"What?" Elsa harshly whispered turning to Nokk, she knew that face. Her friend still possessed strong reservations towards Ryu.
Elsa gave her an affiliative smile, waving her hand in a small motion at her friend who was standing in the shallow banks of the lake behind her cottage. Ryu raised her brow, ears titling forward curiously.
"You could join us in the water you know, water spirit." Elsa challenged. Nokk grunted becoming more agitated. "If you just give her a chance I'm sure you'd like her. Just imagine she's a giant Bruni." Probably not the right thing to say since she received no response whatsoever.
"Well alright," Elsa turned away, putting on the performance of dropping the subject. "If you're afraid of her then I guess-"
Her ponytail whipped around her neck as Nokk raced past her and into the water. Shaking her head with a weak laugh she wadded into the lake the horse a few feet away sank into.
Once at her side Elsa placed her hand upon Ryu's strong neck, fingers scratching lightly at the surprisingly soft and pliable scales.
Elsa examined them using her thumb and index finger to displace the skin. Huh, she could have sworn she had seen the dragon's armor deflect a arrow before, and Grand Pabbie had informed her that the scales of a dragon were incredibly difficult to pierce.
Ryu looked at her curiously when a low rumble began vibrating what seemed like her whole frame. It reminded Elsa of a cat, in a way. "Do you like that?" She asked continuing the message.
A light gurgle and muzzle now being pressed into her abdomen said yes. She took a few steps back from the pressure, recovering easily.
Her other hand stretched itself into the dragon's mane, Ryu raised her gaze to Elsa's hissing white smoke into her face.
Elsa retreated inhaling intermittently thrice before releasing a squeaky sneeze. She sniffled hoping she wasn't allergic to the smoke Ryu kept blowing into her face.
Then she pounced splashing into the water thoroughly soaking Elsa. Her fingers flew up to her face heavily rubbing away the droplets of water. Shrugging she dove beneath the surface.
Ryu proved to be quite the strong swimmer, not able to keep up with Nokk in the slightest but she was definitely faster than Elsa both above and below the water.
Her swimming patterns made Elsa think of the otter family she had seen a couple times occupy the lake whenever they had offspring to nurse. Just as playful, the resemblance became uncanny when the dragon relaxed upon her back floating along the light waves Elsa and Nokk had created.
Elsa berated herself to the dumb idea that kept pestering her mind. She had been tempted to swim up to Ryu and hold her paw receiving an odd look but she didn't pull away.
Elsa had gone thirty minutes over her scheduled time of when she was supposed to depart the lake and meet Yelana, and Honeymaren.
She ignored Ryu's calls to come back in entering her home in a rush. Elsa was grateful that no matter how light she packed she never had to worry about a lack of wardrobe.
Tying the white sash around the waste of her blue traveling jacket, Elsa waved over Ryu signaling for her to join her at the front of her cottage.
"Oh." Elsa piped somewhat shocked at seeing Ryu lounging in her front garden.
She was curious about the the two bags Elsa had set on her porch deciding that they required immediate investigation, performed by a prodding nose.
"Ahem," The spirit knew she was being heard despite the lack of eye communication, Ryu's ears where turned to where she stood. "Arendelle this week is having a very, very, important diplomatic summit that I must attend." Anna had been writing her almost every night stressing the details of the event, also stressing the unnecessary detail that Ryu would not be able to be invited, as it would be the fondant on top of the fear cake other countries had been baking in their rumor Mills and tall tales.
"I need you to take care while I'm away okay? But a good friend of mine very kindly offered to keep you company." Now she had the eyes of Ryu who slowly rose to full height.
"You want me to what?" Ryder squawked nearly falling off of his log perch.
Elsa smiled impishly, folding her hands together. Ryder had admently offered to keep an eye out for Ryu when he asked why the spirit seemed so silent at dinner. She tried to desuade him that it wasn't necessary but he insisted bravely.
As she went over her list she had begun pacing in front of the man who hesitantly agreed with a pathetic groan.
"Talk to her about well about anything, she'll listen to you. She also likes to smell and look at flowers, her favorite food is fish, she loves bees, please don't let her lick them, but she is afraid of crickets. Oh and don't touch her unless you ask her permission. Her favorite night time activity is watching the stars. She also enjoys reading so whatever books you find in my house please both of you help yourselves." Elsa hummed tapping her chin trying to scrounge her mind for anything she was forgetting. "Oh! She also plays this game where she'll jump out of the bushes and pretend to pounce on you, it can be alarming but after the first ten or eleven times you'll be accustomed to it, if you really want to have fun with her I'd recommend you run away after she pounces and then she'll chase you!"
