Sparks fly as sword deflects claw. She weaves, she dodges. She is deep in the moment, studying the movements of the dragon.
Another dodge, another strike. The dance continues, and she only grows more energized. She is focused on the dragon, on her opponent. There is nothing else in the world but the two of them, clashing on this battlefield.
Determination, desperation, and... a strange joy, fill her heart. In this moment, in this battle, she is alive. She is in the moment, moving by instinct, letting all else she is fall away. Her movements grow both less practiced, less regimented, and more fluid. More primal, more animalistic.
The dragon rears up at her, opening its great wings to intimidate her. Her eyes narrow.
There's a spark in her chest. A smirk crosses her face. She gets it. She understands this creature. Like her, a proud warrior - a defender of their nest. She must show them that she is alike.
Without thinking, she lets loose a cry; but instead of a simple human shout, something far beyond that leaves her throat. A roar, deep and complex, snarling and powerful.
The dragon winces a bit in shock.
She drops her sword, steel clattering as it strikes the ground. The battle rush has not subsided, but it's become something altogether different. That spark in her chest... its a blaze, now.
The dragon rumbles, and speaks. Somehow, she understands their words. "I had a feeling you were my equal in combat; but it seems we share far more than just an aptitude for fighting."
There's a dull ache over much of her body. She feels a strange sensation of... unfurling, from the base of her spine and her upper back. There's something there, as much a part of her as her arms and legs. And yet, it feels... nice. A calming, comforting presence. She's exhausted, falling to her knees as the adrenaline rush of combat begins to fall away, and another, stranger process begins.
The dragon draws closer. "Let's call this a truce, little one. It would not reflect well on me to strike at a hatchling in the moment of her rebirth; and perhaps your perspective on our kind will change, now that you've learned the truth of your being."
The dragon - no, the dragoness - turns around, glances back at her with a knowing smile, before opening those great wings wide, and launching into the air, flying gracefully away.
Through the aches and pains, the strange yet comforting feeling of something spreading across her skin and her body changing in a thousand both visible and imperceptible ways, she gazes, entranced, at that elegant flight, and feels a strange yearning. She slumps downwards, resting on her chest, overcome by an odd exhaustion. She gazes at the sky, and yearns to soar as freely.
She growls, gently. She had come here, seeking glory and honor by slaying the beast. But instead, she seems to have found an understanding of sorts. A different sort of strength.
A breeze blows. She feels it fill her... her...
Her... wings.
She glances to her side, and catches a glimpse of red-brown scale, and membrane stretched between digits. She gasps, her heart skipping a beat. Suddenly, everything makes sense, comes into focus, all at once.
She rumbles happily, her eyes filling with tears. To think, she thought for so long that her destiny was to slay others like her. Shameful.
But she knows better now. She knows what she is.
She watches the other dragoness vanish into the horizon.
Soon, she will follow, soaring high through that wide blue sky.
[thanks @kowobold for planting the seed of this idea into my head]