Mori drew the hood of her cloak over her head, staying low in the shallow reeds at the rocky hill's base. A broad, fire-scorched cavern was illuminated by the setting sun. Faint stars had just begun to come out of the night sky, and if her bet was right this was the right time.
A red dragon lived here and had very recently plundered an envoy carrying bars of gold. She studied his patterns, and it was today the dragon would leave to hunt cattle from the village to gorge on through the week.
And like that she felt tremors through the earth and dropped again. From the mouth of the cavern strode a proud red dragon, his massive wings unfurling as his long neck stretched. She studied his claws, just one of those was large enough to man-handle a cow, those talons must have been bigger than her head. His legs tensed then kicked, wings stroking down to catch the air as he took flight, harsh gales bending the tops of the evergreens around the cavern as he soared forward.
She made her move, crossing the field and into the cave. A dry heat met her at the entrance, as if some great fire burned within. The smell of smoke and burnt wood hung thick, her footsteps silent against the stone as she crept through the massive passage. Moving with care, she wound through the tunnel and into a large, hollowed out cave. A stream of lava pooling in a corner of the room illuminated the huge pile of treasure in a deep red light. Her eyes widened as they traced over scepters, ceremonial armors, gemstones, and many, many gold coins. The sensation of seeing so much treasure than ever before in the thief's life sent a shiver down her spine.
Focus. Take what will take far too long to be noticed: gold coins. By the time the dragon recounted his hoard she would be long gone. Take them from somewhere less obvious: the back left side of the hoard where the curve of his tail or neck would lay when atop it.
Each step was calculated, her nerves frazzled with impatience at the proximity of the hoard. Her mind played with how much a handful would earn her as she pulled an empty pack from her back. At the back corner, she began sweeping up gold into it. A loud process, but loud is fine when she's the only one there.
That she knew of.
It took a moment to hear, but she paused as she heard what sounded like a tide, a rhythmic white noise like waves on a shore. Very carefully she closed her pack and pulled it on her back. Something was wrong, and even if her pack wasn't full it wasn't worth the risk.
The pile of gold shuddered and Mori bolted. She dashed around the side as coins cascaded in loud avalanches. From the hoard rose a red dragon, her wings unfurling tossing hailstorms of gold coins as she made a lazy yawn, eyes falling upon the thief trying to dash around her bed. The dragon allowed her heavy tail to swing in the thief's way, an attempt to bar her path as she lowered her head. The thief, undeterred, scales the tail and lept from it. Her feet never hit the ground as the dragon's claws plucked her out of the air, held by her score.
The thief threw useless punches and flailed with a slew of human curses that never ceased to entertain the dragon. Curled around her fresh clutch of eggs, she lowered her head to be eye level with the thief.
"I do not remember inviting you to my home." She boomed, the thief utterly helpless despite all her struggling. "Nor do I remember giving you such a parting gift."
"This wasn't even yours to begin with you fat lizard!"
A rumble of a chuckle passed through her body followed by a lower purr, a rocky sound that could be mistaken for an earthquake. "You have so much fight in you. That pleases me so."
"Yeah? Well have at it. Burn me, chomp on me, Mori loses I guess."