Elsa paused her rant smiling fading away at the horrid expression on Ryder's face. He coughed into a trembling fist.
"One question; what if she eats me when she catches me, like I heard from you actually that running from predators is kinda dumb?"
"She won't, trust me Ryder, if it was dangerous I wouldn't have accepted your brave and very sweet volunteering." Ryder nodded not seemingly convinced but Elsa had helped him more times than he could count. As if hyping himself up he rubbed his hair furiously groaning which rose in volume the faster he messed his hair.
Elsa watched, eyes slightly widened silently.
Once done, he grinned, his chest rose much faster than before. "Alright let's meet your... Friend."
The dragon seemed to processing her words becoming more and more anxious. Elsa too felt some consternation at the idea of leaving not just the dragon behind but also the forest. There were still no signs of the attacker the night of fire, still this summit was not something she could be absent from as the importance of it and the weight of possible failures had a great influence on Arendelle's, Northuldra's, and the enchanted forest's futures.
No pressure.
"Hey," Elsa drawled softly, Ryu allowed her to lift her chin. "You'll be alright, it's only for a week, but I do not want you following me to Arendelle understand?" Her thumbs rubbed along her muzzle in small circles. "I have to go represent the spirits and make sure our home is safe. And you have to stay here. No following." She wagged a finger in front of Ryu, the serious expression left as quickly as it came.
"Ryu I'd like you to meet Ryder." The man took a few minutes to realize it was his cue to step out of the house.
He cracked open the front door slightly and slid out, with his hands behind his back still grasping the knob. His lips folded in a tight strained smile. "H-hello there, Ry-uhh Ryu."
She looked him over quickly then shot a deadpanned stare towards Elsa who showed her teeth in a wide grin.
"Ryder this is Ryu." It seemed useless at this point but she continued the introductions. When neither party made an attempt to move she looked to Ryu before rolling her eyes towards Ryder. Go on. Be nice.
Letting out a complaining moan the dragon approached slowly to the dismay of Ryder and leaned back upon her hind legs, reaching easily six foot five in the stance. Much more like a ragdoll than anything a lazy paw dangled in the air.
After checking with Elsa who nodded, Ryder went forward stretching his left leg back as if it didn't want to leave the porch. He took the paw in a three finger hold and shaked it twice before pulling away a bit too quickly.
Elsa sighed, accepting that was going to be as good as it got for now. They'd be good friends eventually, they were both similar in multiple ways. They were both goofy and... And...
They were similar in one way, but Elsa was certain they could bond over it.
Elsa wrapped her arms around Ryu's neck and squeezed gently. "I'll be back soon." She mumbled before pulling away.
She fastened her satchels to Nokk's back offering one last reassuring grin before the water horse took off in a trot.
She closed her eyes, willing away the nagging feeling of dread that everything would implode in on itself and things would be fine.
Honeymaren was just as shocked at the news that Ryder would be watching Ryu as Elsa was when the man offered.
"Elsa..." Her hand ran over her face trailing to the back of her neck. "I love my brother, dearly, but he- let me tell you a story. Before Ryder had met Emil he had a pet, named Pebbles and loved him dearly. Then one day while trying to show him something Ryder dropped Pebbles down a very deep earth fissure..."
Elsa gulped. Oh god.
"He held a funeral for him and was crushed."
"Poor Ryder, I'm sure even though he may blame himself it's not his fau-"
Honeymaren's apathetic eyes bore intothe other woman who met them with her own confusion.
"Elsa... Pebbles was Ryder's pet rock."
Honeymaren nodded along as Elsa rubbed her temples. She didn't know if the moral of story was that Ryder felt deeply for everyone put in his charge and took loses to heart or that he was somehow capable of even killing a rock.
Honeymaren took pity on her regretting the harsh reality she had crushed Elsa's idealisms with.
"Still you have good instincts and I trust you. So if you think he can do it then I know he can." Elsa gave a grateful smile. They rode ahead of Yelena in silence for a short while, until Honeymaren's silence became loud.
