43
CODY
Cody has stripped out of her sweat-soaked clothes. She’s rolled, bare-chested and bare-bottomed, in a stinking pile of manure, so her cinnamon skin is tarry and black.
The Fire Scale won’t smell her.
If it’s drunk enough, it won’t see her either.
When the Fire Scale comes in, its footfalls are heavy. It can't walk a straight line.
This is a good plan.
The Night Beast flesh was a good trick.
She’ll have to thank Penn, if she sees him again. If he does not go back to the Under Realm.
She tries not to think about that.
The Fire Scale is massive. It takes up the whole room. Its ruby-scaled body tilts against the walls. It drops its head suddenly, and bangs its brow on a slice of rock, and makes a hollow, sorrowful howl.
Afraid, afraid, afraid.
Cody crinkles her brow.
