Chapter 18

Having woken, I decided it was time to move. I didn't know if I'd slept beyond the four hours and thirty minutes required for evolution, but I was ready to move, to do something… to take revenge. However, with the recommendation from the Administrator, I reluctantly decided that maybe I shouldn't kill Tieran. No matter what, I would show him that I was now able to stand up to him without him being able to do anything about it, but maybe it would be in my best interests not to slaughter him. 

Maybe. Couldn't guarantee anything if he pulled something so boneheaded as to provoke me after getting beaten down once again.

Either way, I was feeling a deep itch beneath my scales, especially in my arms and fingers, so I was going to get that bath in before I sought Tieran out for his comeuppance. As I began to step out of my pack's cuddle pile, the rest stirred, reluctant to rise, not yet willing to follow me out of the comfort of rest.

Walking out of our den, I was welcomed by near silence. I wasn't sure if the rest of the other packs were simply sleeping, or if they'd left, but I did enjoy the quiet opportunity to enjoy the bath. As I shook and virtually vibrated the sand through, around, and under my scales, I could feel the shed skin being scrubbed from underneath, and the release of pressure and itchiness was divine. In my new hands and fingers, there had been extensive changes, with larger, smoother scales. I suspected that the scales were also much stronger than before, but I wasn't about to perform some sort of a stress test on them.

Investigating with more detail, I noted that my claws were now about one inch long, curved, and sharpened almost to the level of a surgical blade. Only one inch was small to a human, but given that they were attached to me and I was maybe eighteen inches tall, they were a bit cumbersome. As the sand played through my scales, I flexed them so that my fingers locked together under the larger scales, my hand as a whole resembling a knife. Looking at it, I figured that my hand, in this "blade form", would be able to stab much deeper into my prey than before, and my claws would cut beyond the mere puncture wounds from before my evolution.

I idly entertained the thought of plunging my hand as a knife into Tieran's gut. I couldn't contain the grin that spread across my face at the thought, and allowed the thought to stay a bit longer, until I was interrupted.

"Hello."

It was the sub-leader from Tieran's pack, the female that seemed to be getting less attention.

"What do you… want?" My ability to speak had improved drastically, the words no longer choking me as they passed through my throat and my tongue cooperating with what I was trying to say.

"I wish… to follow you… from now on. I can… see your potential. You have… grown, like him. But you show… greater wisdom." Stilted though her words were, they carried a certain level of gravitas and severity, a serious nature that couldn't be hidden.

"Why choose me? Tieran's pack… is larger. And you… have followed him… until now."

There was a minute flick of her tail, then stillness as she exercised control over herself. "He does… not listen to me. He is… too proud… to learn." I realized that she spoke at least as well as I did, having evolved, but I didn't think she had been able to yet. 

"Why would… he listen?"

"I am… why he… was willing to… challenge you. I gave… him courage… to face his fear."

Emotions surged within me. Anger, not quite rage, at realizing this female before me was the only reason why Tieran had ever been willing to face me again. Pride at having been able to cement myself as an object of fear for Tieran. Caution at this newcomer who was more conniving than I could have guessed.

"Why would… I listen… to you?"

"Because I am… smart. And a… good advisor. And you… are smart."

She really was smart. Logical. Maybe a bit cold, but that made sense, she was in a pretty risky situation, considering my known volatility.

"What is… your name?"

Another flick of her tail, this time even less controlled before she again mastered herself. "I do not… have one. Tieran said… I am too… ugly to be named. Shemira is beautiful… so she was named."

"Stupid. Beauty… provides nothing."

A flare of the frills to agree.

"You can… join us. Follow my… commands, Sybil."

The female flared her frills in agreement, then realized I had named her and froze in place before bowing her head in concession and maybe respect.

"Thank you… for your trust. I will prove… my value."

"Good. Now… I wish to… put Tieran… in his place. Where… is he?"

"Hunting. He will return… later."

Made enough sense, I supposed. His pack required much more than mine, with twenty six or so individuals, so even if he was taking a tax from the other four packs, he would need to hunt much more than the rest of us. But that might give me the opportunity to finish my first [Quest], so maybe it was for the best.

"Are you… hungry, Sybil?"

"I have not… been permitted… to eat."

"Then… come join us… as we eat… before we go… to hunt."

Sybil flicked her frills in assent, then fell in step behind me, at my left. The movement came natural to her, and, strangely, it felt comfortable to have her there. I could feel something in my blood that welcomed the willing follower, and I enjoyed the feeling as I, as best as I could, introduced the newest member of our pack to the rest before we all set to the remains of the Toothy Bullfrog.

After all, we would need our strength for the new hunt… and for my duel with the would-be Alpha.