My return towards the den went smoothly, the manacost for swimming through the snow was negligible and swimming felt really good. Lost in thoughts I made a critical error and slammed face first into the wall of our den, my head breaking through the reinforced dirt.
Before I could explain or apologize I got a smack on my nose! My mother had the cursed bundle of reeds in her hand, how in three hells did she hide that thing? “That was for scaring me”, then she gently placed a kiss on my nose. “And this is for safely coming back we were worried!”
With the combined help of my family I made it back inside the room. “I got prey but it may be a bit gross, I was forced to store it into the hoard stomach to avoid being weighted down in a confrontation.”
As I disgorged the three carcasses we were surprised by the little amount of residue that was left on them. We were still forced to wash them throughout but they had suffered no damage from the storage. This evening we all ate our fill and happily cuddled together in our sleep. I also earned a nickname from Gale “my fluffy pillow” she called me, which made me blush and cover my face with my paws.
The following weeks were marked by intense winter, the bloodwolfes paid five Malamö carcasses and went their own ways. I had a nice conversation with their Matriarch about the surrounding lands, we exchanged information on food sources, water and available materials.
We also formed the maybe first “non aggression” pact between beasts. We all struggled in our own ways to overcome the winter. With me being able to supply food, wood and materials our den grew quite comfortable. Father had also prepared pelts of my prey for skinning, due to our fur most clothing was useless but in his skilled hands thickly isolated fur-coats began to take shape.
And with the current weather every extra protection helped. We expanded the den downwards until we hit the bedrock, on our way we discovered a small cavern with a bubbling subterranean river filling a small crystal clear lake. The whole ceiling was covered in energy enriched crystals bathing the cavern in a dim light. We also discovered that the old mountain in our forest was in fact a volcano! Warm water was ascending into the cavern providing a free hot spring to our den.
We three children spent an entire day playing in the warm water, I had to be careful not to hurt Ere and Gale. But that is only natural when you sprout spikes, claws and horns.
Our storage was filled, enough firewood for two seasons was in a chamber as my father gave me a very important mission: “check the state of our old village!” he said. His gaze showed the big concerns he held over the fate of his fellow villagers.
I used the underground exit, an accommodation of my habit to swim under the snow, to depart our den. A few rations stored safely in my hoard stomach and a few emergency potions we had created from the frozen remains of herbs under the snow were my only equipment as I set off towards the place we once called “home”.
Two hours later I arrived at our old farm or what was left of it. Burned beams of wood piercing the layers of snow were the only thing that showed signs of our old dwelling.
Cautiously I approached the village walls and stole a glace at the state of the village.
Everything was frozen over, the wooden walls partly destroyed, most houses burned down or destroyed.
As if the villagers had just left, the houses abandoned to the winter and thieves. I spent roughly a day collecting useful bits and pieces, a few bronze pots, a chain, the hidden sword of the village leader and a few books that had survived the fire in the village library. One of the old trading houses had the best find, a sack of crude magic foci, we could use those to provide light to our home or automate the air filtration.
Stomach filled will all kinds of stuff including a very big kettle that was a real challenge to swallow I began my retreat. Brisk snapping sounds could be heard as my weight crushed a few loose remains, finally the snow was deep enough to submerge and I returned into the peaceful calm that was the sea of snow. Leaving behind the once bustling village now in ruin.
My return was barely without incident, I may or may not have rammed a tree, but who had allowed that bugger to grow there anyhow?
Mother and father took my report very serious, especially the part of the missing smell alarmed them greatly. Mother guessed that the Elves had taken the villagers with them as the winter broke over us.
Sadly the times our family slept together was getting rarer, my stupid body had decided to grow, only the increasing depth of snow still allowed me to submerge.
I had to carve out a cave in the bedrock that could house my expanding form. Honestly “displeased” is a very soft word for how happy I was with my sudden growth spurt.
But it allowed Gale and Ere to accompany me on hunting trips. While degrading my father had crafted a saddle from fine leather and fitted it to my back. The thing provided place for two riders, Ere took the front seat gearing herself with lance and shield. The back seat which was slightly elevated became the spot of Gale, she had taken a liking to the bow my father made her.
