The bronze scaled dragon was just winging about to slow and turn around in order to catch up to the airship that had quickly out manuvered it.  To it's extreme dismay however just as it began to fully turn the main cannon of the Virtuous Maiden roared.  Spitting fire and iron, it hit the beast directly in it's side as it angled about.  At this range there was no chance that an experienced gunner like Doxi was going to miss.  It didn't roar in pain this time, but a gout of flame escaped it's maw as it tumbled away from the path of the cannon ball and fell towards the mountain range below.  Doxi quickly began to ready the cannon for a second shot, and the ship began to angle downwards trying to follow the beast.  Doxi knew how vulnerable the ship was from below.  But then with a roar the great wyrm was streaking upwards from below straight at the ship.<br/><br/>Doxi didn't have another shot loaded, and a Ballistae bolt went flying just past it from the port side.  It looked like the dragon was going to collide with the ship.  But at the last moment it roared, a sound that would have been nearly deafining had Doxi's ears already not been ringing from cannon fire.  Then it veered Starboard and continued upwards, past the Virtuous Maiden.<br/><br/>The resounding *CRACK* however... everyone on board heard that.   Followed immediately by a tremor that ran through the ship.  The Virtuous Maiden shuddered again and began to list, falling slowly and towards the starboard.  Doxi looked up and saw the Dragon, it's side scorched completely black, rising into the clouds.   The wyrm was fleeing!<br/><br/>Janmorel's voice came over the speaking tubes, "Captain that attack nearly tore off the starboard side elemental strut.  Zephyr can't manifest a ring until it's fixed.  She can keep us aloft and moving while she begins to regenerate the strut, but at a snails pace."   The half elven futa sounded worried, "Orders?"<br/><br/>Doxi knew that if the dragon came back, it would be badly injured, and whatever it's purpose for attacking, she wasn't likely to find out.  She could set down in a small lake so Janmorel could help Zephyr with the repairs, or they could limp along at only a tiny fraction of their speed while Zephyr tried to repair the ship on her own.   It would take much longer to repair, but at least they wouldn't be sitting ducks.   Either way, it looked like they wouldn't be getting to Dragon's Roost tonight.