God stood at the center of the continent, surrounded by trees hundreds of meters tall.

He was in a good mood as he watched green rabbits frolic amongst the roots of the giant trees.

Dispersed between these giants were many regular-sized trees, completing the forest.

The reason for God's satisfaction was the nature of these green rabbits.

They were His first success at creating animal-plant hybrids. He floated to a very special tree, laden with large fruits.

These fruits were as big as someone's head and had the appearance of a green orange.

The thick skin protected the delicate insides from the dangers of the outside world.

Using His supernatural senses He peered into the fruit, seeing the tiny baby rabbit, still developing within the fruit.

These rabbits could breed with each other and have offspring, or they could wait for the tree to grow more fruits, bringing more rabbits into the world.

With these initial successes, God estimated that his mass production of mythical beings project would be completed within the next few decades.

"I should go celebrate this success. Let me go check in on Minsol."

Saying so, he traversed a great distance instantaneously, appearing within the main hall within the temple that Minsol built for God.

There, He floated to the statue and began to wait.

Soon, Minsol, having felt the presence of God, appeared at the entrance to the great hall.

Minsol excitedly rushed to the foot of the statue and knelt next to the stone version of himself.

Kneeling side by side, God could see the bygone youth of Minsol, and how he was now entering the later stages of life.

Suddenly, God felt melancholic.

"God, you have returned! How was Your work at the center of the continent?"

God let out a soft chuckle.

Though the years may pass, it seemed certain things wouldn't change.

"Hmm. Things have been going well. I have made good progress. Tell me Minsol, how have you and your people been?"

Minsol smiled a broad smile, while that twinkle once again appeared, hidden within the depths of his eyes.

"They've been good. Recently Spreta and Caeluma came back from a successful hunting trip. Caeluma isn't the best hunter, so I am glad Spreta is teaching her how to hunt properly. We have expanded the wheatfields north of the city, and with the amount of people leaving for the new cities, there should be no problem feeding the city next winter. I haven't heard anything yet from either Mundus or Stella, but I am sure they are doing well with their respective tasks. Speaking of those two-"

Minsol suddenly halted, as he could feel a drastic change in God's mood.

He quickly mentally went through everything he had said and found no problems.

Tentatively he was about to ask God what had happened when He spoke.

"Stella, Feidi, and Inpar have discovered the drake I left in the northern mountains. Inpar is wounded but his life isn't in danger. Feidi and Stella dragged him out while collapsing the tunnel entrance to their side of the mountain."

A cold tingle spread through Minsol's body.

It started from his head and quickly traveled down his spine, ending at his fingertips.

His hands felt cold.

Minsol swallowed and with a quiet voice asked God.

"They are safe though, right?"

Memories of a certain hunter, bleeding out within his embrace flashed through his mind's eyes.

God glanced at Minsol, before focusing into the distance, as if He could see something beyond the horizon.

"As I said, Inpar is wounded but his life isn't in danger. He will need treatment, but his sisters will be able to take care of him. As for Stella and Feidi both of them are fine."

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Minsol let out a long breath.

"I need to go check in on them. I'm sorry God, but I must leave you for now."

Minsol waited for a short breath and hearing God say nothing, he quickly rose into the air and flew out through the window.

God followed Minsol with his gaze until he disappeared.

God was left alone within the grand hall, decorated with murals depicting His stories and epics.

The stone felt cold with no one else there.

On the way to the northern mountains, Minsol thought about everything God had told him about the drake.

It was the final prototype for a type of creature God called a "dragon".

It could breath fire by mixing two volatile gasses stored in special sacks located next to its stomach.

This mechanism was imperfect however, as every time the drake would use the fire, it would inevitably burn its mouth and insides.

The tissue within its mouth and throat was made to be heat resistant, but they weren't powerful enough to stop the flames from searing the drake's insides.

Another reason why God deemed the drake a failure a failed dragon, was because for it to become a real dragon it had to have wings and the ability to fly.

The drake was simply too massive for any set of wings to carry it.

It would need to become a mythical creature for it to be able to fly, and God had mentioned he was saving his power of creation for a special project at the center of the continent.

Minsol occupied himself with these thoughts because he didn't wish to think too much about his worry for Inpar and the others.

Minsol flew faster than he had ever before, creating a cone of compressed air before him.

At some point, he pierced that cone, and Minsol heard a loud crack.

Soon the northern mountains appeared before him.

