Oncian’s call wasn’t for Viseral’s expulsion, but for dinner and bed.

Peacock took a quick bite of the raw meat in front of him before returning his gaze to Viseral’s striped backside. The surprisingly rich flavor and savory smell almost assuaged the disappointment he had when he realized Viseral wasn’t in trouble again.

The meat looked like a pork loin, with fat marbling throughout. Cavua had explained all edible mobs dropped meat of some sort, and because of being dragons, their list of edible mobs was quite long.

“And edible Rebirths,” Viseral added with a chuckle, gaining a severe look from Oncian and Cavua.

“Being that as it may, you will not explore such things while you’re in our cave,” Oncian said.

Viseral merely shrugged. “Your loss.”

They finished their meal in relative silence, the sounds of ripping meat and muffled chewing the only noise. Peacock let his eyes drift toward the front of the nest, where Oncian and Cavua were taking the last bites of their enormous drumsticks. The drumsticks were mostly bone, yet those bones were still as thick as a hatchling, and five times as long. Peacock wondered what massive bird they’d taken down to get such enormous legs.

Cavua took the final bite, the now bare bone shimmering for a second before disappearing. “All right, hatchlings. Time to sleep. Wouldn’t want to lose your first day’s experience.”

Sleeping. Arianrhod had been explaining the mechanic when Oncian had called, and Peacock realized one important thing she hadn’t got to. “How long do we have to sleep? What if we get interrupted?”

“Good questions, Peacock. Hatchlings have to get a full ten hours to set your xp.” Cavua cocked her head. “Do you understand what that means?”

Peacock nodded. “Yes. Arianrhod told me about napping and temporary xp.”

“Ah, I see. Thank you, Arianrhod.”

Arianrhod beamed around a mouthful of meat.

“The amount needed goes down as you get older, thankfully,” Cavua said. “As an adult, seven is sufficient. As far as interruptions, it’s treated as a nap. Every full hour rested will restore a quarter of health and essence. Xp, however, won’t become permanent.”

“Which is why,” Oncian chimed in, “it’s of utmost importance to always find a secure sleeping spot. Especially since, on top of having xp to lose, you’re caught completely unaware. I assure you, getting attacked in your sleep is not fun.”

Viseral snarled, drawing the eyes of every dragon in the cave. “What?” he snapped. “I’m just tired of your yapping. I’m going to sleep.” His eyes pierced Peacock as he marched past into the furthest reaches of the nest. “Don’t even think about attacking me while I sleep, slug. I’ll rip you apart, threats be damned.”

Peacock held his gaze, suppressing a shudder. He believed Viseral with all his heart. He also believed Viseral would happily take advantage of any opening he left. For that reason alone, he would be the last hatchling to fall asleep.

***

Peacock looked over his character data with a grin. It had been four days since he hatched, and in that time, he had gained a full five levels and unlocked the ability tab. At the moment, only one ability sat in an otherwise bare, silver rectangle lined with filigree.

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INNATE ABILITIES

Molt - Requires reaching current level cap (5).

Activate before sleep.

If sleep is undisturbed, it does the following:

Increases level cap.

Applies new physical and statistical parameters.

Growth stage increases (current stage – hatchling).

“So, what exactly is a molt, Oncian?”

Oncian, who stood near Peacock with the front half of his huge body hidden by the tunnel he was digging, called back. “Well, pretty much what its ability entry says. It’s how you grow as a dragon.”

“Right, but what happens?”

The scraping of Oncian’s claws against stone stopped. He shimmied out of the tunnel and regarded Peacock with a confused look. “Sorry, I don’t follow.”

Peacock shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t a hundred percent sure what he meant, either. It was just the thought of another unknown, one that promised change, also scared the hell out of him.

Oncian shrugged at his silence. “It doesn’t hurt, if that’s what you’re worried about. You trigger it, go to sleep, and poof, you’re bigger and better when you wake up.”

Peacock had quickly found Oncian’s teaching skills were much lower than Cavua’s or Arianrhod’s, or even Viseral’s. Viseral never explained anything, but his incessant stalking and surprise duel requests had certainly taught Peacock plenty.

An orange blur streaked across Peacock’s peripheral. Speak of the devil. He whirled, diving aside as Viseral sailed past with a curse. He’d taken his promise to not hurt Peacock outside of duels serious, but that didn’t keep him from tackling every chance he got.

In an instant, Viseral recovered and now was nose-to-nose with Peacock, hate burning in his eyes. “Oh, think you’re hot stuff now, don’t you? A few days in a wimpy body, and suddenly you’re incredible.”

Ah, yes, the verbal abuse. Viseral seemed to be nothing if not predictable. As if to prove the point, Aisha declared yet another duel request.

Normally, Peacock would have been all over it. He needed a break from scratching rocks and identifying ore with Oncian. But he’d also just hit level cap, and the idea of getting hurt, even if it meant hurting Viseral in return, didn’t quite have the same ring to it when there wasn’t any xp on offer. He snorted. “Denied.”

Viseral’s orange and yellow stripes took on a deep reddish hue. “What, why? You afraid of losing?”

Peacock grinned at Viseral’s increasing volume. Seems he’d struck a nerve. Time to do it again. “I’m afraid? What about you, oh mighty one? From my tally, our win-loss ratio is fifty-fifty, and I’m just a newb. That’s not a good look for you.”

“Put your claws where your mouth is.” Viseral snarled as another duel request rang out. “Fight me!”

“Denied.”

A large, flame-colored hand forced itself between the two of them. “No means no, Viseral. Back down. Peacock, a simple no will suffice. No need to goad.”

Oh, there was plenty of need to goad. It was too much fun to watch Viseral’s head try to explode. Then again, Oncian was a lot bigger than them, so his word was law. For now. “Fine.” Peacock shrugged and stepped back. “I’m at level cap, so I don’t need to fight, or dig. I think I’ll head back to the nest, if that’s all right.”

Oncian moved his hand away in time for Peacock to see the expression on Viseral’s face. “Level cap? How are you at level cap?”

“Probably because he’s been taking part in Cavua’s and my training sessions instead of skulking around the shadows.” Oncian scowled at Viseral. “No matter how boring you find it, I suggest you do the same if you don’t want to lag in growth as well as xp.” He turned to Peacock, ignoring Viseral’s sputtering. “There’s not much longer left in the day, anyway. Go ahead, but don’t trigger the molt before all of us get back. I’m sure Arianrhod has hit level cap as well, and Cavua and I would prefer to watch over you two at the same time.”

“Hey, what about me?” Viseral screeched.

“Well, if you actually work hard, you might catch up before nightfall.”

Peacock chuckled at Viseral’s frustrated growl. Served the griefer right. He hoped Viseral wouldn’t make it in time to molt tomorrow. The idea of spending an entire day bigger and stronger than that asshole was too good.