Melly hesitated a moment, then turned her back and leaped through the waterfall, taking her dragon shape as she did.
Her wings now thoroughly soaked, she had to strain just to keep herself airborne, and it was hardly the most graceful flight. She managed to get herself away from the lake and out over the canopy, then allowed herself to fall gradually, until she broke through the treetops and landed on the floor of the jungle, slipping and stumbling as she did.
Dragons didn't cry, but the soft keening sound that was coming from her throat was close to it. Melisma sniffed and shook her head, trying to force the heavy, painful ache in her chest away.
She walked as she did, determined to keep moving. That was all she had to do, just keep moving and get back home-
The treeline broke and she realized she'd unintentionally been walking toward the beach, which was usually a place of comfort and serenity. She sighed and stopped in her tracks, letting her head lower.
Her wings were still wet. She may as well let them dry in the sun before she tried to go home, right? On soft paws, she padded out onto the sand and lowered herself to lay down, staring out over the ocean with her wings spread wide so they could dry faster.
This wasn't working. She still ached, and gods she just wanted the feeling to go away! A part of her wished she'd never left her island.
But the world is so much bigger than this, and you know it.
With yet another sigh, the dragoness let her head come to rest on her paws and closed her eyes.
---------------------------
The people of Yoreiq were hunters and gatherers, but only for their own survival. There were no trophies mounted above fireplaces, no glory other than food and warmth associated with a good catch. But in the last few decades Yoreiqis were not the only humans on the islands.
And mainlanders had different values.
So when a party of traders who fancied themselves adventurers, out to claim exotic beasts to take back to their home, came upon a sleeping dragon that shimmered with every color of the rainbow, they couldn't believe their luck. And it wasn't even all that big! Furred instead of scaled, it didn't seem to be a creature of battle, as the dragons they knew were.
A plan was quickly formed. They had come prepared, hoping to take back some exotic creature as a trophy, and so the net they planned to cast over their prey was woven with a strong enchantment that made the rope chord as strong as steel.
Of course, once the net had been thrown they knew they would have to act fast. The leader would use his javelin, spearing the creature but not killing it, just wounding it enough to make it too weak to fight. Then would come arrows as the rest tied down the net, then a spell to make it sleep. Easy as winking.
"Go!"
The shout brought Melly awake with a start, her head flying up. An unfamiliar scent hit her nose and she snorted, moving to get to her feet-
The net fell over her like an iron cage and she squawked, thrashing in surprise, but her struggle only wrapped it tighter.
Then pain exploded in her side and her eyes widened. She threw back her head and shrieked, stumbling and flaming wilding, beating her wings that were still too damp to fly, even if she'd been able to. Panting raggedly, the world spinning around her, she tried to claw the spear-thing that had lodged against her ribs out, screaming with the pain.