The leaves rustled softly under the gentle night breeze, and the moon bathed the forest in a pale, silvery glow. Everything was still—eerily quiet.
On the forest floor lay a massive, lizard-like beast, its body curled tightly as its long, slender tail coiled around itself. Its green scales shimmered faintly beneath the moonlight, reflecting a cold, reptilian sheen.
A small gash marred its underbelly—a wound from an earlier attack on a nearby camp. Despite the pain, the creature dared not waste this brief moment of rest. Here, it could recover… at least a little.
For now, it was at peace. But peace never lasted long in the wild.
The beast's eyes snapped open, vertical pupils narrowing as it scanned its surroundings. It sensed something—something close. Yet, the forest appeared empty. After a long moment, it slowly closed its eyes again.
Then, just as its eyelids began to shut completely, it felt it. A presence—closer than before.
Suddenly, a firm grip seized its tail.