Minsol searched the surrounding area and soon found a smoke collum rising next to a cliffside.

He descended near this smoke collum and landed next to a bewildered cook.

A boar leg was impaled by a stick and placed over the fire.

The surrounding area was crowded with the hubbub of a small community.

Some hunters were coming back with their spoils, while others were leaving.

One person was off to the side, sharpening their obsidian spear and quite a few people were a little ways away clearing land in preparation for planting.

Minsol looked to the closest person and asked her where Inpar was.

Minsol was pointed towards one of the caves, and he hurried his way there.

Inside, there was a corner partitioned off by a deer hide.

He pushed his way inside, and there on a bed made of soft furs and mosses, he found Inpar.

Next to him knelt a medicine man while Feidi stood behind him.

The medicine man had special markings drawn with ash and mud on his face, marking him as an experienced medicine man.

He wore a necklace made of a deer tendon, at the end of which was a hollow stone triangle.

The medicine man was chewing herbs when Minsol walked in.

He calmly glanced up before spitting the herbs into a prepared wooden bowl.

He dipped his head and spoke "My king."

It was at this point, that Feidi turned around and noticed Minsol.

"Father, you've come. Inpar he's..."

Minsol waved off Feidi.

"I know. How is he?"

The medicine man placed a different herb into his mouth and spoke while chewing these herbs.

"The prince is deeply asleep, but his life isn't threatened. What he needs now, is rest and to allow time for his wounds to heal. He was lucky. The strike hit his stomach and legs, but the cut in his stomach was very shallow. None of his organs were heavily damaged."

Saying so the medicine man spit the chewed herbs into the wooden bowl and turned to Feidi.

"Now carefully remove the old paste from his wounds. I would do it myself, but you divine ones can do it much more gently than these old hands ever could."

Feidi nodded her head while removing the old smeared paste that was on Inpars stomach and thighs.

Once everything was removed, the medicine man instructed Feidi how and where to spread the prepared herbal paste.

Minsol stood by the sidelines and watched everything carefully.

After Feidi had finished placing the herbal paste on Inpar's stomach, she began with his thighs.

It was at this point, that Stella stepped into the enclosure.

She was carrying a woven basket filled to the brim with different herbs and berries.

"I've got the things you asked me for. If you need more of the cliffside honeysuckle, just tell me and I'll get- Father what are you doing here?"

Stella carefully placed the basket next to the medicine man and turned to her father.

"I heard what happened to Inpar and came here to see how he is doing."

The joy on Stella's face quickly darkened as her brows furrowed.

She glanced down at Inpar's sleeping form, before turning to her father.

Minsol looked to Feidi, who was busy with a concentrated look, and gestured for Stella to follow him.

He stepped outside and left the cave to go to a quiet spot at the edge of the camp.

"Tell me what happened, Stella."

Saying so, he turned to Stella, who was now fidgeting with the hem of her garments.

Her eyes darted to and fro until they settled on Minsol's eyes with a steady look.

"When we arrived a pack of lizards attacked us. After we exterminated them, we investigated the caves a bit more deeply. One of the caves led deeper into the ground which is where we found it. There was this huge lizard, that could also breathe fire. We tried to kill it, but it resisted us and breathed fire at me and Feidi. Inpar saved us, but he got hit by its claw in the process. We grabbed him and ran as fast as we could. Luckily it seemed as if the using the fire tired the lizard out. We collapsed the tunnel leading to our camp and brought Inpar to the medicine man. The rest you already know."

Minosl listened to his daughter while nodding his head at certain points.

After she finished, he looked her in the eye and asked her.

"Do you need me to take care of it, or do you think that you could handle it on your own?"

Stella was about to say something, but Minsol interrupted her.

"Before you give me your answer, I want you to think about this. If you can claim the drake's head, then that would be something that I would consider when deciding who the next ruler of humanity should be."

He held Stella's gaze with a meaningful look.

A flash of understanding passed through Stella's eyes.

She gave a slow nod before answering Minsol.

"I understand. We will handle the lizard -the drake- and bring you its head. For Inpar."

Minsol nodded his head in satisfaction, before turning to leave.

"I have high hopes for you."

With these parting words, Minsol flew off south towards the holy city.

Stella watched her father disappear over the horizon.

A silent determination was etched into her eyes.

Unbeknownst to either Stella or Minsol, a nearby hunter who was busy sharpening his already sharp spear overheard certain parts of their conversation.