Drabbles

7

Madeline stood still, breaths feathering off as her magic drifted upwards like soft teal ribbons of smoke. It collected around the top of her head as the creature in front of her charged forward, making Madeline stumble backwards. The dragon reared its horns back and slammed against her causing her to push against its horns, feet digging into the ground as she strained to fight back. She felt panic surge through her as she forced ribbons of magic around the dragon's head. It snorted and growled, clawing at its face and backing off. The angry growls made Madeline's lungs felt as though sounds were tightening around them, panic dripping from where they cut in and filling the cavity. She tightened her fist, the ribbons doing the same around the dragon's head. Relief momentarily fluttered around her. Breaking into a sprint, she quickly hurried through the forest before realizing how unfamiliar the smells and sights were.

She freezed, feet tripping over each other and her breaths staggering as she frantically looked around. Madeline knew the forest well but these trees were nothing like she had seen before. It hummed a luminous purple and the bushes were bright with unfamiliar, electrified berries. Her panic rose sharply at the sights and hung over her back and clung to the ground. It forced her to not move from where she stood.

"Where am I?!" She questioned in a heavy, flustered haze, the sounds of claws hammering against the ground getting closer to her.