Standing at one end of the arena, with the crowd going wild around her, Etzli recoiled from the monster. It roared at the rafters, then stormed toward her.

Capac's monster form was certainly the same species as hers, but that's where the similarities ended.

He was bigger, spikier, with a massive wingspan and actual smoke (smoke!) billowing from his nostrils. Fewer stars shined across his night-sky skin, making him appear more empty and mysterious.

As ...