A shadow passed and Rose jerked as another rumble shook the ground so violently, she was jostled onto her side. She planted her hands on the ground and sat up, nearly losing her breath at the sight in front of her.

Green claws with talons at least a foot long stretched before her. As her gaze followed up the scaly appendages, she saw they connected to legs as thick as telephone poles, which attached to the darker green body of a beast larger than anything she’d ever seen in her life. Finally, she leaned so far back in order to follow the long neck that she once again fell over. She stared right into the amethyst eyes of a dragon bending that neck and bringing its head within inches of her face.

Rose felt the puff of its breath as it came closer. She swore she could feel the heat from its nose as it snorted, obviously not familiar with Rose’s scent. Or maybe it just didn’t like her scent.

She bent her neck to sniff her armpits and came away with nothing unpleasant. Her movement caused the dragon to shift closer, nudging Rose’s body. Although the sight of this massive creature should have scared her, Rose couldn’t help but play along, knowing this had to be a dream.

But would a dream allow you the sensation of touching the cool skin along the dragon’s neck? She watched as the dragon stilled, its eyes unblinking, as if studying this strange creature in front of it.

“Yer skin feels so cool,” Rose said softly. She continued to run her hands along the dragon, threading her fingers through the silky tendrils fanning out from beside its nostrils. With this touch, the dragon snorted again and shook its head, causing Rose to giggle.

“Tickle ye, did I?” She was surprised at the slight Scottish brogue escaping her mouth.