"What's wrong?" Honeymaren shrugged, Elsa left the invitation open until she felt comfortable enough to raise her voice. Elsa always had an odd way to draw, even the most quiet in, without even uttering a word to unload their woes to her.
"I just worry about him. I've always protected him and I always will but I am concerned for if there may ever be a time when I... can't." She could understand that very well.
"I hadn't had the throne for more than three years, but even then I felt the weight of the responsibilities that came with it. I didn't want Anna to feel the substantial pressure that I felt with being the 'perfect queen', I wanted to keep her safe from how cruel and daunting political and aristocratic society could be." There was a very specific twinkle in Elsa's eyes as continued on, a giddiness that sent tremors in her voice.
"I was so happy when she showed me and herself that to be the perfect queen was to be herself. How proud I was, just imagine how proud you'll be of Ryder when his day comes. I have a feeling he'll surprise you and even himself, all you have to do is just give him a chance."
Honeymaren half smiled, looking down. "Well, Anna has a pretty impressive example in a big sister."
"And Ryder has an amazing sister-"
"You both are some of the most exemplary women I've ever had the privilege of meeting." Both of them turned to see Yelana urging her reindeer to catch up with ease.
The younger women blushed as Yelana now between them regarded Elsa and Honeymaren appreciatively.
"Although I can admire humility don't let it turn into self doubt and snuff out the great potential you possess. Both of you." Yelana was the only one Honeymaren and Elsa knew who had the ability to make a sincere compliment into a command.
Honeymaren turned in her saddle glancing behind them when Yelana took the lead of the group. "Wasn't she like-" she jutted her thumb over her shoulder facing forward again. " Thirteen feet behind us?"
Elsa leaned over face alit with mirth, whispering. "You think she has magical ears?"
"Definitely, without a doubt, this one time I couldn't stop sneezing all the way in the fields mind you, cause I was allergic to Ryder's dumb new hat, and when I got back to my hut Yelana tossed some handkerchiefs at me, she wasn't even anywhere near the fields."
"You'd think her ears would be bigger if they were magic..." Elsa in jesting contemplation hummed, her mouth moved sideways.
Honeymaren shrugged and spoke in a suggestive tone. "Mm well..."
Their heads snapped forward when the older woman's voice broke though their whispers.
"I heard that girls."
The pair erupted in a fit of giggles as they urged their mounts into trots joining Yelena's side.
Elsa's mind wandered to Ryu, she hoped she was as least being courteous to Ryder. It had only been two hours but alot could happen in that amount of time.
"Sooooooo... Ya like corn?" Ryu's eyes slowly glanced to the side at the strange man Elsa left her company to.
She wanted desperately to follow and even found herself willing to take her chances with entering Arendelle again but the special occasion seemed of imperative significance to the woman and she wouldn't risk it. Plus she had never seen Elsa truly cross and had no desire t-
"I hate it."
After a few hours the group had entered Arendelle's city. Honeymaren bashfully accepted the gifts which passerbys gave to her and her companions.
Elsa watched Nokk gallop pass Honeymaren and Yelena's mounts which were being taken by the stable master and dive into the fjord waters.
"Hey Elsa, Yelena," Kristoff greeted them with a wave but not as enthusiastically as Sven who received loving scratches beneath his muzzle from Honeymaren.
"Honeymaren, I heard you were knocked off your feet by Ryder's latest prank." He said coyly crossing his arms.
Honeymaren mimicked the stance. "Oh yea I was right into a poison thicket, I heard you were knocked off a cliff."
Kristoff visibly searched his mind for a retort to the playful jeb but was unsuccessful.
Honeymaren chuckled at the blunder.
"Stop sending my brother prank ideas." Elsa couldn't help but snicker. When she spotted Anna come from a door leading into the foyer looking quite frazzled. Her chest tried to catch up with her breathing and she walked in a hurried pace.
"Hello everyone." Despite her appearance her voice remained chipper and full of energy. She immediately attached herself to Elsa's arm slightly tugging her away to the side she and Kristoff stood at.
Elsa groaned internally, Anna had a jealous streak towards Elsa's friend, it was less aggressive than before but she still had subtle ways of telling Honeymaren that she was Elsa's number one and Elsa was hers.
Not wanting the pain of an awkward silence the spirit spoke up clasping her hands together. "Well I'm going to show Honeymaren and Yelena to their room-"
"I told Gerda to, but Elsa we need to talk now, like right now." Anna grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. Elsa waved back trying not to stumble.
