Scorpions rushed Dena and Taurian. The more she knocked back with the broom, the faster the insects came closer. If the hole were big enough for Taurian to squeeze through in his dragon form...if he could fly with the burn to his wing. Or stomp on all these scorpions and squish them all. But something told her that even as a massive dragon, there were too many and they'd find a way to hurt him.

With gas leaking from the broken stove pipe, she dared not use her makeshift ...