It was a dragon, I realized. Not a dragon-kin, but a true ancient dragon. They were supposed to have been extinct, missing since the time of Readimina and the other gods. The object that Rio had as proof had been one of the beast’s enormous scales.
I would have expected such a rare and ancient creature to be beautiful, but I found myself particularly in awe of how hideous it was was. It had no wings – very much like Levent, I thought – but muscles rippled below its thick greenish scales with obvious power.
As the group on the ledge readied their second volley, Levent was still the main target of the beast. I watched him anxiously as the great lizard lunged, ramming its jaws into the slope as the kin leapt over its head and onto the ground behind it. Though I was pleased that he had dodged, my elation was interrupted as an enormous tremor rocked through me from the impact.
A great fluttering of wings erupted all around us. The birds that Rio had mentioned before now swooped down from their perches, squawking angrily. Not many managed to shoot at the dragon a second time before they were trying to loose themselves from the grip of one of the carrion birds.
I ducked down into the curve of the tree, and dug into my pocket. One of the birds rushed at me, and I quickly tossed the cloud-bomb at its face. Though a powdery fog filled the air, the creature was not dissuaded for long. It quickly lunged at me again. I flinched, kicking at it blindly.
Distantly, I heard the dragon roar and then the ground fell out from under me.