"Drakonix! You came back!" the little girl squealed with joy, her voice ringing like a bell across the courtyard. Ignorance truly was bliss. She sprinted toward the dragon, her tiny arms wrapping around one of Drakonix's massive forelimbs as best she could, clinging to him with innocent affection.
"Rebecca," Drakonix murmured softly, forcing a smile. He tried to act like his usual self, keeping his tone light and playful—anything to ensure she didn't notice the heavy air, the tension thick enough to cut. He couldn't bear to let her see the cruelty of the world. Not yet. Her mother's disappearance had already stolen enough from her. He wouldn't allow her to face the truth of what was coming—death, bloodshed, extinction. Her heart was too small, too pure to carry such grief.
"Little Reb, let's go play. What do you say?" Drakonix asked, attempting to curve his lipless snout into a smile. It was a clumsy expression for a creature so large, but she didn't notice.
