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941 Words
Sophia woke up early the next morning, feeling a bit disoriented. She was still getting used to her new surroundings, the soft ground under her makeshift bed and the gentle rustle of leaves above her. As she stretched and got up, she noticed Arcturus keeping a watchful eye on her.
"Good morning," he said, his voice deep and soothing.
"Good morning," Sophia replied, feeling a bit embarrassed that the dragon had been watching her sleep.
"How did you sleep?" Arcturus asked, tilting his head slightly.
"I slept fine," Sophia replied, brushing the leaves and twigs off her clothes. "I'm just not used to sleeping on the ground."
"I understand," Arcturus said sympathetically. "We'll work on making you a more comfortable bed."
Sophia smiled, appreciative of his kindness. She was still amazed that she had been given a dragon as her protector. She had always heard stories of dragons, but had never imagined that she would have one by her side.
As she looked around, she saw that Arcturus had been busy while she was asleep. He had gathered some fruit from the nearby trees and had started a fire to cook them on.
"Breakfast is ready," Arcturus said, gesturing towards the fire.
Sophia walked over to the fire, feeling grateful for the warm meal. She sat down on a nearby log and started to eat.
As they ate, Arcturus told her more about himself and his kind. He spoke of the dragon race and their history, their ancient wisdom and their fierce loyalty to those they considered their allies.
Sophia listened intently, fascinated by his stories. She had always been interested in mythology and legends, and hearing about the dragons only heightened her curiosity.
As they finished their meal, Arcturus suddenly stood up, his eyes scanning the surrounding area.
"What is it?" Sophia asked, sensing the dragon's tension.
"We have company," Arcturus said, his voice low and menacing.
Sophia looked around, but didn't see anyone.
"Who is it?" she asked, feeling a bit scared.
"I don't know," Arcturus said, his eyes fixed on a spot in the distance. "But we need to be prepared."
Sophia followed Arcturus' gaze and saw a group of strangers approaching. They were a mix of humans and shifters, and they looked like they were on a mission. Sophia's heart started to race as she tried to figure out if they were friend or foe.
"Who are they?" Sophia whispered to Arcturus, trying not to draw attention to themselves.
"I'm not sure," Arcturus replied, his voice serious. "But we need to be cautious."
As the group got closer, Sophia saw that they were armed and had a determined look on their faces. She could tell that they meant business.
Arcturus stood in front of Sophia, shielding her from the strangers. His wings spread out, ready to take flight if necessary.
The group stopped a few feet away from them and one of the humans stepped forward.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" the human demanded, his hand on his sword.
Sophia stood up, feeling brave in the face of danger. "My name is Sophia and this is my companion, Arcturus," she said, gesturing to the dragon.
"We don't mean any harm," Arcturus added, his voice calm but firm.
The human looked at them suspiciously before lowering his sword. "What are you doing out here?" he asked, his tone less hostile.
"We're just passing through," Sophia said, hoping to diffuse the tension.
The group looked at each other, seeming to silently communicate.
Finally, the human spoke again. "We're on a mission to find a lost artifact," he said. "We don't have time to deal with outsiders."
Sophia and Arcturus exchanged a glance. They knew that they couldn't trust these strangers, but they didn't want to cause any trouble.
"We understand," Arcturus said. "We'll be on our way."
The group watched them as they left, but didn't try to stop them. Sophia felt relieved as they walked away, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they had just narrowly avoided a dangerous situation.
Sophia and Arcturus walked in silence for a while, both lost in thought. Sophia couldn't help but wonder what the strangers were looking for and why they were so aggressive. It was clear that they were on a mission, but Sophia couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on.
Arcturus suddenly stopped, causing Sophia to bump into him. She looked up and saw that he was staring intently at something in the distance.
"What is it?" Sophia asked, following his gaze.
Arcturus pointed towards a nearby clearing. "There," he said. "Do you see it?"
Sophia squinted, trying to make out what he was referring to. She saw a faint glimmer of light and realized that it was coming from a small cabin in the center of the clearing.
"Someone's there," Sophia said, feeling a sense of unease.
Arcturus nodded, his expression serious. "We should investigate," he said.
Sophia hesitated, unsure if it was a good idea. But her curiosity got the best of her, and she followed Arcturus towards the clearing.
As they got closer, they saw that the cabin was small and run-down. It looked like it had been abandoned for years, but the light inside suggested that someone was living there.
Arcturus landed softly on the ground, and Sophia followed suit. They approached the door cautiously, listening for any sounds inside.
After a few moments, Sophia heard the sound of a baby crying. Her heart clenched, and she realized that there was someone inside who needed help.
Without hesitation, she pushed open the door and entered the cabin.
- Writer
