-Sundown. Nefiru's POV-

The rain has completely stopped now, and the sun rays are bathing in orange the swaying tree crowns while the residual precipitation in the branches makes its way to the ground before flowing to lower altitudes.

Night approaches as we make our way south through the tall trees with brown foliage obscuring the path of damped soil and intermingled roots while leaving blood traces that add up to the lingering scents in the air caused by the rain. Our steps press down on the forest floor with the weight of well-fed dragons, squeezing the water that fills the cavities of newly created paw prints while the turbulent liquid produces little waves from the ground vibrations.

Arghhh! I'm sick of this already... I protested while pushing Sister from behind with my left front paw to get her to walk once more. I feel like a dragon Shepherd... so much hard work driving these two in one direction through a sea of trees without a straight path while hearing nothing but growls of protest. I bend my neck to look at my paws sinking into the soil while the purple-blue claws leave their marks with each step.

On second thought, running around tree trunks to keep them from straying off, feels as if I'm in an obstacle course... Dragon games! Now that's a fun thought, but they are not very good at it... I look ahead to stare at their trembling legs and swaying bodies scratching the trees.

However, as if walking with round bellies isn't awkward enough, I also have to push giant lizards on their hind legs that look as if I'm touching their ass which even the two felt weird about it... though they like the merciless shocks even less. To keep things consistent and preserve the declining magic reserves, I resorted to electric shocks when they ignored my pushes until we managed to make progress out of wolf territory.

Although our trail is still noticeable, the bloody scent decreases as their wounds stop bleeding despite the unhealthy March, thanks to the overdrive healing and any beast will most likely head towards the alluring bloody mess we left behind before running after us.

We've been lucky no wolf patrols found the Dragon molester with the two dragon whelps he's kidnapping, but I've been pushing their limit without even allowing bathroom breaks to make sure it stays that way. I sympathize with the two dragons feeling the urges myself, but the strong scent up ahead indicates our proximity to the border markings. Almost out of here, and just in time too since I don't know how long they are going to be able to stand. I walk behind Sister trying not to step on her tail hanging close to the ground.

It will suck if we get surrounded for stopping to relieve ourselves so close to the relatively safer zone, but even I have to go soon... though learned my lesson not to do that in another beast's territory. Or close to it... I recall the last time I took a dump near wolf borders. Wolves thought it as an act of war and patrolled for days while powerful snakes visited the smell within their region instead.

I really should stop pooping everywhere... I reflect on my actions while herding two dragons through the tens of meter tall trees towards the smell wall of wolf piss. However, there are no Dragon toilets around and the best option is to dig a hole big enough to bury a human... then cover it up and mark it with a stone. Still, with a keen sense of smell, any disposal site near my sleeping place would be incredibly annoying and I rather not step on it when running in the open field behind the estate.

This is a predicament for a Dragon my size... why? Because I just ate the equivalent of four humans and converting that into wastes...we are talking about a pile of stinky feces knee-high in average, produced almost every day... Well, it's a shame I can't build a giant toilet with Earth magic, but at least I'm always clean with water and lightning...except now, I'm a bloody mess since my blue body is smeared with black and red. I look ahead to meet the stares of my siblings who are also smudged and plead to stop for rest with their eyes, but they are ignored.

Do people in stories not poop or something? I remembered a handful stories mentioning the issue of garbage and toilets. Indeed, nobody likes gross things, and some do mention the disposal, but never where it leads which is the problematic part since it often ends in rivers or lakes while mountains of garbage accumulate most of the time near the towns. I briefly recall such neglected places.

The awareness of this issue is minimal in cities where everything is handed very hygienically, but many people in rural places drill deep holes to have a toilet that never clogs, thinking it magically disappears just because it went below ground. Contrary to such beliefs, the contaminated subterraneous water doesn't get conveniently clean for others to drink it elsewhere, and such cases were present in my birth place. There were neighbors who dug a hole to dump their feces then ask drinking water from another neighbor not far away who pulls out the same water from a well.

Erm, but I'm not the only one having this kind of trouble... I think back to a discovery made the day I relieved myself in the backyard. Lester thought I was diverting the topic from his lecture about the dragon dung on his lawn, but I was just curious since no pipes were coming out of the estate walls and turns out the vertical holes made by earth magician to drain sewage is leaking into the aquifer they also drink from... It still took some convincing with demonstrations of water properties, but now there are more construction projects to splurge the tax money at the end of this quarter season. I look forward to the hired Earth magicians workers.

Well, it's not like they are drinking radioactive water, and just told them to boil it since I only make water for Shaila... the rest can keep drinking poop for all I care. Reminded of water problems, I confirmed my reserves to give my siblings some to drink once we settle down.

...

