Continue towards the mountains.

"We should arrive at our destination in the middle of today," Nyllia explains.

The two of you hike through the hills and they grow more steep and rocky. You glance up, almost expecting a winged woman to swoop down and to to steal her away. Not this time, however. You can see the Pecho Peaks near, and it isn't much longer before you're making your way upwards. The path is winding and treacherous, as this is definitely not a place anybody needs to travel through. Rocks tumble down from higher up as mountain goats scurry across and kick the loose soil.

You look up. The sun is passing by the middle of the sky. It must be past noon, though you could barely tell. You've been so focused on not slipping down the steep hillside. Nyllia stops, and it snaps you back into reality. She takes a firm hold of your shoulder and points forwards.

"There," she whispers.

There's a cave in the mountainside not far ahead with a stream of water trickling down from the side of the opening and off the cliff face. It's too dark to see anything from here.

"How do we know it's in there now?" you ask.

She kneels down and swipes her gauntlet through the dirt. There are huge talon-like tracks. "You are correct. It could be out right now, but we only have one way to find out." After standing again, she begins walking fearlessly towards the mouth of the cavern. She reaches back and slowly draws out her beautiful curved sword.

You nod and hurry behind, pulling out your weapon as well. "Any tips?"

Nyllia continues to keep her voice down. "I suppose you do not have these in your world either. There are two dangers that you must watch out for. The first is its tail, which can pierce stone and inject a terrible venom into its foes. The second is its claws. They can cut a man in half."

"... Are we really going to be okay?" you ask.

"Of course. Like I said, stay behind me if you wish. But there is a weakness all wyverns possess. If you **** them to land, they cannot attack with their claws, as their wings and arms are the same appendages. On the ground, it will only be able to bite, and awkwardly jab with its tail. That is why we must fight it inside its own home."

When the two of you enter the cave, you both quiet down and begin to move more slowly. The tunnel itself is tall and wide, and it winds around twice before coming to an abrupt opening. Light shines in through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the cavernous room--flat, rocky, and with a lovely pool of water filling from a stream pouring down the wall. The water continues back the way you came, forming the stream you've been following.

Beside the pool is a huge creature resting. It has dark green scales, a limber body, and it is otherwise how she described. The claws on its feet are like sword blades, and the tail makes it look almost like a scorpion.

You can hear its breath. Slowly, its body rises up and back down, and its nostrils flare open and closed.

The final ingredient. This is all we need.

As you continue to approach, you see its eye flick open. It gradually rises up from its slumber, and glares towards you and Nyllia with piercing yellow eyes. It throws up its wings and a gust of wind is thrown across the cavern. With talons planted firmly into the stone, it reels back its head and lets out a piercing, furious roar.

"I guess we're not sneaking up on it!" you say and ready yourself for battle.

Nyllia grabs her sword with both hands and stares directly back at the beast. "Stealth tends to rarely be an option on these quests I find. Remember what I told you! I will not allow you to fall!"