I almost didn’t see it in time. Most of the astral plane just appears in shades of grey. The only things that have any colour to them are either very old, very powerful, or (worst case scenario) both. But even they don’t show any colour until you start getting close to them.

Remember I said the astral plane overlays on reality, so you see both at once? Well, what really almost did me in was the fire. Initially, the thing blended in almost perfectly with the smoke from the fire. As I got closer, the colours started coming out, but it wasn’t until I was really close that I recognized it for what it was. Dragon.

In the real world, people, whether they believe dragons exist or not, tend to group them into one of two categories. One is benevolent and wise, the other is selfish and evil. The truth of the matter is, like people, it all depends on which one you run into.

Unfortunately for me, this one was one of the latter types. And he was asleep. Right in the middle of the path.

Great.

Just. Freaking. Peachy.