The journey was interrupted by a piercing screech, quite possibly the loudest sound that had ever befell her ears. She was half-a-day's travel from the village, just at the edge of the rocky terrain at the base of the mountain. More distant noise and commotion followed, and she heightened her pace to rush toward the action. She came across a rocky cliff that overlooked a battle in the valley below. Archers, knights, and a catpult faced off against the drake, a creature that was several times larger than all of them combined. With no quick path down, nor any ranged weapons to speak of (she could pick up a rock? No.), she resigned herself to merely witnessing the fight.

The catapult was quickly neutralized by a swing of the tail, and the arrows seemed to not be causing much harm at all. Things looked bleak for the small band, until a cloaked figure emerged from the trees behind them, pointing a glowing green staff at the foe. She had to shield her eyes from the burst of whatever-light that resulted, and then a deafening roar from the beast knocked her to the ground. It took her some time to get back to her feet, and everything below had changed...