All in all seven of the kobolds died - five adults and two hatchlings. Ves'ra was quite happy with that - she had fully thought more would die, especially of the adults. Of the twenty-two surviving kobolds thirteen were mages while the others were all body-enhancers. Ves'ra thought herself quite lucky - some of the magics seemed really unique.

All those magics needed testing for their limits, but looking at the previously starving kobolds she decided to give them some more time to recuperate from living with too little food for too long. Well, the old kobold - Tes’va - wouldn't get a chance, she was a healer and everyone else looked upon her with respect.

“You wanted to talk with me revered shaman?” She asked.

“Yes, I have noticed that all kobolds that followed me look upon you for guidance, so I think it’s time you get an actual position. You are our shaman now, while I will be the chieftain.” She explained. Tes’va looked taken aback, before speaking up.

“I did nothing worthwhile of such a position, you should look for someone more younger, more powerful.” She resisted.

“No, you're actually perfect for the position.” Ves'ra stated, “Every single one of these kobolds looks up to you, listens to you and asks you for guidance. As for destruction - you can believe me, I have more than enough of that for both of us.”

“I humbly accept the decision then. What do you want me to do?” She asked.

“We’re going to organize the village first - four bands of at least five with one of the adults as leader. You know them best, so you’ll do the division.” She commanded. “And bring one of the bands to me, I’ll start teaching them to hunt immediately.”

With all of the village temporarily occupied Ves'ra thought about how to equip her people - they didn't take any equipment with them. All of them would certainly need new furs - the rags they wore even now just wouldn't do - but furs were no armor, they were padding at best. Looking at the wall she created to block of the exit Ves'ra had an idea - what stopped her from making ice-armor and weapons for her kobolds? Ice was light, and she could form it into any form she wanted, it perfectly suited her needs.

She’d have to think about something else before they met the humans though - while she wanted to avoid that at all costs she wouldn't be stupid enough not to plan accordingly anyways.

One of her books - True magic and shamanism - also talked about something called dispelling, powerful mages could dispel true magic, she didn't quite get how it worked, and couldn't try with her own magic, she’d have to wait and teach one of her kobolds before she could. Apparently shamanism directly influenced the real world and thus could only be countered directly, not dispelled.

The hatchlings already started to look better after two days of good food, but the adults would still need a few weeks to recover - both were too weak to encumber with armor now she decided. Weapons were a must though, she would protect them if necessary, but they had to learn how to defend and take care of themselves - she didn't want to sit in her village most of the time so long as there were still powerful beasts to be hunted.

Ves'ra focused on the wall of ice in front of her and imagined twenty-two spears leaving the ice, falling on the ground in front of her, before supplying the image energy from her core. These spears weren't really good yet - just magic ice in spearform - so she took her time to improve each of them. In the end they were about as strong as the steel-weapons humans seemed to love.

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She could make them stronger, but that wouldn't really serve a purpose - they were strong enough as is.

Tes’va didn't take long to form the kobolds into bands, and joined her together with a group and a single hatchling that hid behind her - she didn't seem to be part of any group, yet Ves'ra recognized her face - she was one of the kobolds to awaken first.

“Chieftain.” They greeted her.

“Are you ready?” She asked.

“We are.” The group answered. Ves'ra bobbed her head up and down.

“Good, each off you take a spear and wait for me, the shaman and me have some things I need to talk about.” She said, before waving her hand and opening the wall with a little magic. Ves'ra turned around to Tes’va.

“So, why do you have a hatchling hiding behind you?” She asked, curious. The hatchling seemed fearful, clinging to the old kobold like a drowning puppy.

“Thu’va doesn't feel safe in here, it’s too dark for her.” She explained. Ves'ra turned to look at the small hatchling - she was smaller than nearly all of them.

“So, what's your magic?” She asked her.

“I can create light.” She answered.

“How did you hatch?” Ves'ra asked. The hatchling explain, and Ves'ra had to admit feeling intrigued.

“Close your eyes, feel for your energy and take control and have it gather around your body, can you do that for me?” She asked, keeping her voice calm. The hatchling nodded shyly, and closed her eyes.

“Nod when you are ready.” Ves'ra commanded. She could see a pitiful amount of energy gather around the hatchling’s claws, and before long she nodded.

“Good, now imagine a ball of light coming into existence, a ball that will guide us to the light beyond this wall. Then force that image on the energy around your claws.” She explained. The hatchling’s face scrunched up in concentration, and Ves'ra could feel the energy around her claws waver, before a ball of light sprang into existence around them, everything else fading deep darkness.

The ball floated off, so she went to follow it. “Let's go, what are we waiting for?” She asked the two, startling them out of the wondrous inspection of their surroundings. The passing of time in this world of darkness was strange, but they arrived at a new point of light only moments or hours later.

Ves'ra - still taking point - stepped out into the light, and found herself next to a group of extremely surprised looking kobolds. She turned around just in time to see Tes’va and Thu’va came into existence with a flash of light. Ves'ra smiled at the hatchling.

“See, you are never far from the light, it will alway guide you.” Ves'ra looked over the group in front of her, noting that none of them were among the first to awaken, before creating a canal of wind around Tes’va and herself, allowing them to talk unheard.

“You should take her to the wolfs, she needs a companion all the time, and you can't get a better companion than a familiar. They are both young, so she should be able to form a bond in no time - if she feeds one of them. Just make sure no one feeds them wolf-meat.

Get someone to distribute the spears, I made one for each, and then take the other five with you to feed your pups.” She commanded. “And keep a look if any of the other hatchlings need something special, I’ll try to provide them with it if I can.”

“Yes chief. I’ll take care of them. May I ask where your familiar is?”

“He’s out, searching for whatever it was that has you fearing making fire, I need something interesting to hunt, and this sounds exactly like that.”

“Take care chieftain, no one to hunt for the horror has ever returned. I'm not sure the others would find the energy for anything should you and your commands vanish.” Tes’va said, worried.

“I can take care of myself. Don't worry, I will only attack if I know I can take it, and even then I would be stupid to attack openly. Everytime one is in open combat means that one’s preparations were not sufficient.” Ves'ra explained, “Anyways, we’ll be off now, a village doesn't feed itself. We’ll need to talk some more when I return, I still have some questions.”

“We will be waiting chieftain, good hunting.” Ves'ra nodded at her, before stopping the spell and turning around.

“Let's go. Ask when you have questions. I won't intervene unless I see one of you making a mistake. Show me how you hunt.” She commanded.