Gold dragons are the ones most often killed by humans, who consider their scales to be extremely valuable. These golden scales grant them a high level of protection, similar to armor, and they use this to their advantage in battle.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Sunlight glistening off every scale, Maribel glides down to her favourite hunting spot, a clearing not far from the edge of the territory. Settling down to a long wait, her shining armour is dulled by the shade of the trees.

It is nearly midday before the first of the deer arrive, slowly edging towards the more succulent plants, looking round in alarm at every rustle in the grass.

The rest of its family arrive, does and fawns, fat after a summer grazing. There is one young deer, an adolescent buck, which has strayed away from the herd, moving closer to the unnoticed dragon.

Seeing her chance, she readies herself, planning on carrying away her prey before they've even noticed they've been caught.

One long moment of absolute stillness, then the golden dragon lunges forward, breaking back into the sunlight and catching the hunter unawares. His arrow fires at but misses the young deer as it flees in terror.

Maribel consumes her meal nearby, while the herd grazes in peace.