowledges, shouting down from his perch.
“Of course, it’s a …” Her voice trails off as she turns to look again, but this time, she’s dumbstruck by what she sees. “ … dragon.”
“What?” Liam frowns, turning towards the sight. Now, he can make out the details – large leathery wings supporting a much more substantial scaly body, reptilian ridges, and crowns across his back. And most importantly, a great, gaping maw with a spark of molten flame leaking against the corners. His eyes widen in surprise, and he scrambles to grab his things. “Oathkeeper preserve us. We should run, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes,” Jessa nods, grabbing her things. “Yes, we should.”
5/31/20 | ten minute challenge | original | 363
Liam’s two companions lift their eyes to the sky at the question, squinting in unison at the dark shadow approaching from the south. Jessa is quick to dismiss it, shaking her head before going back to packing up her spell books and bedroll.
“It’s likely just a bird.”
“Seems rather large for a bird at that distance,” the ranger, Morton, frowns as he continues to look at the shape.,
“Maybe it’s a big bird,” she sighs. “What does it matter – by the time it reaches here, we’ll be gone.” She glances around the rest of the camp, then back to her friends who are staring, transfixed. “Or we could be if the rest if you would get packing.”
Liam snaps his head towards her and flashes her an awkward, crooked smile, before doing as he’s told. “You’re right. Probably nothing.”
Morton, on the other hand, doesn’t respond. Instead, he leaps towards the nearest tree, grasping the lowest branch and hoisting himself into the trees. Jessa’s hands flop out towards her sides as she watches him go.
“By the gods, is he trying to make us late?” She pauses to raise her voice, so she’s shouting up towards the canopy of the trees. “There’s a lot of money riding on this, Morton!”
Morton doesn’t respond again, pushing himself upwards with his usual ranger grace. All the same, the shadow continues to get larger and larger, creating a much more ominous presence in the sky. “That’s no bird,” he finally acknowledges, shouting down from his perch.
“Of course, it’s a …” Her voice trails off as she turns to look again, but this time, she’s dumbstruck by what she sees. “ … dragon.”
“What?” Liam frowns, turning towards the sight. Now, he can make out the details – large leathery wings supporting a much more substantial scaly body, reptilian ridges, and crowns across his back. And most importantly, a great, gaping maw with a spark of molten flame leaking against the corners. His eyes widen in surprise, and he scrambles to grab his things. “Oathkeeper preserve us. We should run, shouldn’t we?”
“Yes,” Jessa nods, grabbing her things. “Yes, we should.”