NYX

I felt good having saved them—the little pup was a female too.

They were born with those armor-like scales already in place, even with their eyes open.

Right now, she was eagerly feeding on her mother’s milk, who still lay against the wall.

“You did great,” I told her, standing up and noticing the mess of blood all over me.

Outside, the birds were already singing the notes of dawn.

“I’ll go hunt something for you. It’ll be my last help to you,” I said, looking into her tired eyes before turning around. But something suddenly brushed my hand.

I looked back—it was the creature’s cold snout.

Her dark tongue came out to lick me, careful not to hurt me with those massive teeth.

I was surprised by the change in her behavior, but I understood—it was her way of saying thank you.

“It’s okay… my mother gave birth to us in a cave too, and it was really hard,” I said, stroking between her nostrils.

I stepped out of the cave and took a deep breath. The air inside had been kind of suffoca