We marched past the hour of twilight and stars became ever visible in the clear skies welcoming the embracing darkness as any vestiges of light disappear when we finally reached the perimeter of wolf territory.

Ohh! I have never been so glad to find wolf piss.... Er-- safety increases beyond this point, but we still can't stay around here. I sniffed the air as deeply as possible then analyzed the various smells. I'm not sure how far these scents traveled, but there doesn't seem to be any potential danger, and next would be finding a place to rest not too far since my siblings look like they are going to crumble at any moment from losing too much HP. I observe the two dragons slowly walking with trembling legs and unsteady steps despite losing copious amounts of blood.

Tchah, they are in such bad shape that not even protest to my zaps anymore. They just... shake a little before walking in silence, like robots. Great... I turned my siblings into dragon cyborgs! I mused before leaving the two lizards gasping for breath behind to find a place for them to pass the night.

Trees, fallen trees and groups trees-- that one will do. I inspected the place then decided on it before marching back to the lizards. I'll need to make a place that serves as a lair since there are no caves big enough for one dragon, let alone two in this part of the forest and I'm not getting them closer to humans... it's not because Shaila would want to pet them! I'm also tired, so I'll just go to sleep at the ragefires, then find them in the morning. I confirm the plans for tonight while strolling back to the siblings.

After returning, I found the two mountain of scales slumped on the ground while their big bodies move rhythmically from their deep breathing and beating heart. I was gone for ten minutes! Sighs... It can't be helped since they should be hurting like hell, from the fight, and the forced marathon here that would have made their feet bleed were they not dragons, but can't let them rest too long. I sympathized and crouched in front of them.

They saw me relaxing in front and looked at me as if saying they won't move even if I zap them, but instead of punishment, I offered hope and produced a ball of blue light in my raised claws using electricity. After getting their full attention, I gathered all the possible moisture in the air and ground with what little Elementals remained then condensed it into a puddle of water a few buckets worth outside of their reach and a draining sensation washed all over my body as magic completely drained. They were taken aback a little by the phenomenon, but still got up to drink the water and drank everything before licking the ground then turned to me asking for me.

Did they understand I made it? I think Sister watched my fight earlier since she couldn't move, and should have seen Father breathe fire before, but I'm sorry guys...magic reserves are empty, though you can thank the wolf I ate alive for that water and my emergency magic reserves from the muscles. I had no choice but to make it on the ground either... Mana requirement when water has to defy gravity is equivalent to making it every second which further increases to accelerate or add rotational speed on top of making ice... Well making average ice cost just a little more than making water, but dropping the temperature way below zero starts to require a lot more, and I'll need an Earth magician to make mercury for a thermometer before testing that. I clear the way to the semi-circular stack of trees then prepared to herd them again.

"GHURAAAA" I called and pointed with my head to the trees a few minutes away at our slow pace.

They inspected my actions switching their gaze back and forth where I was pointing then grumbled. Sister drew in a quick breath and got up before walking to the spot while her broken wing is almost reaching the ground, then plopped herself down with a loud thud.

...Are you trying to take root or something!? I retorted watching her resting her neck on the side of the injured wing. I think she's fed up with me, but I'm doing this for your own good! Yeah, nobody ever buys that... I acknowledged as Brother following behind comes and does the same facing her with the trees behind them. Damn, he took the last good spot! I cursed staring at the open part of the tree trunks forming the semi-circle is left for me to lie down. This must be an ancient instinct since I was a human baby since I feel really uncomfortable without having my back on something solid and safe. I concluded after recalling my sleeping place at the firewood pile then laid down between them with my left side facing them.

Closing the semi circle of around six-hum wide formed with ancient trees with my body, we stare at each other in silence while the moonless night falls and wolf howls sound in the distance. The staring contest of the three dragons sprawled on the ground was interrupted by a sound coming from Sister's rear, and the two males turned to look. She moved the head to meet each of our gazes wondering why we were looking at her then rested the extended neck back on the humid soil.

Ack... that just happened. I turn my head 180 degrees to the right. I'm glad you didn't fart back when I was pushing you, but now I feel the urge to name you Farticus. Oh yeah, I should decide on a name for these lizards... I stare back at the two dragons intently and noticing the gaze of their evil little brother, they stared back with vigilance. Based on their actions and reactions to my commands, their intelligence seems to be llike a child while Sister appears to be the smartest, but... do they know the concept of names? Do they have names already in growls? Feels irresponsible to call them something without their knowledge, but it will be a long time before we can communicate anyway. Lucky for them this isn't a game where you can't use a name that's already taken and I already gave it some thought while waiting for them these twenty-four days after awakening. I remember the days waiting to meet them.

