You squeezed your eyes shut, a surge of panic clawing at your throat. A warm presence brushed your back, scales cool and smooth against your skin. Before you could react, a deep, rumbling purr vibrated through your body, the sound both calming and powerful. You cracked an eye open to see a vision straight out of legend - a woman, tall and toned, with skin the color of emerald and eyes that glittered like polished obsidian. But the giveaway was the tail, a long, sinuous appendage that lashed behind her like a weapon.