Ash choked on an inhale. Her throat was dry and raw as she pushed to stand against the boulder that had saved her life. Her lungs felt like she'd poured acid in them. Every breath hurt, but she was alive.

Around her, the forest had become blackened twigs. She'd leaped over the boulder before blacking out. The rock that protected her was charred black on the front side.

Damn dragons.

Now that she'd seen one and lived through two others fire-breath, she'd ...