"I'll see you guys later!"
They watched as she disappeared silently.
"She's not as subtle as she thinks." Honeymaren snorted at the observation and shook her head, Kristoff to nodded.
"Yea that's not really her strong suit."
Ryder definitely was alot more animated than Elsa when it came to chase, his pretend screams were so realistic.
The man tripped over some roots with yelp and flinched when Ryu pounced shielding his face with his arms. Ryu sat down staring at him.
He grunted when a paw slapped his stomach hard, at least it wasn't hard as when Honeymaren punched him in the gut after his pranks.
Ryu crooned and moved off him after receiving a thumbs up. "Alright you won again." His words paused in-between heavy breaths as he stood up.
He was fun, a bit skittish, but entertaining nonetheless. Ryu began spinning in place gracefully ending it with a small jump in an attempt to return the favor.
Ryder's mouth turned upward slightly as her tail curved around toward her face. "Huh, bravo," he clapped. "You would have made an excellent dancer. I too am blessed with the art of dance." Ryu backed up as he closed his arms around his torso and performed a pirouette.
Ryder bowed as his audience clapped her paws humming very delighted.
"Thank you, thank you." Well, now what? Ryu pondered. There was this nest of bees she could show him.
"Wanna see something awesome?" Now she was curious as he gestured for her to follow him into the thicker woods.
They walked for twenty minutes and Ryder had to admit, he could see the charm that Elsa seemed know the dragon possessed.
If they came across anything new she would fully inspect be it with her nose or eyes or... Tongue. She also was much more physical then he expected from Elsa's description of her temperament, while all the same being consciously aware of her size in comparison to his much smaller frame.
She'd nudged his arms our back hard but nothing too extreme to put him out of commission. Ryder kept an eye on her though ever since she had snuck up behind him and pushed him into a stream.
"Alright take a look, this has been here for years and I used to think it was a tremor but now I think it was earth giants that made it." Ryu had only seen a place as deep as the earth fissure they were peering into twice in her life.
When she got too close to the edge Ryder pulled her back by her wing. "Let's not!" He cried, now probably regretting bringing her here. "One of my friends is down there." Ryu looked him as he sat on the ground placing his arms on raised knees.
"He uh, I dropped him." Ryu turned her attention back to the deep hole. "his name was pebbles, he was uh...uh rock I painted orange and yellow."
That was... Special.
She regarded him again, his remorseful words bounced about in her skull.
Before the man could react she jumped off the edge into the hole keeping her wings close to her body. His calls echoed off the walls of the fissure.
"Not again!"
She broke her fall clinging to the sides of rock from the descent that lasted for a few minutes. The darkness would have been suffocating if she could not see.
Her pupils widened to the maximum width taking in all the details of the eerie pit. The sound of claws scraping the rocks echoed, volume taking over the space. It seemed as if she was the only living thing down here.
A fragile skeleton collapsed as Ryu's back leg accidentally tipped over its skull. Her heart rate increased for a moment at the noisy intrusion.
She sniffed the air, dust, and the scent of Earth perfumed her scales.
There is alot of rocks but one of these rocks is not like the other.
It was fifteen minutes before she turned around and searched the area which was right beneath where Ryder stood.
Orange and yellow caught her diligent vision. She found him! Ryu rasped gleefully bounding over and moving the other ownerless rocks aside.
The colorful pet was gently grasped between jaws. The way up was much more difficult than down but she managed doing her best to not get entangled in the roots and foliage which grew along the fissure walls.
The sun hurt her eyes as it spilled from the cracks of the surface.
Her paw clung to the top, claws burrowing into the dirt as Ryu hoisted herself up.
She huffed at Ryder, his sobbing cries could be heard a few feet down. She approached slowly since he didn't seem to take notice of her return and chuffed at him.
He gasped scrambling to his feet. "Ryu why would you do that to me, I had heart attack! Are you insan-" his rant ceased as he noticed what was held in her mouth.
"Is that?" She spat into his held out palm, he didn't seem to mind the sticky saliva dripping from his fingers. "You found... Pebbles?" He whispered, lip quivering rapidly.
Ryu barked lightly, his choking hug was not expected but not rebuked either as praises and gratitude poured from his mouth.
