Time had passed relatively peacefully as the sun rose above the entrance to the lair. The time of day though was hard to tell while underground in the main chamber so it was a while before one of the two woke up. The fox was exhausted from her travels and almost dying and sleeping in a place that was warm and safe. She felt uncomfortable sleeping on a pile of hard and pointy treasures but it was still a good sleep she had. She had woken up first as her ears perked sluggishly while she stretched before looking at her master. She tilted her head still seeing him hugging the egg while sprawled out as she rolled her eyes. She hated being forced into a soul contract but she was alive and had a relatively weird but ok master. She laid there waiting for him to wake up as an hour roughly passed by.

He slowly rose when he finally woke as he rubbed the egg in his lap, looking at it as he held it closely. He perked his ears glancing at the fox briefly then paused before turning as he looked at her. "Are you hungry?"

She lifted her head watching him as she then softly nodded her head as her tails flicked behind her cautiously.

He softly chuckled as he watched her as well, noticing her being cautious of him. "So you can understand me, hm. We'll go hunt for some food in a minute then. Do you have a name by the way?"

She blinked as she didn't remember naming herself so she slowly shook her head. She wasn't sure about him yet so she was trying to be careful.

He paused as he was a bit surprised by that. He had assumed she had a name and didn't understand how magical beasts worked. He paused as the unfamiliar word popped into his head as he understood it as a classification but nothing more. He was getting quite tired of the spell or whatever it was in his soul restricting his memories and information.

"Ok then well, may I name you then or..." He spoke softly before stopping not really sure of how else to get a name for her or if she could even name herself. He paused contemplating it as the fox flicked her tails again as her ears perked up. She then reluctantly huffed to get his attention and carefully nodded as she narrowed her eyes hoping she wasn't called named something horrible or dumb.

He heard her as he looked back to her, a small smile forming as he nodded back. "Ok then hmm, give me the rest of today to think of a good name for you then. Is that ok?" He then reached out trying to pet her head and touch her.

She nodded before suddenly growling seeing what he was doing as she bit his fingers before pulling away and retreating a bit. She didn't trust him yet to let him touch or much less pet her as her eyes narrowed at him.

He winced from the bite as he started to shake and flick his hand a bit as blood ran from the small little bite wounds. His regeneration kicked in as the small wounds healed quickly as he sighed. "My bad. Sorry for trying to pet you. Anyways, lets go get some food then?" He started to get up while carefully holding the egg and putting it back onto its pedestal as gently as he could. He then stretched a bit before reaching for his back as he felt the wounds from where his wings were trying to regrow from. He weirdly remembered having more then 3 wings when he first woke up but now he only felt two stumps on his back as he tried to figure out where the others went. He also had a weird feeling for the need to have his wings back as a slight sense of hurt pride flowed through him. He flicked his tails a little agitated but soon calmed down, shaking his head and ignoring it as he started his tumble/climb down the treasure mound. The fox following behind him carefully.

Once he got to the bottom he grabbed his short sword and hatchet then the flint before heading up the exit tunnel to the lairs entrance. He then started to set up wood and stones for a campfire for when he got back with a fresh kill. The fox just pacing around nearby as she decided to start sniffing the air for prey but only smelt the Perils frozen rotting corpse. She then started to hop through the snow as a fresh snow had fallen raising the height up to her masters waist almost. He chuckled a bit watching as she hopped through the snow as he started to follow before walking past her and creating a pathway through the snow for her with his legs.

As he walked deeper through the trees, the icy winds bit at his skin as he shivered a bit. He needed to figure out a way to procure clothes or find a way to get the cloak he saw under the treasures. He still had to move the fire stones but it was more trouble then it was worth plus he didn't want to risk the eggs life by leaving it without warmth. He didn't mind suffering and figuring things out if it kept the egg stable and safe. Again he paused having a moment of realization that he was protective of the egg now as he flicked his tail. He seemed to be feeling more things as of late and he didn't know what to do about it.

The fox perked her ears seeing him stop as she was covered in powdered snow and struggling through the path. She sniffed the air but couldn't smell anything much less see as she whined a bit. She was starting to get cold as the powdered snow melted from her warmth and soaked her as she reluctantly went to her master. She then whined as she went onto her back paws while pawing up at his tattered pants wanting out of the snow.

He blinked coming out of his thoughts as he looked down seeing the fox pawing at him as he looked at her confused. She pawed at his arm then and tried to hop up. He then carefully reached down softly but firmly grabbing her by the scruff as he picked her up as she yipped at him annoyed while growling slightly. She hated being grabbed by the scruff but accepted it nonetheless as snow fell off of her. She was squirming a bit and tried to nip him from being picked up like this as she pawed towards his shoulder. He blinked at her wondering why she was being so weird before getting the hint as he carefully placed her on his shoulder. She then nipped his ear with a slight annoyed angry huff then began to calm down while stretch out across his shoulders, laying her head on her paws while her tails dangled over his arm and chest.

