Chapter 4

After a week of continuous eating it grew to the size of a small retriever. "John call me dada not mama." Repeated Stormshadu patiently. The feathery gold down had darkened and flattened into fine brown mustard colored scales. "Mamadada sleep now" it crooned before sucking on its own pacifying tail.

***

The noontime sun was high overhead yet the woods were dark and humid. Large arm length dragonflies were flitting around the pines. Stor and Torjen sat near the window watching outside as Stormshadu taught John the basic of hunting. John's target was small mouse. Upon successfully pouncing on the tiny creature Stormshadu gave a hearty congratulations and a few goblin ears. "Stor I'm taking a John to the forest to hunt bigger game. " Stormshadu dipped his head into Inn "Teach it to fly too. Unless you want a twenty footer attached to your head!" Stor called out. "Laddies let's head over to the Adventurer Guild Inn for a couple of rooms and a nice tall beer."

***

High noon heavy woods damp steam rises from the boggy peat soaking Stormshadu's boots. Ahead of him John crept stealthily along the ground. Neither were making noise as they closed in on a lone shadowtiger that was eating its most recent kill. An oriel warbled above. The big cat lazily looked up blood spewing out of a rended spleen in it's jaws. John inhaled slowly and deeply before sneezing a blob of mucus at the shadowtiger. At the sound the tiger looked around as the phlegm caught onto its fur. Stormshadu entered his fire stance preparing to defend John should the latter fail to dispatch her enemy. Stormshadu gripped his offhand for a reverse sword draw. The shadowtiger leapt and raked John with its claws before attempting to bite John's neck. As it was about to finish the wyrmling the shadowtiger's fur began sizzling. The dragon mucus then burst into flames. Roaring in pain the shadowtiger was unable to get away from the terrible pain. John lashed his tail in a overhead arch and smashed the spine of his opponent. The flames continued to cook the now dead tiger. Stormshadu congratulated John on his first solo kill.

***

Stormshadu retrieved the core of the shadowtiger. A dark purple crystal he could use to enchant his katana. After thinking a bit he gave it to John to eat. After all it was his by rights. John had eaten the shadowtiger and the spirit beast it killed. "Father I'm still hungry" John said. His manner of speech greatly elevated in just a few days. "Let's keep hunting until you're full" Stormshadu chuckled.