"Honeymaren is not going to believe this, no one will believe this!" His voice cracked. "I hope Emil won't be jealous."
Ryu sat down as the boy took in the moment then began backing away from the friend swallowing pit. "Let's get outta here though."
Dinner was not as an awkward affair as Elsa thought it would be at first, the Duke of Weaselton had sent his son, Lord Thomas Weaselton as his representative.
A cowards way out as Anna had put it when they accepted him in the throne room. The idea of a handsome man being the product of the Duke was hard to believe. Elsa concluded that the man must have inherited his symmetrical sharp face, which sported a brunette stubble, thick brown locks, and light green eyes from his mother. His cheek bones suggested towards the strong physique hinted at by the way his grey suit clung to him. The way the fabric swelled when he moved his biceps or when the white buttoned up shirt stretched beneath his strong chest.
The Duke must have been fond of tall women since his son stood at least an inch taller than Kristoff. The thought brought a secret shudder to Elsa.
"That's his son?" Anna incredulously asked in a whisper.
"Yep." Kristoff answered.
"Not adopted?"
"Nope."
"Ew."
It seemed Anna had the same train of thought as Elsa.
His boldness and flirtatious manner was the only inclination that he was his father's son.
She hated the way he kept his eyes not only on her and Honeymaren's forms but also the maids as well.
"If I had known Arendelle had such beautiful woman I would have come sooner." His voice wasn't as deep as one would think going off looks alone, Elsa would not be able to listen to it for long periods of time with the lord's tendency to hum after every word.
Perhaps he was trying to be suave or he couldn't help it, didn't matter.
Anna's well practiced false smile was sent his way, the Lord raised his glass to her.
Georg Scherer of Ruskland was much more conventional than Lord Thomas. He was quite but not in a shy sense, his eyes were small, and sharp yet took in every detail of his environment. He had more hair on his face, with his handle bar mustache and short pointed brown beard, than on his head, only possessing hair along the sides of it.
His age showed in wrinkles and his hefty body, but Georg's energy was that of a young man in his twenties.
Kristoff had attempted to strike up a conversation with him, he was a writer and pulpit orator in one of the Archduchy of Ruskland.
Since there was no relations to be made Georg was questioned about his position at court, he was a very opinionated man that proved to be less orthodox than his general appearance eluded to.
Elsa found herself immersed with fascination of his tales, he was a maven at telling stories. A religious man with philosophies that seemed to oppose the taboo but he did not speak of them with contempt in his deep voice. Instead he seemed to want to know the psychological reasoning in the acts of impermissible deeds.
"I was once presented with a complaint from a fellow compatriot about two ladies of the church, in regular attendance, who were involved romantically with one another,"
For some reason Elsa leant back swallowing harshly, wanting to put as much physical distance between them, why did she feel such disquietude? Her eyes left the man but her ears were still trained on his words. Perhaps this isn't the most appropriate conversation for dinner.
Kristoff looked as if he was debating of whether to tell him of the permissable laws in Arendelle regarding same sex relationships, while Anna with the aid of Honeymaren and Yelena thwarted off Thomas' lascivious speak of Elsa which were mute words spoken as far as the spirit was concerned.
"They were very well practiced in apothecary and were sisters," the resonating clang of a dropped Fork drew the attention of the dinning room to Elsa.
She cleared her throat. "My apologies." Then tilted her head at Thomas, he took the bait.
"I know, I know, I can be quite brash but better to miss a shot than never take it." He winked at the spirit.
Elsa felt Georg's eyes, the stare had taken form as a physical sensation that raped the side of her face. She dare not look up from her plate. Paranoia that he somehow knew her reactions were caused by his words and not Lord's.
"Lady Elsa," she refused to allow this man to make her flinch but the idea that his attention was now on her was unsettling to say the least.
Just as Anna's, Elsa's false grin was just as convincing. The distance of the seating had put her in advantage. She did not need to look him in eye just simply in his general direction.
"You too seem to be agog with the anomalous nature of man whether or not you take part of or wish to know why is another question." Elsa didn't answer the statement, thinking of a response, it was daunting that this man had made the pronouncement of her oddities she hadn't even explored herself.
"Yes, being a spirit one would think I am an anomaly myself but I have no right to judge anyone so long as they are not hurting others. It would be akin to a fool being judgemental of the clowns when he visits a circus." Georg smirked and chuckled. Though her voice remained even, eyes remained cordial, and even words had not been a full snub, Georg understood her without elucidation.