He watched her as she got comfortable before trying to pet her but got bit again for trying. "Ouch! Hmph fine. Keep your eyes out for any food and you can stay there." He chuckled a little while his ears perked before he resumed walking through the snow.

The fox meanwhile kept her ears perked while occasionally looking behind him to look for anything to hunt.

Minutes passed and snow started to drift and fall from the grey clouds overhead lightly. The wind picked up a little but mostly stayed at the level of a strong breeze as the trees creaked and sway. They had arrived at the edge of the forest again seeing the charred remains of the forest before them as they saw in the distance the frozen remains of the dead goblin the snow having been cleared away. They also saw tens and tens of footsteps circling around the goblins corpse and paths through the snow branching in various. He studied the pathing seeing all the steps came from over the hill to the corpse and lead back up while the various branches seemed to indicate whoever owned the footsteps were looking for whoever killed the goblin. He then started to walk to the frozen goblins corpse examining the frozen frostbitten feet of the goblin and compared it to the foot indentions in the snow best he could.

"More goblins, a lot more of them. Do you know how many?" He looked at the hill then at the fox while he spoke. His crouched form slowly straightening up as the fox stayed balanced on his shoulders. He could feel his blood starting to rush through his body as his sense became more tuned to his surroundings as the threat of danger made him wary from how many steps and path through the snow there were.

The fox flicked her tails warily as she shook her head no in response while eyeing the top of the hill carefully, her eyes counting the paths as she soon got past 40 before she gave up counting. She had fought 5 previously and even then almost died till her master saved her thankfully. She then looked at him as she wondered how strong he was as she hoped he could fight off that many goblins or at least run quick enough from a fight like that.

He was busy thinking ignoring the foxes looks as he started to walk up the hill as it was a bit steep. He was careful to not slip as he soon reached the top of the hill before softly pausing and looking towards the distance. He saw the path from the goblins as it winded through the valley before them and to the distance to another part of forest. He then saw smoke from multiples points as he could assumed that's where the goblins were located or where there home was. He then growled lowly as he realized they were way to close to the dragon egg for comfort. He suddenly felt very protective of the area as he had the urge to wipe the threat out as quick as possible but he refrained himself. He calmed down his instinctual impulses while he breathed deep and evenly.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

The fox was a bit startled from the sudden growling as she glanced at him sensing his mood through the connection. She rested her head on her paws while staring ahead before suddenly jerking upright sensing something. The sound of something trying to creep up behind them was made known by the crunch of snow and ice underfoot as the fox yipped while turning around and seeing 9 goblins behind them. A few had spears while a few others had a knife. One had a staff as he started to make garbled noises and speaking incoherently.

The yip had gotten his attention before his body went into action hearing the crunch of snow behind him. He quickly turned before throwing the hatchet at one of the goblins while backing up a bit out of spear range. He hadn't smelled them as the wind had been blowing into his face and blowing there scents away from him. His eyes quickly scanned and observed the goblins as everything rapidly came into focus. He saw the paths the ran into various directions and stopped now had been widened as he realized some goblins had stayed behind, laying in wait for and ambush. "Shit." The hatchet had arrived spinning in the air before slamming into a goblins arm and biting through the flesh and into bone before stopping. the goblin shrieked in pain, ripping the hatchet out and dropping it as it clutched its arm.

He then stumbled as the fox leaped from his shoulder down beside him as he felt woozy from all the sensations from having heightening his senses. The goblins with spears slowly approached, cackling loudly and jabbing at him while the fox tucked her ears, growling as she hid behind his legs. He then grabbed the hilt of the short sword, tugging it free of its makeshift tied hilt and wielding it. He then saw a flash of light as he quickly dodged to the side while a spear of ice flew past where he once stood, stabbing into a tree deeply with a solid thump. His eyes widened as he then looked at the goblins seeing the one in the back speaking again as he realized another spell was gonna be coming.

He quickly leaped forward as he smirked, adrenaline coursing through him as excitement surged through his bodies as he cleaved a spear in half with a wide swing, the short sword easily slicing through the roughly made wooden spear. He then jabbed forward, stabbing the goblin through the chest before twisting the sword an tossing the goblins corpse to the side. The goblins were only half his size so it was a bit awkward to kill them as he had to adjust his swings. He was then caught off guard from his thoughts as a spear stabbed into his thigh, blood being spilled as a large gash opened up while the spear was pulled free. The goblin cackled triumphantly before suddenly growing quiet as a sword blade stabbed through its head, the blade coming out the back of his skull and dripping red blood.

