18

It didn't take long for me to eat my fill. I could practically feel the fat pouring back onto my body. I relaxed into a dreamless sleep. Vermillion had started discussing things with the male right before I fell asleep. I didn't really care what they discussed.

I knew on instinct that she wouldn't betray me now that I'd helped her become much stronger. I could probably do the same for the lizardmen. My short four hour sleep was nice. The fact that I only needed four hours to get my energy back was incredibly nice sometimes. Vermillion was gone, and the blizzard was over when I woke.

The male was watching me almost expectantly when he woke.

*"You want a new name, and the same upgrade I gave Vermillion don't you?" I stretched, and yawned.

He raised his head expectantly. It reminded me of a puppy. I stood up slowly.

"I need to recover before I can do anything else like that," I flicked my tail casually, "I'll think about it again when Vermillion comes back."

The male actually looked a little disappointed.

{You seem like you're doing better,} Savannah's communication made the male tense up.

{I am doing better,} I replied as I stretched.

My arm had begun to grow back on its own. If I supplied enough mana when I recovered then I'd grow the limb back near instantly. My core was already feeling a great deal better. I could walk a lot better now. The strength in my limbs had come back well.

I could probably hunt on my own now. My strength was returning quickly. My core should be fully healed in another four or five hours. I stretched again before laying down. I wouldn't have to wait very much longer.

{Call Calen,} I snorted, {Let him know we're going to be sending along a few wyverns in half a day or so. Tell him not to attack. They'll be taking up residence with the lizardmen, and are to be considered my allies.} I paused, {He can however attack them if they make the mistake of striking first.}

I flicked my tail as I rolled my eyes. I waited for a little while before Vermillion came down. She wasn't alone. She'd brought along two weaker males. She avoided eye contact for a second before walking into the cavern.

The two new males both growled at me. Vermillion, and Weak both growled in response to the males growling. A warning that it would be best for them to calm down. I ignored both the new males. They were weaker then Vermillion by far.

She wouldn't allow them to do anything stupid. My silent indifference was enough to tell them just how little I feared them. Both of them went silent. Stepping back as if they'd been beaten. Ethan came out from underneath my wing.

Both males growled in rage, and rushed forward as soon as they saw him. They stopped dead in their tracks when they sensed both my mana, and Vermillion's roiling beneath the skin. They'd angered me by attacking when they saw Ethan. Vermillion had responded to my rage with her own. The male just growled because Vermillion growled.

*"If you wish to become part of my flight then the human allies of the dragon are not your enemies," Vermillion spoke in the growly tones of draconic.

Her voice obviously irritated. I'd be rid of all four of them once my core recovered. I settled my mana quickly when they backed off. I didn't even need to snarl at them. Ethan smirked at the self satisfaction that I was feeling.

My wings flared slightly as I stood. I felt slightly hungry so it was time for me to hunt again. I walked toward the cave entrance with my three limbed stride. Vermillion watched me with slight confusion.

"What are you doing?" Vermillion asked.

"I need more food," I snorted.

"You wait here," Vermillion snarled, "The males will handle it. They wish to become part of my flight so it's better if we send them. They will prove their worth that way."

I looked over the two of them cautiously. They were new, and hadn't seen what I'd done to Vermillion. They were the most likely to betray me. I wasn't willing to trust them like Vermillion was. She was used to males obeying her without question.

I wasn't as trusting of that arrangement as she was.

"I would rather hunt for myself," I snorted.

"The alpha is looking for you," Vermillion stepped in front of me, "If any of her flight see you then she may move the entire flight against you. Males out hunting will be ignored."

"If you're certain then I will allow it," I laid back down, "However." I drew my lips back so my teeth reflected what little light there was, "If they betray us I will kill them."

The males jumped into the air. Choosing to head out immediately. Weak left with them. He'd be our first warning if the other two stepped out of line. If they didn't kill him.

"I'd tell you to patrol the area, but I'm more likely to notice an enemy from here then you are in the skies," I rolled onto my good side to relieve my bad one.

I focused on my spatial awareness. I was about halfway used to it. I estimated it would take me one more day to get completely used to it. I was getting a little stir crazy. I wanted to go out, and hunt for myself.

The amount of time that I needed to rest was shrinking quickly. I wouldn't have to wait much longer. My core was already starting to thrum with health. I could use minimal mana now without causing myself pain. The amount of mana I could use was a joke.

A complete, and total waste of time. I couldn't do anything with such little mana output. Forcing more mana out of my core risked delaying my recovery further. I'd been sitting still for most of a day, and it was driving me nuts. If my core didn't recover soon I'd go out even if it wasn't a good idea.