Pickle for your thoughts? (Dungeon meshi x reader)

The calm before the storm

You are close.

¿♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎♠︎¿

The fifth level.

Upon existing the Golden Castle, the vast castle town stretches out before you. The town streets are twisted and warped by magic. Yet, the splendor that still remains everywhere stands testaments to glorious days long past. Something flits by the edge of your vision, voices seem to whisper into your ears. In this place, something always seems to be lurking just out of sight.

"This should be where the orcs made their home"

Pushing open the wooden door Laios peeked inside one of the many houses, slowly moving aside to let you guys enter too. Chilchuck craned his neck from behind the back of the blonde leader, grimacing at the sight of bottles, plates, utensils and supplies left haphazardly around the room "Looks like they really left in a hurry" he commented, tapping with his boot a ceramic pebble.

You scrunched your nose at the awful smell that pervaded the room, it was as if someone had decided to take every single animal carcass on this level and hide them inside the walls. You couldn't see them but you could certainly smell them. "God, I need fresh air. If I stay in this room another minute I will suffocate" covering your mouth you made your way towards the door on the opposite side from where you came, hoping to end up outside again.

Yet once you let your finger push open the door you were suddenly stopped on your tracks, petrified by the scene you had accidentally stumbled upon. "Oh fuck. . ." Now you understood where that revolting smell of burning flesh was coming from. Two death dog monster were laying in the alley, their bodies barely recognizable by the burns that covered them.

Attracted by your curse, both Marcille and Laios joined your side, quickly matching your troubled expression once they had the pleasure of witness the same scene "These are worgs" the blonde leader was quick to recognize them. "But. . .this was no normal fire, right?" asked the elf, covering her mouth with her hand. An horrified expression painted her face as she was doing her best to remain calm and collected.

"It sure wasnt" confirmed Laios "The red dragon did this with its fire breath. Which means it must have just passed through here!" his words quickly set in everybody minds, making all if you painfully aware that yea. . .things were getting serious for real this time. No longer stupid living armors, spooky ghosts or bastard water spirits. The time for jokes was over.

". . .H-Hey Laios" Marcille called her friend, the grip on her staff tightening from anxiety "Remember what we talked about earlier? About how dragons usually aren't very active and spend most of their time sleeping?" Laios looked at her, a nervous sweat dripped down his cheek "But judging from what the orcs told us, as well as the mess we have found. . .It looks like the dragon has been awake this entire time"

The blonde elf raised her gaze, green eyes filled to the brim with tears that threatened to fall down her rosy cheeks "Sure, we might have been able to defeat a sleeping dragon. But can our little group really beat it now?" it was clear that Marcille's mind was slowly filling with doubts and uncertainties. Your eyes softened at such sight, wishing to be able to wipe away her tears and reassure her that everything would be okay.

But unfortunately there was a fine line between being optimistic and delusional. In this case you need to be ready for the worst outcome.