Back off.
The rest of dinner had gone by much easier, Anna entertained Georg with her contentious opinions that clashed with his own. He still remained calm and content with her keeping those convictions, perhaps it was the queen's warning when he and Lord Thomas began a discussion of faithfulness in a marriage. 'You are not here to preach or convert anyone, we are all aware of your beliefs and whoever it suits it suits and whoever it does not leave them be. Have a nice stay.'
Ryder was a loud snorer, his calls of sleep traveled through the woods. Ryu had thought the man would return to his home but he insisted that he stay the night with her.
An arm flopped over Ryu's forehead with a loud 'plap'. Groaning she nudged him away for the fifth time that night. Curling up her eyes shot open at a particularly intrusive snort.
Giving up on sleep wasn't as sacrificial for the dragon as it may have been to others.
All things beautiful existed when the sun retired its light and gave the moon charge over next watch especially in the enchanted forest.
Fireflies were one of those thing. Ryu held still as one nearly landed on her muzzle. Others followed using the high perch her body acted as. She moved slowly only disturbing a few. Maybe the ones that stayed were tired.
Either way she enjoyed the company. Bruni was nowhere to be found in this part of the wood. Did he follow Elsa?
Her micro sized travel companions glided away when an itch on the ear could no longer be ignored.
Ryu paused mid scratch at the sound of activity. That wasn't an odd occurrence plenty of nocturnal creatures dwelt in the wood, what was odd was what was making the noise.
Nose raised Ryu growled following the trail to a rocky formation which caved over the shore. She crawled low on her belly just a short hairs length from touching the ground and peered downward.
"Shut up you fools..."
"No fires. We don't know if any of the natives are dwelling in this area."
There were three men dressed in leather and grey furs. Their weapons drew her eyes and their scent made her nose curl.
They stink!
"Why does Julien get to stay in a nice cozy inn and we have to rough it out here?"
"We wouldn't have been in this mess if he didn't miss in the first place, I could have easily killed the snow bitch with my eyes closed."
This caused a growl to vibrate Ryu's throat.
"What was that?" Their questions were answered by a large shadow dropping down onto one of the men's shoulder tearing into it.
She spat it out staining the sand. The man writhed beneath her screaming out when a single claw pierced slowly into his back ceasing when it hit his spine.
The arrows were drawn quickly. Ryu admired their aim not that it would help them by any means but their accuracy and speed were impressive.
"What the fuck is that thing!" One asked his comrade, he couldn't answer too busy unsheathing his sword.
"It's dead is what it is." That wasn't the right answer, wait... Ryu bent down listening for air. Oh he died.
A charge was made against her. They gawked when she leapt over their heads but they managed to keep up with the dragon's evasive movements.
They'd attack at the same time somewhat overwhelming, the shashka swords slammed against her shoulder causing a temporary stumble, before she could recover a blade was stabbed against her side. She roared in pain, when the men saw that her hide could not be penetrated one of them threw his sword onto the ground and fished in his pocket.
Ryu yelped lowly when his gun pointed towards her chest. She hated guns they were noisy and painfully dented her scales inward. She had only been shot at a few times in her life and was determined to keep it that way.
Her ears plastered against her head when it fired.
"Get the rope!" The man bellowed loading his weapon again. The other rushed to their small boat.
Ryu stalked like a cat and hissed deep and gutteral, she stopped moving waiting for him to take aim again.
Before he could pull the trigger his arm momentarily fell downward in horrific awe when her chest lit ominously and swelled, flames were blown from between her fangs.
His friend slowly stopped running back seeing his partner ablaze and screeching. The fire obscured his vision making his path to ocean difficult. He did make it though, that would be his last destination.
The man stared at the crisp corpse floating, his eyes trailed to the beast who watched him. He slowly backed away not making any sudden moves till he reached the boat. She let him push it into the water and paddle away.
The two bodies were abandoned on the beach. She panted climbing up back into the forest realizing what she had to do.
Light filtered through the thin cracks of her scales, she felt her muscles constrain, everything was so tight to an almost painful degree. Her scales retracted like thousands of needles all over her body then when the tingling of her flesh climaxed she fell back onto the ground with a thud.
That was way worse than I remember.
Shakily she tried stand just to fall back to the dirt whimpering.
"Fuck."