Styrax screeched with fury as she swung round from the airship, her massive wings swatting several of the small rotary craft out of the sky. Argalaic gripped on to the saddle for dear life. He tried soothing words to gain control of his dragon, but Styrax was overtaken by her wroth. She arrowed upwards, then outstretched her enormous wings slowly kept herself stationary by rotating them. A net fired out from a cannon, spread wide spinning... And bounced harmlessly off. Argalaic threw his head back and laughed.
"She's this big and you think some finishing net will contain her?? Pathetic."
Styrax roared deafeningly, and pitched forward. She was right above the envelope of the airship. Right above its bulging gasbags, out of reach of its guns. She opened her jaws and roared forth flame right onto the envelope.
Argalaic shielded his eyes. A heat that intense would surely blow the gas...
Inside the Palace
It was so bright.
So clean.
So tranquil.
He heard her calling him.
"Dontas?"
"Mother."
"Oh my sweet boy. My sweet lovely boy. You're safe now. We're safe now. Come to my son. Be with me, Dontas. You're at peace now."
He went to move forward. And. Couldn't. He felt a stiff wind, or some force, pulling him backwards.
"Dontas?"
"Mother?!"
"Dontas!"
The light vanished. It was dark. He could smell the smoke and hear another voice.
He opened his eyes. He was still in the Palace. He felt no pain. He saw a woman staring down at him.
"Who in Twelve Hells are you?" he croaked.