You draw closer to the human, tasting his scent, trying to discern his intentions. Your wings held high, your tail swaying in deep thought. You circle him, as he stands motionless, frozen in fear.
Tobias, your best friend. A boy you grew up with, playing in the town's stone streets. And yet, he doesn't seem to recognize you. He seems so small and fragile, now. You taste fear, deep and primal. He's deeply, deeply afraid of you.
Draconic instincts and your human memories grind against each other, conflicting. You're forever changed, now. A beast; strong and free, but monstrous in the eyes of men. The baker's daughter ceased to be when your true nature asserted itself; and for these past few days since that change, you had assumed you would have to leave that world behind forever.
And yet a thread of that life is standing here. In the remote mountains, having found you, somehow. But there is no recognition in those eyes. He doesn't see Sarah; he only sees a wild beast.
You don't know what to do. The townspeople never knew much of dragons; if you explained yourself, dropped your and his names, he might think it was a trick. That dragons could invade the mind, to manipulate and decieve - not true, at least not for you, but it's the kind of thing you had heard about any unknown beast. Besides, now that you think about it... can you even talk now?
You stop circling, and stare into his eyes. You lay down, relax your body language as much as you're able, while still holding your head high on your long, flexible neck. No use but to try and say something.
The words rise from your throat uneasily and with much difficulty, but they rise nonetheless, though your voice is certainly much changed.
"Hhelloo. Ddon't, bbe affrraiid; Ii... feeel I knnooowww whhhy you'rrre hhere."
Tobias takes a step back in shock. "You can talk?"
You grimace, trying to get the words to fit through your much-changed mouth as best as you can. "I'mm... trrrying ttoo, aat llleasst. It'sssss... ddddifficcultt."
"I'm mostly surprised you're talking, instead of, you know, eating me. I'm sorry if I disturbed you, mister dragon-"
You reflexively hiss, and he jumps back. "Miss, nnot mmisster. Isss mmy voooiiicce rreallyy tthhatt ddeep?" Each word is getting a little easier, a little clearer.
"... sorry, miss dragon. It's... quite a strong voice, hard for my silly little human ears to tell, ha ha. You know, I wouldn't have thought dragons to care much about gender-" Oh, Tobias. He's rambling when he's caught off guard, as always. His cutest trait, honestly.
"Hmmm. I gguess wwe woulddn't, nno."
Your unsureness provokes confusion in Tobias. You can tell what he's thinking - not through any mind reading, but just the knowledge of how your best friend thinks - Why does this dragon seem so unsure about her own kind? What's her deal?
"... but uh, yes, I did come here for a reason, as you were getting at. I'm looking for my friend Sarah. She went missing a few days ago, last seen stumbling towards these mountains in the dead of night."
You look right into his eyes, and enunciate as carefully as you can. It's almost as easy as talking as a human was, now. "Yess, I'm aware. I know where Ssarah iss. Sshe is okayy... bbut you hhave to ppromise me you'll keep calmm when I ttell you wwhere. Sshe iss in... a pprediccamentt."
Tobias' eyes light up as you say this, then an expression of relief tinged with worry crosses his face. He gives a solemn little nod. "Then I'll help her, whatever's happened to her. She's my best friend. I won't abandon her, no matter what."
You sit, take a forelimb off the ground, and point a claw at your chest. You smile, as gently as you can with such huge, sharp teeth. "It'ss me, Tobes. You probably don't recognize me, but... it's me, Ssarah."
His expression is blank. So shocked he freezes still, says nothing.
This is what you were afraid of. Disbelief. A panic rises in you, tears flow from your sharp, draconic eyes. "Tobes, it'ss me! Sarah! I turned intto a dragon I don't know hhhow or wwwhy bbut also it feels really nice annd likke I was always onne andd didddnt know it and I dddont wwaantt ttto ttturn bbabackk aaandnd iddididiont kknwwwow iff thatssss evveen ppsossible-"
Your words fall apart, your attempts of explanation scattering into a panicked series of inhuman howls. You start bawling, unable to even see through the tears. You hang your head low, as you start to fall into deep, deep sorrow, your worst fears come true-
When you feel something hug your snout, and a voice you know so very well rings out.
"Sarah... hey, hey, calm down. You're getting all worked up again. I'm glad you're safe, bud."
You try to say something, but you just let out a little quiet chitter instead. You slump down, let your neck and head lay across the floor, and let Tobias gently stroke your snout.
"Only one person in the world ever calls me Tobes. And I was worried I had lost her forever."
You try and gather yourself, regain your speech. "Bbut-" you mumble. "Bbut I'll nnevverr bbe hhumman againn... and I ddon't want to be, annyway..."
He wipes a huge tear from your eye with the edge of his cloak, letting you see his warm smile. "Sure. But you're still Sarah, and you're still my best friend."
You can only just chirp and chitter in response to those words. He's right; you're still you. Human or dragon, baker's girl or massive beast, you're still you, despite it all. Nothing, not even a change in species itself, can take that away from you.
"And besides" he continues, with an emotional little smirk, looking into your gazing eye, as tears fill his own. "I think you look great in scales."
You can only growl in relief. Mrrrr.
And you let your head sink into his lap, as he hugs it close, softly and warmly.
You'll be okay. You've still got a friend, after all.