The fields were aflame, fire licking the air as the wind carried ashes that only spread the fire further. The only godsend was that it was a cold day, the sky dark and threatening rain or even snow this time of the year.
But a threat of rain was not a promise, and in the meantime, the world burned.
People scrambled around the Banyur camp, salvaging their tents and belongings and securing their families while others worked on gathering the livestock and horses, many of which had scattered in their panic. Jayari was among those riding out to herd the cattle and the few horses that had spooked before the fool animals burned!
They'd already lost several head of cattle and a couple of horses, their bloody remains nothing but ashes on the wind.
Riding up beside a large stallion on Zala, Jayari looped a rope around his neck and reined him in close. It helped she was on a mare, which was part of the reason she'd gone for a female over the males so many people chose for show. They were more even-tempered, and stallions were more likely to follow when you needed to track them down! Wheeling around, she started back--
But that was when a large, winged shadow passed over her, the wind from its wings making her braids flutter.
Jayari's eyes narrowed as she looked up and followed the creature, the dragon that had caused so much destruction today. It was a young adolescent, small as far as dragons went--but they tended to be the most destructive as they learned how to hunt--and killed for the practice.
If it was a wild one, that is, and hadn't been sent by the Adelans...
With a frustrated sound, she thrust the rope lead into one of her nearby companion's hands. He startled, immediately realizing what she was thinking.
"Jayari...!"
"Just keep doing what you're doing," she said, drawing her bow from her back. "I'm going to make sure it can't do any more damage. Yah!"
"Crazy girl! Come back!"
But she was off, tearing out across the burnt field, following the dragon as it soared back toward the Terrin mountains.
She had a small window of time to get it, and that window was closing fast.