Let's see...I'll call Sister Raiga and Brother Reylus which should be easy to remember. I recall my game characters inspecting the two dragons from top to bottom up close.

Raiga has the delicateness of a dragoness with smooth-shaped scales, the long spiked tail ending with vertical blades like that of a plane tail wing and thinner forelegs compared to the rest of her body frame. The second joint on the wing that allows extension is missing bones and some flesh making hard to keep it folded on her back while other support bones are also broken.

That wolf was quite smart, to bite off that entire section which would ground the dragon in case it managed to run from their encirclement and bind it to this place until it becomes the prey of either wolves or snakes. Although not every serpent could eat a dragon this large, maybe the high ranking ones who could swallow a Van would find it less difficult unless they rip off the legs then eat the torso like we do with the wolves or simply tear them apart completely. Still... I have to thank the strong stomach acid to break down even the feces in the digestive system of the animals we eat, but needless to say that it gives bad breath and very stinky farts... I ponder on ridiculous things while Raiga noticed my gaze resting on her broken wing, then made an effort to accommodate it on her back, but the upper section of the wing keeps hanging down causing her pain.

Grr... I'm not going to eat your wing, you know? Hmm... Although a wing hanging down like that will undoubtedly be a problem in hunts, the quick solution would indeed be to rip it off and eat it since I don't need her to fly, but it's needlessly cruel to take away that freedom away from her. Perhaps tying it up with a rope until we can heal it, but I can't do that with these claws. I bring my left paw into view while supporting my curved body with the right forearm. Dirty... I move my claws up and down then clumps of wet dirt fall. I miss my fingers far more than any other human part and just tying a knot with a rope is as uncomfortable as a person doing that with a hair strand... sighs. There's also the problem of communicating to tell her not to remove the bothersome binding later. I ponder who could help me with this matter.

Well, in the case of accidents, use an Alphonse...is what Lester does. That black haired guy is perfect for the task since he also knows how to set up the collars for the communication function and avoid the guild services. I make plans to deal with Raiga's broken wing while remembering the cliche adventurer's guild.

Haah~ if I were human, I would be running to the guild and register as an adventurer or find a mercenary party, but as a beast, it's just uncomfortable dealing with them...mainly because I won't fit in the reception. Unlike things I've read, they don't give a crap about quest levels and safety of the people when even a Rank 1 can accept a suicide job to subjugate a Divine if they want, but they do accumulate reputation for completing jobs properly which the guild keeps track. I recall the workings of the guild explained the last time my collar was replaced with a bigger one.

There are no commissions posted on a wall since the guild acts as an intermediary with different departments keeping records of every affiliated personnel such as their Rank, Affinities and any other specialties they may have. To hire someone, one must make a line for the right department then describe the type of job at the reception and they assign an office which presents a list with the price range that the registered people are willing to do certain jobs.

The only thing posted on the wall is a Reputation Ranking based on completed jobs and customer satisfaction which increase the pay and job offers for lower numbers. Well, you don't need to compete after becoming a permanent employee somewhere while certain mercenary groups even have a queue to be hired, and that bastard Lucious who captured me is first place in this town... I recall the guy who punched the lights out of me while observing the stars on full display on the cleared sky that indicate the day has turned completely dark.

So, the guild here is an organization managed in part by the country with a harsh system where they only reward those with more availability and do a good job while slackers don't eat, but at least non-magicians with specialties can join too. Though, most adventurers and explorers don't affiliate with a country in particular since they wander around searching for resources or anything they could sell. Those are High-risk jobs that pay well, but certain affinities make it easier like Earth and Water which provides the precious liquid and minerals examination with earth magic while Wind and Darkness would make mapping the unknown areas easier with stealth and speed. I finish recollected everything about the organization while wondering if there's a department for odd jobs.

Well, there are other businesses around and even the Dark Guild for shady jobs or any kind of assassinations...I wonder if they have departments too? Wondering so, I notice my siblings fighting the drowsiness while blinking with their heavy eyelids and decide it's time to let them rest.

Bah! They relaxed a little but are unable to sleep being so vigilant of me. ...If you guys don't trust me soon, I'll trade you for the golden wolf... who's scent I still have on me. Oh well, that will make it easier to find him in the future. I got up under their unmoving gaze and walked away towards southeast in the darkness of the forest with patches of starlight illuminating the ground with a much-appreciated brightness.

I've mapped a great portion of this forest's smell to avoid getting lost and hunt new prey that ventures around, but there hasn't been anything big passing through here lately, so my siblings should be safe tonight unless the wolves wander outside which I doubt. I confirm the howls are coming from the northeast and far enough to be from their caverns. Then again, this is close to that giant snake highway on the south and they are quite active at night...I'm sure my siblings won't live a horror movie tonight... probably. For now, this is mission accomplished.