Its head is as large as my whole body and dragon-like, with two elegant horns that sweep back with a single twist. The wings are veined and tipped in those same obsidian colored spikes, nearly translucent as the beast spreads them wide and lets out a terrible roar that shakes my insides.

The fire wolf snarles, the sound seeming impotent compared to the roar.

The water dragon lets out a low, clicking snarl as it prowls to the side, its size dwarfing even the big wolf.

Fire and water. Ancient enemies.

With a howl of fury, the fire wolf attacks, leaping high, as if hoping to catch the dragon by the throat.

The water dragon moves with impossible speed for its size, snapping at the smaller elemental with teeth like icicles. They clash in another burst of steam and energy, their battle shaking the clearing.

I stumble back, watching in awe as these primal forces wage war. The fire wolf is fast and vicious, but the water dragon is ancient and powerful. For every burning bite the wolf manages to land, the dragon counters with crushing force. Water rises from the ground in thundering pillars that slam into the wolf's flaming body.

It yelps. Not in anger, but in pain.

Eventually, the fire wolf realizes it's outmatched. With one final snarl of defiance, it turns and flees back into the forest, its flame dimming as it retreats.

The clearing falls silent. Too silent.

Relief at being saved quickly fades away as I realize how screwed I am.

It only fought off the wolf so it could have me for itself. Now I'm going to die. My death is just going to be watery instead of fiery.

Considering how my brothers and father died, I guess it's fitting that the water should take me too in the end.

Slowly, the water dragon turns to face me. Up close, I can see the corruption eating away at its magnificent form—patches of scales that seem to dissolve into mist, eyes clouded with madness.

"You," it rumbles, its voice like waves crashing against rock in my mind. "I told you to run."

I'm surprised to sense some of the same intelligence from when it spoke to me during the trial. "I'll happily run if you step out of my way," I reply, surprised at my own boldness. The words tumble out before I can stop them—apparently near-death experiences make me mouthy.

The dragon studies me, its massive head lowering until we're eye to eye. Despite its size and power, I sense no immediate threat. But that doesn't make sense. I've come to know this beast through my nightmares. It has been hunting me. It wanted me dead. There's no doubt in my mind about that.

"Why aren't you killing me?"

There's a long pause. I sense it struggling somehow, as if each word comes with a cost. "You... weakened it in the lake. For a time."

"Weakened what?"