Every instinct she had told her to jump back into the sea and run from this. The soldier in her made her push herself up on her tail until she was as tall as a biped. She gripped her spear a little tighter, preparing for a fight. The ground shook twice more before the tell-tale red glitter of Poppy came streaking out of the treeline. She landed gracefully on Marlowe’s shoulder, her tiny chest heaving as she caught her breath.

“What’s following you?” Marlowe asked, leveling her chin. Whatever it was, it wasn’t going to scare her.

“Vera!” Poppy squeaked, and Marlowe couldn’t tell if it was a good squeak or not.

The land beneath her quaked again before the red scales of a monstrous dragon came towards them. Poppy stood as tall on Marlowe&r...

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