Blood. The whole area reeked of diseased, decaying blood. Ryūko hated the smell, but she had grown accustomed to it. If it were her choice, the dragon would burn this place to the ground to cleanse it. But she couldn't. There were innocents here.

She had sensed magic, both good and evil, and it drew her closer. She could hear the fighting below, but Ryūko could barely see anything through the foliage. [I]One way to find out[/I], she decided. The dragon swooped low over the treetops, beating her wings.