We are now in the West Havelland region. The forest isn't very dense here, at least until we reach Poland. Most of the time, the forest is surrounded by plains, dotted with five large campsites and numerous tourist sites. It's still the holiday season in August. Hiding 40 animals and one big dragon isn't an easy task, even at night. Lights illuminate everything, and surveillance cameras are scattered here and there. I'm in trouble this time.

So, we run at night, and I have to find food for the pack. I decide to see if I can spot prey with my infrared vision.

It's cheating, a big cheat, but before, it was the law of the strongest, now it's the law of the smartest.

"Hey, guys," I shout, "do you fancy birds on the menu?"

So, I decide to steal something for myself from the campsite because I want to taste something other than blood. I'm craving SOUP, tomato, greens... I've loved it for as long as I can remember. They say it makes you grow!

The company gathers near the lake, and I fly over a hundred birds sleeping on the shore, their feet in the water to protect them from predators. They're waders, I think.

I target them as a mass to feed my hungry, very hungry wolf buddies.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZap, goes my lightning strike. Just enough energy without making too much noise, yet the effect is devastating. I've calculated to hit them while they're on the ground. With the birds having their feet in the conductive water, a thousand birds join their creator in the sky. The wolves then rush in, followed by foxes and lynx.

The news will still make headlines in tomorrow morning's newspaper.

Darn!... Even if the wolves eat until they burst, there are still hundreds of dead birds floating. I can't burn them, they're on the water and would be boiled.

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If I fly away, I might reach Poland, as I've rested, but they'll still be hunted.

Where to rest during the day?

We need to check the map...

Yes, the caves.

So, I speak to the Alpha: "Alright, you guys will hide in the cave and stay hidden all day. No attacks on humans. Absolutely NO attack! They'll hunt us down for extermination if you do!

If you're discovered or caught off guard, flee in groups of four, disperse, and head for the other caves. Or hide in a bush, far from the roads or trails."

While the wolves hide at the break of day to sleep through the daylight hours, I take to the still dark sky and locate on my map the nearest camping site building. I hope the main building is made of concrete and that the roof can support my weight. There are still two guards patrolling the campsite, and I look for security cameras.

Alright, they're pointed at the parking lot, the ticket booth, the ATMs, the entrance, and all directed downwards, not towards the sky. PERFECT!

The Mission Impossible music is now playing in my head.

I sniff, I lick, I lick, I lick, I lick, I lick, ahhh, I've located my target: the kitchen.

They have alarm detectors here and there. Darn. I can't hold the soup tureen and fly with my hands. With my hind legs, maybe, but I need to jump.

Oh, I forgot, I have a tail. Yes, I'll try that. That's the solution!

I look at the security guards, they're in the parking lot and the camp area.

The cameras aren't in my way, CHECK!

Alarm in the kitchen! NOT OK!

I'll try in ten seconds. So, perched on the roof, I crane my long neck to look through the window. Okay, the soup tureen is on the gas heater. I'll grab it with my tail and fly away. I'll only break the lock. Maybe my stealth won't trigger the alarm. Maybe...

My stomach's growl is the answer. I want that soup, and I'm going to gulp it down in one go.

3

2

1

I descend, I descend, I use my claw and break the hinges. Then, I push the door open with my tail, wings spread, ready to fly, and my tail enters the kitchen. Of course, there's a lot of noise with everything crashing around. So, I smell the metal container and grab the soup tureen.

It's a big one, maybe for 50 people or more. A long beep demands an alarm code. A few numbers appear on my natural HUD.

No time to play, I jump, and I flap, flap, flap, flap, flap.

The crime is accomplished.

Behind me, you can hear the sirens of the intrusion alarm. But too late, the thief has departed.

When I arrived at the cave, the wolves were already full. There were feathers everywhere.

It makes me sneeze, and a pile of feathers now sticks to my nose.

I shout to the wolves, "You guys can come back now!" And I spew a wave of fire to reduce all the feathers to ashes.

"It's clean now, and you can return."

So, we celebrate that night and take a well-deserved day off.