Saabys: I feel like skipping a month.
Kantri: -dozing on my couch-
Auror: Why?
Saabys: Because I want to advance the plotline.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: So the readers don't get bored.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: Because I like my readers.
Auror: Why?
Kantri: -cracks an eye open-
Saabys: Because I'm a nice writer.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: Because writing is fun.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: it makes you think.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: Stop asking me why.
Auror: Why?
Saabys: Because it's annoying!
Auror: Why-ack!
Kantri: -gets up off my couch and knocks Auror out with a baseball bat, stuffing her in a burlap sack and tying the end tight-
Saabys: Thank you.
Kantri: No problem.
Over the month Sojourn had been living with Drake a lot had changed. She had settled in remarkably quickly with Drake's help, and was left to her own devices only for a few hours a day. During these times she would often leave a note and go exploring or hunting, though occasionally she would rather just take a nap by the fire.
The schedule was usually wake up, go hunting with Drake, get home, help Geoff find his crown, be left home alone for an hour while Drake flew Geoff to the castle, greet Drake at door when he arrives home, she and Drake do whatever they please all afternoon, be left alone for another hour while Drake goes to get Geoff, greet pair at door and dodge Geoff's thrown crown, make conversation until Geoff has calmed, then get left alone for another hour or more while Drake and Geoff go flying.
Today was one of those days. Sojourn had woken up feeling absolutely horrible, even so bad as to throw up what she had eaten yesterday. Drake had been concerned, and had let her sleep most of the morning away. He only woke her up when it was time to leave.
"Sojourn, I have to go take Geoff to the castle now. Here's a bucket of water if you want a drink." Drake gently touched her face, but she didn't feel warm. He shrugged and left for the castle.
Sojourn woke from her nap feeling slightly dazed, but no more. She wondered at her earlier sickness and lapped at the bucket of water.
"Maybe I should stay here today and wait for Drake."
"Maybe you should stay here and die dragon." A voice from her darkest nightmares spoke. It was the voice of the man who had blinded her as a child and had stalked her through her journey. She backed against the wall and tried to disappear… but couldn't.
"Ah. I see you can't pull your little blending with an element trick. Perfect. Absolutely perfect, Not only will I destroy you, but your spawn as well!" the man laughed.
Sojourn was shocked beyond measure at hearing this, though she didn't fully comprehend what it meant yet. However, even shock could not dull her will to live.
"I will not die here gedri." She growled. She leaped over the man and ran from the cave as fast as she could. The sound of a rope being cut in front of her had her flattening to the ground to avoid the spear. Once it had passed over her she leapt into the air and began flying along a route she had memorized over the past month. It was the air route to the castle.
Her fear lent her speed. Enough speed, she hoped, to save her from the evil men. That's what she thought up until she heard the sound of five strings being cut below.
"Oh no…"
She dodged the first three by judging the wind sheer, dodging the fourth made it so she couldn't dodge the fifth.
It hit the base of her right wing and continued through to impale her left wing as well.
Sojourn fell from the sky like a ton of bricks, twisting to land hard on her feet. The impact made her dizzy and disoriented. She shook her head to clear it, hearing the men form a two-tiered circle around her.
"What now Princess? You won't kill us, but we have enough manpower to kill you." One man sneered.
Sojourn panted and leapt the circles, running as fast as she could, without knowing if she was going in the right direction. She worried until she smelled the stench of a village and knew that just beyond the village was the castle.
The sound of bows going off had her ducking again, and she heard the villagers scream about their houses catching fire.
"I'll be back to put them out!" she yelled as she passed through, entering the other side of the forest that would lead her to the castle… and safety.
It was a trap. Spears flew at her from all directions, and all she could do was curl to protect her head, neck, chest, and belly. Her scales deflected most spears, but enough of them found home to make her scream. Once the barrage stopped she heard swords being unsheathed and she uncurled, standing up tall.
"Haven't you boys ever learned not to back any creature into a corner yet?" she hissed.
"Aye, only if the animal can kill you." One man replied.
Sojourn took in a breath and unleashed a torrent of fire, burning the men as they stood while her claws, fangs, and tail found homes in human flesh. After they were all dead she limped back to the village and put out the fires with short puffs of ice.
"Thank you, Lady dragon. Lady dragon?" the villagers voice grew blurry and everything ceased. Sojourn collapsed in the middle of the village and did not rise again.
Auror: You wouldn't.
Saabys: Are you so sure?
Auror: You can't kill Sojourn!
Saabys: Yes I can.
Auror: But what about Drake? You put this under Romance!
Saabys: Precisely, a Romantic tragedy.
Auror: But Saabys! Kantri, tell her she can't kill Sojourn!
Kantri: You want me to tell the girl who uses newborn Patch from 101 Dalmatians as a pincushion that she can't kill off a female lead character in her own story when there is a perfectly good plotline that could stem off of such a death? What are you, nuts?
Auror: -whimpers and gets teary-eyed- But Saabys! Kantri!