It happened so fast. One moment, a fiery charge. The next, sweet whispers from the robed female in the back. His arms felt so heavy. His blaze of glory guttering, now a dying sputter. There was little he could do now. The blade of his target was raised and then. . .
Red. So much red.
His flames were gone, his courage along with them. With a whimper, his world ended.
His life savings, 52G was just beyond the reach of his claws.
His most prized possession, a small ring with a little red emblem of shield, pried from his talons.