The Dragon’s Nest

What just happened? Emilia felt pain everywhere. Her back felt like it was being stabbed in multiple places. She hears a quaint ringing, not sure if it is from the outside or her ears. Her head is so heavy she can barely lift it, but the worst sensation is coming from her stomach. It stings and feels weirdly warm, but when she tries to move, she thinks she might pass out again from the excruciating pain. The dragon! She remembers its claw engulfing her and squeezing her until she passed out. “Are you okay?” Emilia heard Bora ask, concerned. Right Bora was in the basket. The witch tries to open up her eyes. She fails a few times before being able to pry them open. Light and purple engulf her vision. “Bora?” Emilia croaks out, surprised by how weak her voice sounded. “I’m so glad you are alive!” Bora cries, her form wobbling just like her voice. “Where…” It’s hard to speak, so Emilia only let’s out one word at a time. “I’m not sure. That Dragon grabbed you from the sky as we were falling and dropped us on this pile of rubbish.” Bora tried to explain calmly. Emilia remembers the treasure pile and groans. “I should…have known.” She manages to let out feeling petrified at her own mistake. “What do you mean?” Bora asks. Emilia takes a deep breath and then puts all her strength in her arms to push herself up. She hisses from the pain she feels everywhere, but she has to do this. Emilia manages to sit upright with Bora in her lap. She can now see exactly where they are. It was nothing but metals as far as the eye could see. “I saw this… while my eyes were up… but didn’t realise until it was too late… what the meaning of a treasure pile was.” The witch scans her surroundings but sees no dragon.” The dragon doesn’t seem to be here though. Were you awake this whole time?” Emilia asked, picking Bora up and putting her to her side. She tried to get to her feet but failed, just stumbling back and hurting her behind. Next to her, Bora changes form. This time to a metal pipe. “Here just hold onto me. I’m softer to the touch of the real thing.” Emilia felt like crying but held it in thanking Bora before holding her for stability. This time when she tries to stand on her feet, she doesn’t fall. She walked slowly, making sure to put Bora on flat surfaces to not hurt the slime. She was worried when she couldn’t see land no matter how much she walked, but then again, due to circumstances, her walking ability and speed rapidly declined. She tried to keep her thoughts busy. It was detrimental that she knew what kinda dragon she was dealing with. From the little she saw and knowing she was currently in the outer ring, it must have been a Wyvern. Cousins to the great dragons, wyverns have two scaly legs, leathery wings, and a sinewy tail topped with a poison stinger that can kill a creature in seconds. It was a good call to drop her broom to not get hit. Fighting one in her current state was suicide, so instead she had thoughts of escape plans. It would have been great if she could find her broom now or another one as long as it could fly. “Didn’t you hear me stop!” Bora screamed. Emilia halted abruptly, focusing on Bora. “Sorry, what is it?” She asked. She hoped that in her daze she hadn’t hurt her little friend. “The ring was golden and embattled with a purple gem, right?” Emilia’s eyes widened as she understood why Bora stopped her. She found the ring! “Where is it?” The witch knew that truly she shouldn’t care any more, but if she could get it, it wouldn’t have all been for nothing. “Right under me.” Bora responds excitedly. The witch moved Bora and there it was in all its royal beauty and glory