The steady drizzle from the night before had continued and developed into a consistent shower. Talwen chose to sleep perched on her mountain, allowing the cold rain to cleanse her scales of the blood and soot from the fight. She stretched, and greeted the sun with a nod, before turning back to her pile of loot.

I can’t realistically bring all of these with me, she thought as she looked over the wolf carcasses she’d collected while fighting the pack. The cold temperatures at the top of the mountain had preserved the meat through her hunt, but it would not last forever. I’ll take the best to furnish the cave, and eat a couple of the rest. The worst, I will burn. She separated out the best, two of the stronger, older wolves and two of the younger victims of sneak attacks.

Setting those aside, she then chose two others from the pile who’d died a bit more violently. While mostly intact, blood coated their fur, ruining the pelt. With a quick burst of flame, the fur was burned off and the meat charred. Talwen tore into the meal, savoring the taste of her victory. She finished and shook herself, water cascading from her scales.

Satisfied with her breakfast, Talwen leapt from the cliff and soared high into the sky. She rode the air currents of the storm, dodging and diving through the clouds until she finally broke through. The view was otherworldly. The clouds below offered a soft, white canvas for the sun, just barely beyond the horizon, to display pinks, oranges and yellows across the sky.

Talwen drifted above the storm and drank in the view. The morning rays of light warmed her scales and gave her energy. As lovely as this is, I cannot stay forever. I need to return to my egg. She floated for a moment longer, before plunging headlong through the clouds again.

She swooped and swirled, flexing her muscles through the air before landing back on her perch. Of the wolves she’d deposited, she selected the four that would make the return trip and set them aside, before incinerating the remaining pile. Final rites were always a solemn service, but Talwen would see them through. You fought and hunted with bravery and honor and tried to defend your leader. Your souls will return to Chenrel through my fire so you may be born again.

With the task completed, she scooped her treasure in her front claws and launched herself from the cliff.

===========================================

Enzo yawned. Light was beginning to filter through the clouds, but the rain hadn’t let up all night. If anything, it had intensified. Hope Talwen found somewhere to sleep after that fight. She must be exhausted, and the last thing she needs is a storm to fly through. He snacked on some berries as he watched the waves crash into the cliffs far below.

He’d just turned to check on the egg, when a loud rush of air blasted in from the rear of the cave. Enzo jumped and turned, fire in hand, but only found himself face to face with a large red dragon.

“Looks like you had a good hunt,” he said, trying to play off being startled. He eyed the wolves. “Take it those were the problem in the woods?”

“These are just the choicest rewards,” Talwen responded, quite proud of herself. She dropped the wolves in a pile near the fire. “Their pack numbered over two dozen and I hunted them all. Not one escaped.”

“So that’s what all the roaring and howling was about. I could hear you fighting from here,” he replied.

“That was with their leader. He was a monstrous beast, nearly as large as I am,” she explained. “Once I defeated his pack, he challenged me himself and I was more than willing. He was able to land a blow, but that was all. Fire and flight proved too strong an advantage in the end, and I left with mere scratches.”

She displayed the cuts along her neck. They looked deep, but upon closer inspection, her skin beneath the scales was unbroken.

“So where is this enormous beast?” asked Enzo, spreading his arms and feigning searching the cave. “Surely he’s the real prize here. If he really was as large as you, he’d make quite the blanket.”

“Unfortunately, I had to burn him,” replied Talwen.

“Sure you did,” Enzo replied, rolling his eyes. “Such a shame.”

“Do you doubt me?” asked Talwen, incredulous.

“No, no, I’m sure the world’s greatest hunter did everything in her power to salvage the real prize from the hunt. Taking down a beast that formidable is an incredible feat on its own, let alone clearing out his entire pack as well,” Enzo said hastily, stroking her ego.

Talwen sat back and relaxed, taking the egg into her arms. “Yes, it is a shame. He would have made a good place to sleep but these smaller ones will have to do,” she said, looking lovingly at the egg. “The young one will be ready to hatch soon. It has already grown quite a bit in the last few days and is nearly full sized.”

“Yeah, I was wondering about that,” Enzo responded. “Really glad it didn’t hatch while you were gone.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t do that. Dragons only hatch around great sources of mana,” Talwen explained. “We Geschmolzen are close with fire and light. The young one will come either bathed in bright sunlight, or bathed in intense fire. It will remain in the egg until then, be it a day or a year before the conditions are right.”

Enzo nodded and turned to the carcasses piled near the fire. He retrieved his hunting knife and began to work the pelts free. The rain lashed down hard while he worked and morning quickly turned into afternoon. Inexperience ruined the first pelt, but with Talwen’s nimble claws and a bit of guidance, Enzo was able to clean the remaining three wolves.

The pair worked to dry and salt the meat for storage in the lower chamber, before returning to the hides. They cleared all remaining tissue from the pelts, then strung rope across part of the cave and hung them to dry and stretch. More work with the heat in the room from Talwen kept the room dry and hot, allowing the pelts to be ready for use after a few hours.

As the day wound down, the rain outside began to let up as well. Sunset fell, and the clouds cleared to paint the sky a beautiful collection of oranges and purples.

“An evening as beautiful as the morning,” said Talwen, as she gazed out over the sea.

“Agreed,” Enzo replied. They sat in amicable silence for a while, until darkness overtook the world completely.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to head back into town and see Tobias,” stated Enzo. “I did some training while you were gone, and I want to continue to improve.”

“Show me before you leave,” Talwen said as she laid down, curled around the egg. “I’m going to rest with the little one tonight, get some sleep.”

Enzo nodded and climbed down into the lower chamber. He was exhausted from his all night vigil, and was asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.