A Match of Monsters

Chapter Thirty

Drip.

Drip, drop, drip.

The never-ending sound continued in its steady, monotone manner. It had been her only company every time she'd woken up, not stopping or slowing for longer than she could recall.

This, however, was the first time she was coherent enough to actually understand what it meant; to smell the foam off of the slowly filling stagnant body of water building itself into a mote to surround her body.

She was covered by tonnes of precious metals, jewels and other treasures, weighing her down and compressing her into the ground so firmly that she could hardly breath. Yet for a reason unknown there was empty air beneath her paws.

Not that it would remain that way for long unless she could dig herself out of this improvised grave.

For the first time she was fully awake. By the stiffness in her muscles and the dust she could feel crusting in the cracks between her scales, it had been awhile since the last time she'd been active. More than a week, possibly even two would have passed.

She took a deep breath, the damp air soothing her parched throat. Her lungs expanded and her spine arced at the strength of it, forcing her to press harder against the unbearable weight above her.

She could scent the traitor, the smell so faint she could barely detect it. But when she caught on to it, it was impossible not to notice the distinct stench of decaying flesh interwoven within it.

The pain in her chest and down her back, already present from all of the pressure she had been forced to bear, steadily increased as when wiggled about and tried to drag herself out. The effort seemed futile, but after a long movement and intense agony, her ears were just able to pick up the sound of rock shifting on rock above. The heavy clunk, muffled by distance and dirt, was made perfectly distinct by her desperation.

The large dragon buckled, thrashing her limbs and tail about her in an attempt to clear a pathway out.

For hours, until her body was quivering with weakness and not until she could barely breathe once more, did she stop. Only for a moment, she told herself, and then I'll start up again.

But the dregs of the healing hibernation still held onto her, and no matter how she fought to keep her mind clear, she could feel it forcefully clouding over. Vision beginning to blur from what few of the shadows she could distinguish, then beginning to sway.

Her tail stilled and the movements of her chest shallowed and slowed until she could not take enough breath to stay awake. The muscles of her body relaxing once more despite the anger burning in her mind and the disgusting water slowly pooling around her claws. Sudden, alert blinks became heavy eyelids moments later as she fought herself to remain conscious. Soon the world had become murky as she could not even draw the energy to her first and second eyelids.

Then the outer layer shut.

Author's Note:

 - This chapter is dedicated to AerialKnight44 for giving my books a chance.

 - I've included a song clip at the top of this chapter, and although I know that the chapter is much shorter (on purpose - I promise!), I just feel that this song really suits what is happening in it.