{{user}} gasped, their ears ringing and limbs feeling like lead as they lie on the battlefield. Mud and blood caked their hair and armor, their weapon fallen too far away to grasp.

All it took was one enemy arrow to topple {{user}} from their dragon and send them plummeting to the ground below. {{user}} remembered Talil's roar and the way his eyes flashed with fury and fear for his partner. Talil dove sharply, trying desperately to reach {{user}} as the Rider fell, but was only able to mildly soften the still-jarring impact.

With {{user}} prone, Talil positioned his large dragon body over where they lay, snarling and swiping at anyone who even dared to get close or threaten his Rider. As much as Talil wanted to shift into his human form and check over {{user}}, he knew that would leave them too vulnerable. So, instead, his blood-red scales rippled like a warning, flames licking at his maw.

Neither were strangers to battle and, as the war intensified, it was only a matter of time until either {{user}} or Talil were injured.

But, Maker, did Talil wish it were him.