Junior's angry screeching filled the cave early the next morning, and Constantine and Vica fled the echoing confines to wait outside. As the sun continued to creep over the horizon, it bathed the clearing in a dim, wintry glow. Winter had pounced quickly. Vica's breath puffed out in warm, white clouds, and she folded her numb hands into her armpits in a vain search for heat. The previous night's cold still blanketed the air, and every breath she took sent icy stabs into her lungs. It would be a while until her body naturally heated the winter cloak draped over her shoulders.
It had been so much warmer in the cave where the dragon's natural heat saturated the inner chamber at all times. The very walls had radiated it, but of course, that had to be due in part to the dragon's territory magi
