The dragon of the cave

Previously

…As she slipped out of her small cottage, the village sleeping soundly, a wave of fear washed over her. The secret doubt, the one she had held so tightly, threatened to consume her. Am I truly brave enough? But then, she thought of the gentle flutter of the robin’s wings, the quiet strength in Elder Maeve’s eyes, and she took a deep breath. The path to the Whispering Caves was long and fraught with peril, but the thought of her village, of their desperate need, propelled her forward. The whispers of the caves, once a distant legend, were now her destination, and the promise of a treasure, whatever its form, was the beacon guiding her through the darkness. The journey had begun.