They didn’t make it far.
The forest went quiet first—birds cutting off mid-song, wind dying like someone had closed a door. Derpy’s bracelets warmed, not the gentle “south” warmth, but a sharp heat that made his skin prickle.
Lenora’s ears snapped upright.
“Down,” she whispered.
Derpy crouched.
Mia bristled. Sphinx’s claws pricked Derpy’s collar.
Then the sky screamed.
Something crashed into the clearing behind them—impact shaking the ground, dirt and leaves blasting outward.
Derpy flinched and turned.
A dragon woman stood in the crater.
Not the illusion from the shop.
Not a projection.
This was real.
Horns like a crown. Wings spread wide. Tail cutting the air like a blade. Eyes sharp with old instincts.
Vespera.
She scanned the clearing like she was tasting the air for magic. Her gaze snapped to Derpy’s wrists.
The moment she saw the bracelets, her expression hardened into something ancient and furious.
“You,” Vespera said, voice low. “Come here.”
Derpy blinked. “Uh—hi?”
Lenora stepped between them instantly, sword half-drawn.
“Who are you?” Lenora demanded.
Vespera’s eyes didn’t leave Derpy.
“Vespera,” she said. “And that human is coming with me.”
Lenora’s ears flattened. “He’s not your prisoner.”
Vespera’s lip curled. “He carries a Calamity tied to dragon authority. That is not a ‘party matter.’ That is Dragon Kingdom law.”
Derpy swallowed. “I didn’t steal anything. I got dragged into this.”
Vespera’s wings flexed. “You will say that to my queen.”
Lenora’s grip tightened. “We’re heading to Whisperfen. He needs training, information—”
Vespera cut her off. “He needs judgment.”
Lenora’s eyes narrowed. “No.”
The word landed like a line drawn in blood.
For a heartbeat, Vespera stared at Lenora like she couldn’t believe a bunny girl had the nerve.
Then Vespera moved.
Fast.
Not toward Derpy.
Toward Lenora.
Lenora reacted on instinct—shoving Derpy hard out of the way.
“Move!” she barked.
Derpy stumbled back, hit the ground, rolled.
Steel met claw with a shriek.
Lenora’s sword caught Vespera’s strike, but the impact shoved Lenora back a step.
Vespera pressed in, relentless.
“You’re protecting him,” Vespera hissed. “Why?”
Lenora’s jaw clenched. “Because you’re not listening!”
Vespera’s tail whipped.
Lenora ducked. The tail cut through a tree trunk behind her like it was soft wood.
Derpy stared, frozen.
Mia snarled.
Sphinx hissed so hard it sounded like steam.
Vespera’s eyes flicked to Derpy again.
“Human,” she snapped. “Stand up. You will come willingly.”
Derpy’s bracelets heated.
Yellow flashed black.
Frostburn hissed into existence.
Derpy’s breath hitched.
“I— I don’t want to fight!”
Vespera’s gaze sharpened. “Then don’t. Submit.”
Lenora blocked another strike, arms shaking. “Derpy—stay back!”
Derpy tried.
But the air felt like it was squeezing him.
Like the Calamity wanted the conflict.
Lenora risked a glance over her shoulder—checking if he was still there, still breathing.
Derpy looked up at her.
Lenora’s face went full pink again, like her body betrayed her on schedule.
She snapped her gaze away immediately and lunged back into the fight harder than she needed to, voice turning sharp to cover it.
“Don’t move!”