All my complains on how the straps itched or pinched were shot down by mother, thus I was forced to play the pack-mule.
While I could not fully submerge with the two on my back the additional firepower and close quarter flexibility paid off. I really hated the saddle but it was necessary if we were to hunt as a team. I reached level 150 due to the hunting, my stats had also become quite high due to all core going to me for
Four years had silently passed turning all three of us fourteen years old, the winter showed no sign of weakening forcing us to extend our hunts even further to still find any kind of prey. We felt it, the land was dying under the frosts grasp.
It was one of those bitter-cold days that was supposed to be a summer-day as a rumbling sound alerted us. We felt the rage bubbling down the mountain, one of the old mountain lords had awoken, it was furious!
We had to equip me with the war-saddle my father had made, it also allowed for father and mother to “board” me. While my father took the front seat, mother and Gale in the middle with Ere guarding our backside I slowly stood up. Softly cursing my increasing size we exited the den to face whatever may come for our place of peace.
We saw the the beasts from a distance, two lord-class beasts battling each other, both going for the kill. One was a chimera with two heads, the body of a lion, the tail of a scorpius. Its bleeding maws trying to grab hold of a drake, its crimson scales glistering in the winter sun.
The chimera scored a solid hit with its stinger only to receive a claw swipe to one of its heads, the jaws visibly shattered one of its heads slumped down. This only enraged the other head more as it increased its flurry of attacks. The drake was not better off, one of its eyes a bleeding ruing, tail broken and one limb reduced to a bleeding husk.
The force of the clash felt titanic to us, those beasts were at least level three-hundred, even weakened by hunger and battle we had no illusion that we could take on any of them. Thus we stood guard at the border of our territory for they had unmistakably noticed our presence.
Both beasts were evenly matched but fortuna, luck was on the drakes side, one of the chimeras paws slipped just a bit, but it was enough. With a mighty roar the red drake took the opportunity impaling the remaining head of the chimera with its claws. With a sickening crunch it ripped both heads off its fallen adversary. The victory roar shook the entire mountain.
The drake shot us a glace and proceeded to swallow big parts of the carcass by ripping it to shreds. As it was done an aura of superiority began to surround it as it descended the mountain.
Most of its wounds had stopped bleeding as it posed quite a distance away from us “What do we have here? A little filthy Imoogi nesting on MY mountain. Bow down in front of your superior KNEEL!”
An insane pressure descended over me,
You are under effect of
My head slumped down as I cursed that overgrown lizard inwardly.
My third heart began to beat, power welled up through my veins. I became really angry and bellowed my defiance into the drakes face.
POV change Fire drake
The day had been going bad, the old chimera from the neighboring mountain had challenged me for my territory its hunger driving it towards confrontation.
While I had won my injuries were plenty, as I had finished stilling my hunger on the fallen lord my curiosity shifted downwards. A lower Imoogi mounted by some furry creatures stood guard at its territories border, the scent-mark signaling its claim smelled even up here.
How did this snake worm DARE to claim what is MINE?!
I made my way towards a small cliff close to the Imoogi, I would show this impudent hatchling just how little its power is compared to a drake. Utilizing the innate skill of all dragonic creatures
The Imoogi slumped down, hatred radiating from its eyes, YES hate me, its screams will please my ears when I tear it to shreds scale by scale! Then the unthinkable happened it stood up? And roared a challenge directly into my face!
That was too much I had planned to kill the furred things and leave the Imoogi with a shred of vitality left. Now I was gonna murder that thing SLOWLY, how dare that puny thing even THINK about challenging the great ME ?
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Charging down the hill I reach it, like a weasel it avoids my first strike. “It is fast!” It starts to run away weaving between the great trees, I give chase the puny things on its back begin to shoot stuff into my face every time I get close. While annoying it only raises my anger further.
Multiple times I barely grab its tail, but the silky fur covering it slips away again and again. Slowly my stamina begins to drain, “it is exhausting me?” Just as the thought dawns on me the furred things jump off and the Imoogi turns. Finally it decides to fight!
My breathing is already ragged, wounds have reopened, I would have had to abort the chase very soon.
