Rue awoke for the first time she could remember in relative peace. Technically the surrounding shrubs and forest debris were blacked and charred, but that didn't bother her, in fact, she was rather proud. The surrounding green forest was still full of bird song and chirping birds and she let the peaceful sound wash over her, letting out a satisfied purr. Not even her tragic loss could dampen the perfect setting overly much. The sleep had helped set her mind more into focus, she still felt the loss acutely, but it no longer burned away like a raging fire.

She shifted in the coal-like remains and began to plan.

‘The first thing I need is a new home, safe, secure and close to a source of food and water.’

Rue lifted her snout and sniffed the air for any traces of water, the instinct told her it would make for good hunting grounds. Catching the fresh scent of water she followed it, passing through trees and bushes as the undergrowth gradually became thicker. She slinked through the hushed almost silent, had it not been for her bright red colour she would have been completely invisible. Even then it was hard to spot her, the stealthy way she moved and small size making up for her racial deficit.

Eventually, after nearly 20 feet of tightly packed creepers and bushes, she popped out onto the back of a river, about 17 feet wide it would make for a good hunting ground for the foreseeable future. The river was not too deep, merely a few feet at its centre and Rue had no problems navigating its slow flow.

After a few hours of scouting up and down the river, she found what she was looking for, a cave. Something inside her knew the instant that she found the crevasse that she needed to claim it. The opening of the cave was lined with green creepers and vines that made it look a lot smaller than it really was, they also obscured the entrance into the rock walls that scouted this part of the river, making it incredibly hard to spot.

Now all she needed to do to claim her new home was evict the current residents. She could smell it, whatever it was. A musty, dank smell that hung around the cave-like a fine mist. So strong that it was almost visible.

Creeping into the dark cave her eyesight was not affected at all, her eyes shone in the low light as she scanned the interior. Sleeping in the corner near a small boulder was a fluffy white and black-furred creature. It was almost as large as Rue and by its sharp claws it was not a prey animal, this was a hunter. Unfortunately for it, a bigger hunter had moved in and it was outclassed. As Rue crept close she made it to within a few meters before the hair on the animal bristled.

[Honey Badger Lv15]

The creature began to growl aggressively and postured towards her, the badger was only a few inches smaller than Rue and its growling was slightly intimidating. She hesitated and sensing her indecision the beast shot forward and aggressively bit towards her. She swatted at it with her claws more out of reflex than any intent to harm it, and the badger dodged around her weak swipe biting onto her other forepaw. Its small needle-like teeth; serrated like knives, began to saw into her flesh. Rue yelped in pain and flailed about managing to dislodge the creature. She snarled at it, and it made more growling huffing sounds before charging her again. It bit at her and she stuck her head forward, jaws gaping and bit down on the creature, unlike so many animals before she did not receive a gout of blood and breaking of bones instead the animal had a strange rubbery texture and squirmed in unnatural ways in its skin. The badger somehow managed to turn in her jaws and slashed and bit at her face. Fearful for it mauling her face Rue dropped the animal and tried to back away.

The creature would not relent and continued to pursue her, nipping at her legs.

‘What am I doing!? If I can't bite it I'll cook it’

With that resolute thought, she summoned her inner reserve of liquid fire, the flame erupted from her mouth with high pressure and great temperature. The honey badger, not expecting its opponent to become a living flamethrower was wholly engulfed in flame. It screamed and ran around trying to escape the fire, yet it clung to its fur and burned with renewed vigour. Every few seconds another gout of flame would be flung into the cave where renewed screaming would come. Finally after nearly a minute of burning the creature fell. Its blackened corpse a testament to the power of both the beast and the flame.

Rue went about stopping the fires and had a taste of her meal, not very tasty meat. But the rewards were great.

Ding! For Slaying [Honey Badger Lv15] In Combat +164xp

Ding! For Slaying a Foe [8] Levels Above You Own [+8%] xp +13xp

Ding! For Slaying a Foe 2x Your Level [+20%] xp +33xp

Total Xp Earned From Combat Encounters +210xp 68

Ding! Level Up x2 … [Stat Points] +10

Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Dragon - Hatchling] +10

Ding! Stat Points Allocated For Species [Red Dragon - Hatchling] +10

Race

Level

XP/Growth

Stat Points

Dragon [Red Dragon]

9

68/109 [+5 /pd]

0

Strength

Vitality

Dexterity

Intelligence

46 [+13]

42 [+8]

34 [+12]

26 [+2]

Rue decided to spend her now 15 free stat points to mostly buff her dexterity and strength. Her status was beginning to look very promising. With the stats from her species and her levels, she was becoming formidable. That and she could breathe fire, how many other animals could do that?

As she settled down in her new home to have a rest she looked up and out of the cave, then looked around her cave. Familiarising herself with it. Once she had explored every crevice of the cave she heard a sound.

Ding! You have claimed a [Cave] +[Den Sense]

A new ability, boring yet potentially very helpful.

Ability

Effects

Roar

You have learned to let out a mighty roar from your throat, you will find it easier to intimidate opponents and prey. Increased effectiveness against opponents below your level.

Identify

Tells you the basic [Species] and [Level] of targets. Can appraise targets up to [30] Levels higher than you.

Fire Breath

Racial ability allows expulsions of biologically created [Ethanol] from glands near the stomach. This can be ignited via [Magic].

Den Sense

You have an instinctual sense for the direction of your primary [Den]

This would be convenient, never getting lost, always having a safe place to retreat too if she found something too strong for her. Rue lay down in a corner and breathed a small gout of flame under her, heating the stone nicely. She drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

…………………………………………………………..

Extermination Team 7

Carlos looked at the laid out bodies, covered by burlap cloths in a futile attempt to keep the flies off. They did not have shovels to dig graves. Nearly 10 had been killed by the dragon with many more severely injured. One had even been mauled by a small hatchling, he had been too late to save him. Several others had been injured and bitten when capturing the baby dragons.

He sighed, not enough men and no mages. It was expected that so many of the party had died facing such a beast. A [Green Dragon Lv18] Was no small foe and despite their considerable level advantage dragons were naturally powerful. The bastards back at Veneris would likely not even care about the casualties once they saw the number of assets they had captured.

Along a wall of the cave were the stacked cages that held their prize. The little dragons were kept fed with prey the hunters gathered and treated with affection. There was no point teaching future mounts and war beasts of cruelty. They must be stripped of their bond with parents and replay their parental affection with their handlers. They were very young, no more than a few days and this would be an easy process. Many were already showing less distrust towards the humans, quickly adapting to their new reality. It was one dragon that made Carlos both fascinated and nervous though. Perhaps the greatest catch of the expedition, it alone was worth more than the other dragons combined so rare it was.

In the corner, sitting quietly, nearly motionless gazing at him was a dragon. Black scales gleaming in the low light. As their eyes met, it seemed to tilt its head slightly, intelligence glinting in its eyes.