The talking rat scampered off and my swarm scattered to find prey. By my command, the hunters would range much further away in their search for prey. Though I wanted to participate in the hunt myself, I refused to indulge. Instead, I spoke with the Alphas who remained. The elites, the khatif, and the most motivated of my swarm listened to my words, but I wanted to live in this land without destroying it, and I needed them all to understand it as well.

“We always hunt our fill.” Yamal hesitantly answered.

“And when the swarm grows, what happens?” I asked, looking at the older keelish. Yamal and many of the most active and promising keelish were too young to know what I was getting at.

“The swarm moves on.” Shraal answered. “If left to our own devices, we will eat everything that lives and, once all opposition is dead, we move on to the next. If we find too strong of resistance, we move on. If we face any difficulties, the way of the keelish is to move beyond the problem.”

“Which we can’t do if we want to live here.” Yamal answered, quickly picking up on what I was saying. “The herds will help! We just need to eat them!”

“There won’t be enough to feed us all, much less any hatchlings or other swarms that join us.” Joral disagreed. “The Alpha is correct in commanding us to reduce our consumption. Most of us had gotten used to gorging ourselves multiple times a day. In our escape, we went for days without any food except for the flesh of our own fallen, and no rest beyond that we could steal while others ate. Then, in that condition, we proved ourselves to be fahvalo to the Moonchildren. Desperate.”

“And we must be desperate once more.” I cut in. “Desperate to succeed, desperate to survive, desperate to thrive. Desperate enough to deny our hunger for the longer term. We can go for days without eating, if we’re determined enough. In order to find success and survival here in the mountains, in order to maintain a home, we’ll do that as well as figuring out how to grow our flocks, and to cultivate more lands where our herds can eat, as well as to learn what else we can eat.”

The last bit obviously confused most of the present keelish. “That’s why you sent out hunting packs, right?” asked one of the newer Alphas.

“They’re looking for new prey. That’s not what I was referring to. We need to find plants that can supplement our food.”

“What else is there to eat? We’re predators! We’re Nievtala’s conquerors!” Clamored several of the Alphas. I’d given them much too much leniency. My rage flared up without warning, and I snapped my jaws while magically amplifying the sound. It cracked like thunder and the assembled keelish cowered.

“I command you to find food for yourselves and the rest of the swarm. Do not complain that I provide greater opportunities for growth and security! I will lead us to safety, to full bellies, and a permanent home! I will protect our borders and establish a nation, beyond anything we’ve seen! And you dare to complain that I want my people to be fed?”

The vocal few everted their eyes, bowing in obeisance while refusing to offer any further disrespect. Yamal stepped forward, her scales quivering and clattering together in terror. Even so, she spoke.

Stolen novel; please report.

“I will lead my pack of those willing to follow your commands. We will find what alternative food exists, and which we can consume.”

“Yamal. You remain one of our brightest hopes for the future. I appreciate your willingness to follow a command you do not fully understand.”

Have her search for tubers.

Nievtala’s voice thundered through me with a soft glow of appreciation, though without any warning or preamble. Her approval, though much diluted from the orgasmic ecstasy of her pleasure, sent a shiver down my spine.

“Our goddess has spoken. Search for plants that have thicker roots and leaves. They won’t be even bushes or trees, just plants. If you pull them out, their roots may have something like a fruit that could be edible.”

Yamal flared her frills and bowed her head in acceptance of the command before whirling towards her pack. There, she issued a couple quick commands and stalked off. Her smaller pack of twenty or so keelish under the command of three khatif jogged after her without complaint. She served as a reminder of my leniency, of the weakness I’d allowed back into my commands and presence. I’d long been as idolized a figure as she was, but I’d allowed my complacency to weaken my position. I cursed myself for having unknowingly stepped back even after my resolution to truly live as a keelish.

“The rest of you will work either to locate any additional plants to eat or more prey we can domesticate. If you join Yamal on her search for edible plants, search for fruiting trees and bushes. The birds will lead you to them. However, if you search for a creature to domesticate and do not have a member of your pack that can subjugate the creatures to follow you, do not engage. Keep an eye on them, and send someone to the swarm and Sybil will ensure a capable keelish accompanies you. Dismissed.” I whipped my tail as I walked away.

The assembled Alphas quietly and quickly scattered to their individual packs. Most of their subordinates were not so disciplined as Yamal’s, groaning and questioning their assignments. Lashing tails and clubbing fists dissuaded them from any further complaints, and one by one, the packs left on their searches for more renewable food sources.

“Thank you, Alpha.” Joral bowed to me. “I appreciate your willingness to let me speak.”

“You know better than I do how our herds operate. I merely eat when I am told that I can. We trust in your judgment, Joral, so I trust you to continue learning more.”

“Yes, Alpha!” He nearly saluted as he answered. Once I dismissed him, Joral jogged off to his flocks, where he consulted with his supporters. Several of the females fawned over him as he approached and nuzzled against him. I merely smiled and turned to, for the first time in a while, take time truly to myself to tinker with my magic. I had been explicitly told that to progress my magic at this point would take experimentation and effort, so I looked forward to finding more applications and wider uses for my magic.

“Any advice?” I idly aske Nievtala, and when she didn’t respond, I asked the Administrator as well.

[The Administrator and Nievtala have crossed the bounds of the directive limits. They will be unavailable for direct communication for some time yet.]

While I sighed in frustration at the answer, I wasn’t too surprised. There wasn’t any way for me to know for sure when seemingly innocuous information violated the rules the [System] had put in place for the divine beings above me, but that they were willing to cross those lines for me was reassuring. Before I could begin my practice in earnest, though, a scout ran into the swarm, looking for me and panicked. My blood ran cold with her announcement, though a part of me recognized the opportunity to use my newest [Skill] in action.

“Alpha! We saw a nanuk! There’s some here!”