He then kicked the goblin off the sword as two goblins with knives ran up to him, wildly slashing at him as a spear was thrown from a 3rd goblin. He was backing up avoiding the knife slashes as the spear came flying as he dodged to the side. He then noticed the last spear goblin was charging at him with the spear being jabbed towards him as it stabbed through his belly deeply. He slashed out with the short sword as the sword lopped off the goblins arms cleanly. He then got pushed forward onto the spear as a goblin leapt onto his back as a knife stabbed into his shoulder repeatedly while the other goblin with a knife ran forward as well. He then roared in pain as he suddenly wildly bit down onto the goblins arm and yanking it from him back while he stabbed the short sword into the goblin charging him. His other hand currently free grasped the goblin he bit as he started slamming the goblins skull into the ground repeatedly before crushing the goblins skull into paste and pieces. The goblins with cut off arms was then grabbed as he saw another glint of light. He then tossed the goblin in front of him as a spear of ice stabbed into the goblin, killing it instantly and sending its body flying past him as the momentum of the spell took it.

The fox meanwhile was dodging the other three knife wielding goblins, her tails gathering magic power before sending out a blast of fire and killing one goblin as there chest had a hole charred through. She then ran over to her master and hid behind him as she didn't have enough magic to keep fighting, she still hadn't had enough time to rest or gather her magic power as her magic regeneration was quite slow.

Meanwhile her master was standing upright as he pulled the spear from his belly then took the knife out of his shoulder, his bleeding slowing down as his regeneration slowly healed the worst of the wounds, the skin very slowly mending over. It would take a few hours for his wounds to heal at this rate while his bleeding had stopped thankfully. He then threw the spear as accurately as he could as he impaled the spell caster goblin through the leg as the spell the goblin was casting got interrupted while shrieking in pain. The two goblins kept running towards him as he tossed the short sword aside before dodging the attacks, grabbing the goblins arms and snapping them. He then easily lift them up before slamming the two goblins into the ground, as there bodies made crunching sounds from the impact. He then continued to slam the goblins repeatedly into the ground while wildly stomping on the goblins in a fit of anger quite pissed from being injured like this. The goblins died an soon turned into two barely recognizable lumps of flesh an paste.

Once he finished stomping on the goblins corpses, he slowly exhaled as he turned his attention back to the goblin magic caster. He smirked as he slowly walked to the goblin as the goblin couldn't concentrate enough to cast magic as the pain kept making them not think straight. The goblin then started to scream and cry seeing him approach as the goblin then pulled a horn shape instrument. Realization dawned across his face as he hurried into a sprint to kill the goblin as the sound of a horn blew. A deep resounding blare resounded through the quiet wasteland as he grabbed the goblins head, quickly snapping its neck. He then sighed as he kicked the goblins body and sending it sprawling down the hill before fetching his hatchet and short sword.

"Come on...Miyu. We have to head back quickly." He knelt down for her to hop up onto his shoulder as multiple horns started to sound off and blare from the distance where the goblin encampment was.

The fox paused hearing him call her Miyu as she flicked her tails before nodding and perking her ears at the horns blaring. She had accepted the name he had given her as she rushed over to him, hopping over dead goblins. She then hopped up onto his shoulder an laid down, closing her eyes as she meditated and started drawing magic power in from the world and through her soul.

Meanwhile Miyu's master started to run off back down the hill rapidly clearing ground while briefly glancing at Miyu as he saw her bringing in magic through her soul. Some more brief knowledge flowed into his head now as he ignored it for now while focusing on getting away from the goblins. He was low on energy to regenerate as he swiftly paused realizing before running back towards the hill. He then slid to a stop as he took his hatchet, quickly hacking a few arms off of the goblins as he quickly started to tear the flesh apart with his fangs and teeth. He was rapidly consuming the raw meat as blood splattered all over his face and onto Miyu's marbled coat. She ignored the sound of crunching an the wet blood splashing onto her.

He quickly devoured 2 arms of meat turning them to scraps as he quickly focused on regenerating his wounds fully then he grabbed one more arm as he ran down the hill, eating the arm in mid strides with one hand, the other holding his hatchet and short sword. He raced through the snow as he was getting a better feel of his own strength an speed, especially his stamina as he wasn't tiring easy at this speed yet. The wind continued to blow as horns blared again, closer this time but still far out now as he saw the entrance to the lair. He assumed they were going to reach the hill in a few minutes and another few minutes to follow his path to the lair if they ran. He only had 6 to 8 minutes max to run down and get the egg and run for it but it would take 3 minutes alone to get to the egg and back to the lairs entrance. He still needed time to figure out how to transport the fire stones with the egg. He then glanced at Peril's rotting corpse, the poison covering her frozen rotting corpse then at the trees as an idea formed in his mind.