No one spoke as Leoton looked out to the south.

Sitting above the horizon was a swarm of dragons. A swarm so large that it created a dark line over the horizon.

Leoton let out a low growl as the sun steadily set.

“Oh- I have to go,” Melahn said after realizing that he would need to sleep soon.

Neither Granitis nor Obsidia spoke as the far smaller dragon flapped his wings.

He then flew down the hill atop which Leoton so firmly sat.

He made his way east to a distant Evertree.

Perched all around it were Dzvinyu only they were skinnier and coveted in scars.

Several of them gathered in front of Melahn.

[Look who’s back!] One said after bumping into Melahn roughly.

[How’s our little fatty?] Another asked as he and his companions continued to push Melahn back and forth.

[Hey, cut that out and get some rest!]

Someone said from above.

The dragons in front of Melahn all snickered before flying towards the exposed roots of the Evertree.

Unlike True Dragons, Melahn and his kind, the Dzvinyu, were susceptible to things like heat and cold. Although normal days and nights wouldn’t affect them.

Also, unlike True Dragons, they needed sleep and so most of them nested between the roots of Evertrees.

Melahn made his way to his little borrow which was padded with dry hay.

He folded his wings and rested his head on his arms before closing his eyes to sleep but just as he did, one of the Dzvinyu from before suddenly slammed his tail into Melahn’s face.

[Ow!] Melahn cried all while every other Dzvinyu laughed.

[You gotta stay alert, little Mel. What would you do if the humans attacked now, huh?] The scarred Dzvinyu, who went by the name Litteken, asked but Melahn simply lowered his head only for Litteken to slam his tail in Melahn’s face again.

[Wrong answer! Stand up! Fight! Or, come the day, you will die!]

Litteken yelled.

[Hehe, as funny as that is, leave him alone.]

[Yeah and it's not like the feeders are being sent out anyway.]

Those who were perched above said prompting Litteken to scoff.

He then exited Melahn’s little borrow prompting Melahn to let out low whimpers.

[Hey, whoever’s doing that, shut it! I’m trying to sleep!]

Someone yelled and so Melahn held in his cries as the darkness of night settled over Damnations End.

.

..

Melahn was awoken as the ground suddenly shook.

The other Dzvinyu stormed out of the roots just as the morning sun’s first light crept over the land.

This also signalled the awakening of feeders like Melahn and so he stood up and left the roots only for a certain someone to slap his belly with his tail.

[Tsk! Did you not learn anything last night?] He asked as his companions flew south.

Melahn lowered his head again but this only enraged the Litteken even more and so he opened his mouth and shot out a ball of fire which struck the soft scales of Melahn’s belly.

[AH!] Melahn cried as he fell to the side.

[Hey, that’s taking it too far!] Another large Dzvinyu snapped as she landed between Melahn and the scarred one.

Litteken clicked his tongue before flying south as well.

[You really need to start fighting back, ya know.] Melahn’s savoir, who went by the name Furan, said before joining the others in flying south.

Melahn let out a pained chuckle.

He had tried fighting back once before and it only made things worse. The Dzvinyu were bred for war. He, however, never found it in him. The capacity to inflict harm. Not because he was an altruist or anything. He just didn’t see the point.

His fellow feeders walked past him because they too knew the price that came with helping.

Melahn took a deep breath before standing up.

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He then joined the other feeders in going to a nearby field of fresh grass where a large herd of deer could be seen.

The feeders were tasked with absorbing life but only when the herds exceeded one thousand members.

If the herd met this condition, the feeders would absorb the lives of half of livestock and take the life to the one below.

If the herd had less, then the feeders were to move on to the next area and check on the herds there.

[How many do you think there are?]

Someone asked.

[Not one thousand, I’ll tell you that.]

[So… we move on?]

[Yep.]

The feeders, with Melahn in tow, moved across Damnations End and while his kin were counting their prey, Melahn delighted in the beauty of his home.

He had always wanted to visit the far north.

A place that was said to be cold and snowy.

He wondered what the snow felt like.

He wondered what it tasted like.

Thoughts of snow led to Melahn thinking about a dream he had.

He wanted to make a garden.

One akin to the Upper Sanctum.

A place where all were equal.

Dragon, Dzvinyu and even humans-

[Oi! Let’s get started!] The largest of the feeders, a Dzvinyu known as Yanbue, barked as the group walked towards a herd of about two thousand sheep.

Melahn sighed before spreading his wings.

He then joined everyone in absorbing the life of the sheep.

They made sure to leave about five hundred sheep before moving to the next herd.

This would go on for the rest of the day.

.

..

Melahn yawned as he and his fellow feeders basked in the light of the setting sun.

Nothing much was said because the feeders never really did much apart from absorbing life and giving it to the one below.

Melahn wished he could talk to his fellow feeders but they never had much to talk about.

He didn’t dislike them or anything, he just wished that some of them were more expressive.

He sighed again before gasping as a certain trio of True Dragons landed nearby.

They approached the group of feeders, rattling the group but Leoton let out a low, ground-shaking drone that calmed everyone.

He then walked up to Melahn who lowered his head.

[Good afternoon, Melahn.]

[G-good afternoon.]

