Tes’va and her group followed the young shaman back into the forest. She seemed to know where she was going, as purpose filled her every step. They had to hurry to keep up, the long legs of the shaman eating miles like nothing else. It didn't take long for the whole group to lose their breath, yet the shaman slowed down instead of leaving them behind.

After walking for a quarter of a day the young shaman stopped and turned towards them.

“We’ll stop here, get a few fires going and I’ll take care of food. I'm Ves'ra by the way.” She said, dropped her pack and vanished into the forest.

The looks of all kobolds in the camp focused on her. “What should we do revered elder?” Zhu’ta asked.

“We will prepare a fire as the shaman instructed, I will talk to her once she returns. Now, go.” She commanded. The old kobold couldn't believe she’d see a shaman in her life again, when young Khu’te came and asked her to rescue a stranger from the chief - she was one of the few he occasionally listened to - she couldn't believe it.

When said kobold flew out of the hut and stood up like nothing, only to light the chief up with lightning she sent him to gather their group and eggs, life could only be better with a shaman as powerful as this one. She noticed a genuine smile on her face, the first since that night oh so long ago.

The young shaman didn't take long to return, dragging two old deer on a strange contraption. She sent the other adults to help the shaman and distribute the first full meal they’d have in weeks before moving next to the shaman.

“So, I’d like some answers.” She stated.

Tes’va nodded. “I will answer with to the best of my abilities revered shaman.”

“Why didn't you light the fire?” She started.

“Fires attract dangerous beings, humans or worse.” She explained.

“Don't worry about that, I can protect you.” The shaman stated, and suddenly all of the fires were lit and warmth spread throughout the camp.

“Why was your village such a dump?” She continued.

“It was some seven winters ago, when humans last came into the village. They came in the night, killed the guards with small, pointed sticks. They had silver hide, not unlike yours, that ignored our shaman’s magic. We fled, but their silver weapons cut scales like paper and only few managed to survive.

The chief was just hatched then, and went into the forest to hunt them down. He returned two winters later, like you saw him, a cruel, twisted kobold. He gave into his base instincts somewhere between leaving us and returning. You've seen where that led.” She explained.

“Thanks, you should eat something too. Don't bother to hold back, I’ll hunt for breakfast if needed.” The shaman said, before circling around the campsite. She gathered all of them when she was ready.

“Alright, please don't leave the perimeter I just created, it will protect or at least warn us when something decided to attack. My familiar will be coming in a few moments, but don't worry, he’s harmless.” She explained.

While Tes’va was wondering what a familiar was she heart some rustling above them and saw a huge winged shape land next the the shaman. The being’s head reached her own shoulders, its tail had wickedly sharp spikes, its teeth looked capable of ripping a kobold in two and the didn't even speak about its claws.

Yet for all its terror the shaman didn't seem fazed, instead enthusiastically greeting the monstrosity like an old friend. The shaman looked them over - each and everyone of them frozen in terror - and spoke up again.

“You really should sleep, we’ll watch out for you, you’ll need the energy tomorrow, I want to arrive at the site where we’re gonna build a village in the evening.” She commanded them, before curling up with the monster and promptly fell asleep. Tes’va shook her head a few times, but the monster really did seem completely harmless. If the shaman spoke the truth - and she didn't have a reason not to - then they were going to need sleep now.

“You heard the revered shaman, we’re going to need the energy.” She commanded, before laying down by one of the fires.

---

Another two dead deer were already waiting to be eaten when the shaman woke them, none the worse for the grueling journey and her fight on the previous day. They ate with relish, they didn't have such a meal in a long time.

Tes’va looked over to the shaman, she still wore her armor without helmet, though her cloak laid beside her. Once they all ate their fill the shaman cut the meat into easily carryable stripes, and gave them to everyone that didn't carry an egg.

Afterwards the shaman once again stopped to address all of them. “Arvog,” She pointed at the monstrosity next to her, “found a suitable spot for a village yesterday, and we’re on our way there. Before we go each and everyone of you will come to me, one by one, and I will heal your injuries so we won't be slowed down. Get to it, hatchlings first, and take the eggs with you.” She commanded and they obeyed.

One of the youngest hatchlings was first, yet nothing visible happened apart from the shaman draping her cloak around her. It seemed to work nonetheless, the hatchling seemed to breathe easier, and walked with a little more spring in her step. That continued for quite some time, until it was her own turn.

The young shaman looked a little tired - healing so many kobolds wasn't easy, even for one as powerful as that. When the cloak was around her she could feel it happening - scars under her scales healing, wrongly healed bones aligning properly, many of the aches she associated with age receding into non existence.

The shaman looked them over once, before nodding. “Good, it’s best you eat a little now, healing takes alot out of a body. We set off in ten minutes.” After saying her fill the shaman put her cloak on again, before sitting down and closing her eyes. It was fascinating to watch, how the slightly haggard expression slowly left her eyes and energy returned into the young shamans frame.

Tes’va didn't know what a minute was, but everyone was ready when the shaman opened her eyes and stood up. The shaman left in the same purposeful stride as before, setting a slightly faster pace than yesterday. She must have a way to communicate with her familiar otherwise Tes’va couldn't imagine how she knew where to go.

They needed a break around midday, so the shaman vanished in the forest and returned with several vermin a little later. They were no deer, but everyone got something. The second part of the day went better, the shaman walked a little slower and they had no problem keeping up. Tes’va felt the shaman could move a lot faster and only regulated her pace so they could keep up, and was thankful for it.

They seemed to arrive a little before sundown, as the shaman stopped at a small steam leaving a cave. She turned towards them.

“I'm going to clear that cave of threats, you can rest for a little. Yell when something you can't handle comes. I’ll get you when it’s safe.” For the first time since she saw her the shaman used her helmet, and Khu’te was right, she really looked terrifying like that, a faceless, gleaming monster.

She didn't seem bothered by the lack of light such a contraption should bring, and strode into the dark cave without a shred of hesitation. Nothing happened for quite a while, until angry howls started echoing out of the cave. All of the kobolds around her shivered, the village had to deal with wolves like this a few months ago, and they didn't come out on top.

Angry soon turned in pained and then faded altogether, and the shaman exited the cave a while later, unharmed and with a big grin on her face, the helmet hanging on her belt like it did most of the day.

“Good news, we’ve got ourselves a few home. Even better, there were some pups left, the first six of you to hatch a second time will have a familiar. Come on, let's get dinner, wolf is delicious.” She stated, before turning around.

They looked upon a scene of slaughter, the pack had been big, eleven normal wolves and five which the shaman called dire-wolf when asked. They were indeed delicious, Tes’va had never tasted anything like this.

Once everyone was sated again the shaman once again got ready to address them.

“So, if we’re going to build a village here then I’ll have to make a few things clear. First, we won't stay here, there is probably a huge host of humans coming, and some will be more powerful than me, so we’re moving the moment we see them.

Secondly I won't be chief of a village that can't defend themselves, so I’m gonna teach you need to know about your second hatching and you will try it. Either you’ll manage or die in the process, but every kobold I knew until yesterday did the same.

You’re free to go if you don't want to try that, because I won't tolerate someone useless living here, you’re only turning into a liability for the others and me. I can see you're all exhausted, so we start tomorrow. Good night.”