Serelyth banked to the side and circled, her golden eyes narrowing. "These are no villagers, no lost travelers," she rumbled. "Goblins." Her tone was sharp, edged with disgust. With a powerful wingbeat, she lowered them into a clearing a short distance away from the clusters of green-skinned creatures. The air here was damp, thick with the scent of moss and rot.
As soon as her claws touched the ground, she shifted, her form shrinking and reforming until the dragon stood as a tall, sharp-eyed woman. Her expression betrayed her annoyance. "I dislike taking this form, but moving as a dragon will draw every eye."
The group dismounted carefully, adjusting their packs. Renkai cracked his knuckles and then ran a hand through his hair, his sharp foxlike grin showing. "We should go in like we own the place," he muttered, low but fierce. "Show them we're not afraid. But—" his eyes scanned the trees—"since there are many of them, best to be cautious. Let me scout ahead."
