The Worm and the Hook

I have to admit, when I heard of their little problem with a dragon, my first thoughts were not entirely altruistic. With my weakness to fire (which seems to be way more common than **** cold), and my ability to learn parts from the beasts I defeat, contemplating presumable fireproof hide immediately got that weird hunger piqued slightly. I mean, it never occurred to me to ask, but that's normally how that goes, right? I have plenty of time to ponder possibilities as I'm lead to its lair. After all, without ability to see or talk and in my much more limited human shape-this time, going for something with a more diminutive, if still pretty thickset, stature-there wasn't much more to do but put one foot in front of the other, think, and listen.

My blindness and muteness was part of a simple plan I had devised after an inquiry into the nature of it. Apparently, before the minotaur had been around, they attempted to placate it with offerings-either of very unfortunate members of their own, or, more hopefully, kidnapped women. He wasn't capable of killing them, but didn't need to-just be enough of a threat of injury that it would leave them alone. And thus, a plan was formed-they would pretend to be returning to older ways, with me as their latest 'offering'. This would give me a chance to ambush her from a distance too close for her to try and take advantage of how she flies and I don't.

In retrospect, getting all readied for it before setting out was probably a might bit unnecessary-and really annoying, walking barefoot and naked through the woods with nothing put a pull at my wrist shackles to guide me. A lot of details you don't bother to nice when your sheer weight tends to take care of terrain problems become annoyances at a human scale. Like all the roots in the ground on the forest. They only seem mildly surprised at my change of form-which, combined with Orchid hiding her shape, and the town worried about disguised monsters, makes me wonder if I shortchanged myself with that divine boon, since apparently a few monsters have a substitute for it. Ah well, too late for buyer's remorse now!

After a whole lot of walking, we've eventually arrive. Even if I can't see the cave, I still get the impression of the place through the odd way the ambient sounds are different on the stone walls against the open air-giving me a distinct impression of a large cavern. May hands are lifted up in order to apparently hook the chain between them on some kind of metal pole-which soon becomes my only support as I'm dangled uncomfortably by my arms. And soon, am left with there on the own, the soft hoofbeats of them GTFO'ing to the last thing I'd hear for a bit-at least, until the bait is taken, and I make my move. The first begins with the rumbling of the thing waking up-I tense in anticipation as it comes closer. Just a little more, want to be as much near it's center as I can. And as for the second, well-