• The smoke billowed about us, shortening each breath. As I strain for oxygen, my companion Tick skittered along beside me, oblivious to the lack of breathable air. I withheld my coughs, gasps, chokes and such to the best of my ability. Didn’t want to wake Him. But, there was no need for stealth.
    Clouds of smothering smoke dispersed in a wisp of fire and mist. Ash and embers drifted down in the heat, down, down, swirling into the smoldering crevasse He calls home. Then… a great roar. Stalactites shattered and fell to the cavern floor, rock fragments hopped about in a wild dance, the bellows of the Great One rocked the ground with vicious ease. The behemoth chose this time to rise.
    A massive shape took form, as the black serpentine body seeped up out of the crevasse. Wings of shadow erupted from His back, claws thrashed violently, tail lashed out in a threatening display of fury. Two searing eyes seethed from the dark mass of glimmering scales. Fire and shadow energies twisted and swam about in the dim light in an ever maddening rage. Lavender mist spilled from His gaping maw as He bared His fangs.
    “Speak,” boomed His Lordship.
    “Speak,” boomed Zix.