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Tilla had thought the dragon would kidnap her. That’s what dragons do, right? Kidnap princesses, so brave knights have to come rescue them? It was in all the stories. She would have to spend a week or two – a month at the most – in a dragon’s cave, and then someone would come for her and things would return to normal.

Tilla quickly learned that she was mistaken. The dragon opened her mouth wide and started lifting Tilla toward it. The frightened feline stared into the gaping maw, her eyes taking in the sharp teeth, the glistening tongue, and the wet, dark, pulsing tunnel behind them.

“W-wait!” Tilla screamed. “Don’t!”

Tilla tried to brace herself against the dragon’s muzzle to keep herself from entering, but the creature was far too strong. In spite of her best efforts, Tilla found herself stuffed into the dragon’s mouth, which closed around her, trapping her in darkness. The thick tongue pressed against her, and saliva soaked her fur. Then her world tilted, and the dragon swallowed.

Tilla’s legs slipped into the dragon’s throat. She tried to fight the downward pull, but her fingers only slipped against the slippery surface of the tongue, which rose up to press against her face and push her back further. She attempted to use her claws, but the dragon’s flesh was so thick and slippery that she couldn’t pierce it.

Tilla let out a scream, her outstretched hands still scrambling for purchase, as she was pulled back into the dragon’s throat.