Faff had been told by her mother to catch up with Trident, Shimmer and her sire who were out hunting.

So, here she was, doing exactly that. Despite being able to fly, Faff still prefered the safety and security of having her paws on the ground. Hence, her siblings and sire had flown there first, getting a head start to their hunting ground. Faff moved unhurriedly, not at all looking forward to the hunting; mini phasing occasionally on the way.

Ever since the incident with the doe, Faff dreaded the word “hunt”. For a few days, she had even tried not eating meat; looking for leaves and berries. Obviously, this did not work out for her at all. Nature did not build her that way, and soon she became lethargic to the point of collapse.

Her sire, too, nearly reached the point of collapse - from pure exasperation.

“A dragon needs meat. It is the way it was, and the way it will be,” her sire announced pointedly at his little hatchling. Faff’s reaction had been one of resolute stubbornness, which further exasperated her father.

In the end, Faff had succumbed to hunger and eaten, but the entire experience had changed her perception on food. Now, she would only eat, if and when she really needed to. Faff found herself perpetually hungry, and this caused the baby dragon constant discomfort.

Despite her parent’s advice, Faff still hoped for another way to find sustenance without killing anything. Still, she had finally and reluctantly agreed to join the hunts at her mother’s urging.

“Winter is coming, Faff. We must collect enough food for the lean times ahead. You are part of the flight and must play your part too,” Faff’s mother had instructed.

“Also, imagine if Trident was hurt during the hunt, all because he had to do your share. Because you were not there to help him like you should be.”

Faff adored her big brother, even more than she loved food - which was saying a lot for our baby dragon. The thought of anything happening to him because she did not pull her own weight alarmed her greatly; effectively sealing her participation in the hunts.

She continued walking, then her ears perked up as she detected a new scent in the air. The faint smell of dragon blood. Faff heard a loud roar of pain, which she identified instantly as her brother’s. Panicking, she flew towards the scent and the sound of his cry.

She arrived just in time to see Trident collapsing onto his back. Holding a broken spear, was a one-armed, green-skinned creature, poised to stab the weapon into Trident’s chest.

[LVL 3 GOBLIN SPEARMAN]

Faff’s eyes widened with fear for her fallen brother and she instantly phased head-first into the Goblin, knocking him away from her elder brother. The goblin let out a surprised yelp, then a screech of pain as the impact carried him all the way into a tree trunk. Cursing shrilly, the goblin realised he had dropped the spear when Faff crashed into him.

Faff shook off stars from her collision with the goblin. Going head-first was perhaps not the best choice of attack. Quickly, she turned to check on Trident, letting out a worried, “Faff?”

Blood dripped from Trident’s jaws and his chest was a mess of red. His eyes were shut and his body, still. Just like the doe from the other day. Faff gave her brother a few nudges with her snout, but there was no reaction from Trident except a slight gasp for air.

The sound of cracking branches alerted Faff, as she turned around. The one-armed goblin’s comrades had arrived.

[LVL 2 GOBLIN GRUNT]

[LVL 2 GOBLIN GRUNT]

They stood warily, side by side, as if looking for a larger, bigger threat than Faff and the unconscious Trident. Chittering in their own language, the one armed goblin snapped his neck, indicating to withdraw back into the forest.

His unarmed comrades replied with a series of high pitch screeches. One Goblin Grunt lifted two green fingers, pointed at the forest, then mimicked slitting a throat and spat on the floor disgustedly. There would be no retreat.

Slowly, they circled the two baby dragons, eyes desperately set on the broken spear.

Faff looked at her brother with despair, then glared at the approaching goblins. Her eyes thinned into little slits, and her worry transformed into rage. It was them who had hurt Trident. Faff let out a bone-chilling roar at the Goblins. She would protect Trident.

The tattoo on her chest let out a burst of light, stunning the goblins temporarily.

[YOU UNLOCKED PASSIVE DRAGON FEAR]

[YOU UNLOCKED ACTIVE SKILL DRAGON ROAR]

A low growl rumbled at the base of Faff’s throat. Then, she dashed towards the Goblins, who barely recovered in time to scatter into three separate directions. The one-armed goblin had stepped backwards from Faff, while the other two rushed away from her diagonally. Flanking her, while charging towards the broken spear and Trident.