[You know… if the others would be so surprised if they learnt that the great Scarred Beast is such a softie.]

Granitis scoffed while reviewing looks of awe and amazement from the feeders.

Leoton ignored Granitis while looking Melahn over.

[How did things go today?]

[Good, relatively speaking. I joined the others in absorbing life, so I managed to get a lot more than I would have on my own. But…]

[What?] Leoton asked. His voice laden with concern.

[I wish we didn’t have to.]

Leoton nodded before reaching out to Melahn.

He then used one of his claws to lift Melahn’s chin.

[Take comfort in knowing that your duty will soon end.]

Melahn sighed before nodding.

[What about you?]

[It seems as though the humans have retreated to their cursed continent. So we have returned to waiting.] Leoton Leoton groaned all while Granitis showed off his wings.

Both Leoton and Melahn turned around to watch as Granitis spun tales of his might.

[You see, unlike Leo over there, I have control over three aspects, making me an elite among elites!] He yelled.

[Tsk!] Obsidia sounded.

[Is there anything you’d like to say?] Granitis asked with eyes that glowed brightly orange.

[Everyone get back.] Leoton cautioned as Granitis and Obsidia paced around each other.

[It matters not how many teeth some snakes have, a cobra only needs two to kill.] Obsidia hissed while the Dzvinyu app ran behind Leoton who stood with half-open eyes.

Almost as if he was uninterested in whatever was going on between his comrades.

[What does that even mean? Are you trying to say I’m weak?]

[Figure it out- unless, like with everything else, it proves too hard for you.] Obsidia said as the air grew several times heavier.

Granitis’s eyes narrowed. They then shifted to the side.

[So… you’re saying you’re better than me because you’ve mastered space magic while my skills are divided between my three aspects?] He asked.

[That was quite quick. I’m proud of you.] Obsidia snickered.

[I see.] Granitis sighed before lowering his wings.

[Good boy. Now come here-]

Obsidia stopped as Granitis charged towards her with his mouth wide open.

[Hehe, silly boy.] Obsidia chuckled before folding her wings and standing on her hind legs.

A high-pitched whine them filled the air as Granitis opened his mouth even further.

A dim orange light could be seen in his mouth and just as he reached a relaxed Obsidia, he spat out a torrent of flame that would have charred everything it touched but an invisible wall kept the fire from passing Obsidia who raised her right hand and smacked Granitis in the face sending him crashing into the ground.

She then spread her wings and Melahn, along with his fellow feeders gasped in awe from behind Leoton as Obsidia’s wings began glowing white.

[GRRRAAAH!] Granitis cried as he struggled to get onto his feet.

[Yes, I can only use space magic, but my control over it separates you and I by leagues.] Obsidia giggled.

[Fine, now let me go!]

[Alright.] Obsidia said before folding her wings and returning to a previous position.

[Wow!]

[Amazing!]

[If she’s that strong, how much stronger are the dragon lords?]

Such reactions came from the feeders who all ran to Obsidia’s side as the sun set, casting her in deep orange light and dark shadows which highlighted her white irises.

[Hehe, come on. I’m not that great.] Obsidia said while cheekily raising her head.

She then turned to Leoton who still had Melahn by his side.

[Actually, if you want a display of true strength, then you should ask Leo over there.] Obsidia said prompting the feeders to all gather in front of Leoton who glared at Obsidia while the feeders begged him to show them the extent of his powers.

He glanced at Melahn to see that the little Dzvinyu was sleepy.

Leoton gently wrapped his right wing around a yawning Melahn before looking up into the evening sky.

He then took a deep breath before opening his large mouth.

Everyone gasped in awe as a single ball of fire shot out from Leoton’s mouth.

It shot high into the ever-darkening sky before suddenly collapsing.

A massive explosion then suddenly struck the ground in the form of displaced air but just as quickly as it came, it disappeared, leaving the fields of grass in a shaken silence.

Everyone looked at Leoton who was more concerned with whether Melahn was still sleeping.

[That was… cool. Can I… spend the night… in your nest?] Melahn sleepily asked making Leoton’s eyes widen.

He turned his fiery gaze to the other feeders who didn’t speak in objection.

[Obsidia.] Leoton called and with a nod, her eyes flashed and like that, Melahn’s body began floating, almost as though it was being lifted by an invisible platform.

[Goodnight, all of you.] Leoton said while walking north with Obsidia and Granitis in tow.

The feeders all bid the true dragons goodbye as they began their journey north.

Unlike Dzvinyu, True Dragons all had separate nesting spots which varied in form from deep holes to caves.

These spots would often be fought over in cataclysmic battles but, fortunately, no such battles had occurred recently.

Leoton and his companions had nested at the foot of a cliff in three shallow holes that were filled with dry hay.

Something they had learnt from Melahn.

Leoton gently placed Melahn into his den before sitting next to the sleeping Dzvinyu.

Obsidia and Granitis fell into their spots before closing their eyes.

True Dragons didn’t need to eat or sleep but rest was pleasant and refreshing for them and so they did it occasionally.

Leoton looked up into the starry night sky and sighed.

He then wrapped Melahn with his right wing before laying down to sleep.