But instead of a head on clash a green cloud is blown into my face, coughing and struggling to regain vision I stumble and fall flat. Paws close around my neck choking me, if only my tail was not broken! Bucking I struggle to get rid of the pest, finally my eye works again.
As I open it, I stare directly into Hell! Its opened maw directly over my eye is the last thing that I see as the raging storm of energy unleashed by the Imoogi deep fries my head. “What a useless death” is the last thing that crosses my mind as the great wheel of reincarnation claims me again.
POV change Kai
Breathing heavily I lie down next to the fallen drake, my whole energy reserves nearly exhausted, that last breath attack had been my last trump card. Shifting one Malamö carcass from my hoardstomach to be digested my stamina begins to slowly refill.
Congratulation due to winning a fight against all odds you may use
Turning my head to my family “are you guys alright? That was a close one.” All four of them were slumped down against my belly, the attacks to divert the drakes attention had taken most of their reserves too. “Do you need anything from its corpse?
A window is telling me to eat that thing whole.” That yielded a reaction, my father stretched his back cracking and popping audibly. “ Nah it is fine Kai, we will take some of the scales and broken off spines that are left from its earlier fight. If even the system tells you to eat that thing don't keep it waiting.”
My family was all smiles while I eyes the corpse suspiciously, was that thing even gonna fit?
I held the power of the basilisk acid in high regards but I had my doubts it would work.
Recalling the old saying “nothing ventured, nothing gained” I began my bloody work.
Activating
I felt my ribs and organs shift as I reached its hind-legs while uncomfortable it was not involved with any pain. Minutes later its tail disappeared through my muzzle like an over-sized spaghetti.
My fear came true, while effective against the drake the stomach acid had a lot of work to do. It felt like being a salami, my legs flailed helplessly unable to even reach the ground.
Resigning to my fate I at least did my best to camouflage myself as very big snow dune.
Father had removed the saddle and erected the tent stored inside the saddles storage. A small fire was burning inside, a thin trail of smoke exiting at the tip of the tent. In this moment I deeply regretted having stepped onto the path of beast. My heart throbbed as I recalled the last hug I had shared with my mother. A single tear froze before it joined the ever present snow.
It took three days to fully digest the drake once it finished the ever familiar box appeared.
+190
Draconic heritage unlocked.
Race changed to Frostfire Imoogi
Stat gain Vit 2300Dex1500Str2500
Titles acquired:
Draconic heritage has unlocke racial skills
Especially the last ability felt like some deity had watched and decided to answer my plea.
StatusName: Kaileron "Kai"Age:14
Titles
Title:
Title:
Skills/Traits
Skill:
Skill:
Trait:
Skill:
With but a thought I activated
POV change Selanis occupation Kai's mother
The days following the battle had been intense, my daughter had swallowed the fallen drake her balloon-like form was amusing, especially her limbs uselessly flailing until she gave up on movement again. I awoke due to an unusual pressure on my chest, opening my eyes I saw utter cuteness, my instincts instantly told me that it was my daughter. Her tiny silvery form laid between my breasts her thin nostrils flaring with each breath.
I could only resist her cuteness for mere seconds as I hugged the alarmed Imoogi which responded with a * kyuuun * to my sudden interruption of its sleep. After a good cuddle she draped herself around my neck like a very warm scarf.
Just in this moment my husband barged back into the tent, “she is gone!” panic plastered onto his stupid face. Kai and I looked into each others eyes and back towards my husband.
His eyes darting between me and my “scarf” the realization fighting hard to reach his brain. I took the liberty of giving him a soft smack on his nose freeing him from his confusion.
“She got tiny!” his yell making my ears ring, my patience wearing a bit thin. At times I questioned my sanity for choosing him as mate. But those thoughts were buried quickly by the love I felt for my stupid dunce.
With Kai back to being able to travel we began to store all essentials back into the saddle.
As the earth began to shake.
The Mountain lord has passed away,
Mount Iktaz Volcano has become active, eruption imminent!
Time until eruption 15:30:10 and counting
Gale and Ere immediately woke up and began helping to store our equipment.
Kai had dropped down, visibly enlarging by the second. By the time she had reached the exit of the tent she had reached the size of a medium Direwolf.
We had to be fast to get out of the blast zone!