Realising she had left her sibling undefended, panic gripped Faff’s heart. But her momentum prevented her from instantly changing directions. Instead, she phased herself forward towards the one armed goblin, going even faster.

Right before reaching her enemy, Faff twisted her body midair, turning so that her hind legs and claws extended first. As she landed on the one-armed Goblin, she felt her claws sink into flesh. Then, using the goblin’s chest as a stepping stone, she propelled herself back towards Trident.

The one-armed Goblin let out a gurgling screech of pain, before letting out one final raspy breath and falling to the ground.

[YOU HAVE SLAIN LVL 3 GOBLIN SPEARMAN]

Faff flew towards her next target - the goblin closest to Trident. Sensing the Baby Dragon’s pursuit, the goblin seemed to panic as it scurried past Trident. Gaining courage from the green-skinned monster’s cowardice, Faff chased it down and pounced on it’s back.

Another screech of pain and gush of air as Faff landed on the Goblin. She lifted her forepaw, ready to destroy the goblin. The goblin suddenly leered at Faff, letting out one final, ragged and malicious laugh, all while looking at Trident’s direction.

[YOU UNLOCKED ACTIVE SKILL SWIPE]

[LEVEL 1 SWIPE HIT GOBLIN GRUNT IN THE NECK]

[GOBLIN GRUNT TAKES 216 CRITICAL DAMAGE]

[YOU HAVE SLAIN LVL 2 GOBLIN GRUNT]

It had all been a diversion. The other two goblins had sacrificed themselves to buy the third time to retrieve the broken spear. Goblins were not a brave species. But they were sly and vindictive. Forced into a corner with no escape, they had planned to at least take one baby dragon with them - Trident.

Cackling and brandishing the weapon with glee, the last goblin was sprinting towards the prone Trident, and was a mere few steps away.

Faff’s eyes widened with horror. There was no way she could reach in time to save Trident. Then, she frowned with determination and drew a deep breath that puffed her chest out. Sparks ignited within her throat, she felt heat warm her lungs and slowly envelop her throat as well. With a roar Faff let out a small ball of fire and sent it streaking towards her enemy.

The fireball hit the Goblin perfectly in the chest, just moments before it stabbed Trident with the broken spear.

[LVL 1 DRAGON BREATH HITS GOBLIN GRUNT]

[GOBLIN GRUNT TAKES 180 DAMAGE]

[YOU HAVE SLAIN LVL 2 GOBLIN GRUNT]

Faff let out a little victory roar! She had won her first battle.

[DING! DING! DING!]

[YOU HAVE GAINED A LVL - LVL 2 BABY DRAGON]

Trident opened an eye, peeking at his baby sister. She was unhurt, he noted with relief before pretending to be unconscious again. Quickly chewing on the Goblin Spearman’s arm inside his mouth and swallowing, he grunted with satisfaction because everything had gone exactly as his father had planned.

From herding the goblins to their hunting ground for Faff’s first battle, to Trident pretending to be injured and unconscious. He almost had to intervene when the final goblin decided to try to put the sharp end of the broken spear into his chest - but Faff had “saved” him just in time.

It had worked flawlessly, and Faff had her first blood.

His little sister rushed over, nuzzling him worriedly. To which he slowly reopened his eyes and reassured his sibling he was okay. He had merely received a small (self inflicted) graze; and most of the blood had been the goblins’.

Glaring at the dead goblins, Faff finally found the solution to her diet problems. From today onwards, she would hunt these mean green monsters who dared to hurt her big brother.

All green monsters will become food for Faff, she growled and promised herself.

Hidden in the woods, again, Faff’s father wore a self-satisfied smirk. Both his son and daughter had done well and made him proud. Faff had not frozen with fear in her first life or death fight, all thanks to her love for Trident. Not only had it awakened her battle instincts, unlocking a few new skills, she had gained a level too.

It had been worth going through all the trouble of trapping and gathering the pathetic little goblins.

Nudging Shimmer, he said, “Let’s go greet your little warrior sister.”

They flew towards Trident and Faff, leaving behind a trail of broken goblin bodies, a spear head, mangled swords and shattered shields.