At dusk, Viliant went off on his own but kept his telepathic tether with Fia until he walked out of range. Over their weeks spent together in the coliseum, he had gotten used to her presence more often than not. His head felt distinctly empty yet peaceful now that they were apart.

However, the separation made him more worried about her welfare and preserving their newfound freedom. I sure hope nothing bad happens while I'm gone….

The black dragon pushed himself as hastily as his sore muscles would allow. His mana-exhausted body wanted to do nothing but lay still, yet his stomach urged him on.

By nightfall, Viliant had doubled back to the village. Perfect timing. He slunk in the shadows, no magic necessary unless any humans came outside. The residents had already winded down for the evening.

Viliant flitted between the houses. Near the shuttered windows, he sniffed at the wood and flicked out his tongue. When he found a building with an herbal scent, he figured this must be a healer's or alchemist's house. His claws trod softly to the front door. His nose nudged it open a crack, so he could peer inside.

The single room of the hut had numerous shelves and tables for the alchemist to conduct his work. No human was in sight, at least not until Viliant noticed the oblong lump on the bed. The sole inhabitant had gone to sleep for the evening.

Viliant's heart raced, thinking how easily he could end the old man's life before he could scream. No… he thought. If the dragons left a trail of death wherever they went, they would become easy to track. Out of his own self-interest, Viliant resisted his murderous inclination.

But who could tell the difference between a singular claw and a knife? What's stopping me from using a human knife? he wondered. Viliant was confident he could find one inside and wield it well enough to land a lethal blow. If the dragon killed the man strategically, perhaps the humans would think it was a feud among the common folk. He shook his head hard and admitted, Robbing him's enough. There was no point in risking it.

Since Viliant did not know the difference between a medicinal herb and a common leaf, much less what all these plants did, he grabbed a basket in his teeth and swiped a variety inside. He doubted that any plants on the shelves were poisonous, so he could apply them all to Fia's wound. Lastly, he draped a clean, folded linen over the top which would be large enough to wrap her shoulder.

With his basket of supplies, the dragon tiptoed back to the door as quietly as possible. A sudden change to the old man's breathing made him freeze. Just as well, Viliant's breath hitched in his throat.

The dragon called to the shadows, but he felt a tug on his nerves before his magic failed him. Viliant had to rely on his natural camouflage. In case that did not work, he set the basket down and prepared to rush the human before he could holler for help.

A big breath was drawn by the slumbering man. He exhaled in a shaky sound, followed by another snore on his inhalation.

Fast asleep…. Viliant mused. His adrenaline had spiked for nothing. A part of him was disappointed. I guess you get to live. The next human that he encountered might not be so lucky. Swiftly, he picked up the basket and closed the door after him.

Next, Viliant needed to find food. His flicking tongue enticed him elsewhere in the town where one house had a pen of sleeping animals. Some piled together with their horned heads resting on each other's bodies. Viliant found one that was alone with stubby horns. He set the basket down briefly and snatched a rope instead.

With a leap, he perched on the fence and peered down at his prey. His heart raced as his pupils dilated not only from the dark, but also excitement. While Viliant had killed plenty in the coliseum, he never felt quite like a true hunter until now.

Viliant sprang on the sleeping goat and looped the rope over its horns. The noose drew tighter around its neck, so it was already too late when the dark eyes opened with fear. The startled goat bleated as it got up, trying to butt its tiny horns into Viliant's chest. Its groggy movements were too slow, allowing the dragon to easily shrink to the side.

A few of the other goats woke up, but they moved to the far end of the pen in agitation. None of them seemed inclined to help their fellow goat.

Viliant jumped onto the fence once more and tugged the rope in his jaws. The goat tried to resist, snorting stubbornly, but it was forced to walk through the gate which he opened. Viliant latched it shut once more. The remaining goats were left untouched.

My first successful hunt…! Viliant thought. His chest swelled with pride because all his goals in town had been accomplished. Viliant picked up the basket and led the goat away with his head held high. A victorious prance snuck into his steps.

Oddly enough, the goat seemed enthused to follow him. It caught up and poked its nose into the basket, attempting to ruin Fia's clean bandage and the herbs.

"No!" Viliant growled to more effectively communicate with the goat.

The dumb animal shied away temporarily. No matter how he snapped or hissed at the goat, it tried coming back for more. It was not even trying to eat the herbs inside the basket, but rather it settled for tugging the cloth between its teeth.

"I said no!" Viliant snatched the fabric back and bounded ahead of the goat. If he wounded the beast now, that would make it more ornery and harder to take with him. Most certainly, Viliant did not want to kill it and have to drag it all the way back. So, he settled with outpacing the goat which wanted to eat Fia's medicine.

The goat ran faster too.

"Stop chasing me!" Viliant just wanted to walk calmly back to their hiding place after a long day. His weary legs ached too much for this.

His own prey was trying to hunt him down. No longer interested in the basket, the goat made its teeth brush against Viliant's wings and clamped down.

"Ow! No! What're you doing?" Viliant wrested his wing free. This time, he was the one who shied away from the goat. The dragon could not believe what just happened. Did a goat really just try to eat me? Louder than he should have been, he roared, "I'm the one that's gonna eat you. Got that?"

This was the first thing which Fia heard as a sign of Viliant's return. Though the dragoness could not understand the language which he had spoken aloud, she could recognize his voice. Hence, she was not privy to his struggles with the goat.

Embarrassment still rooted its way inside, and Viliant buried those emotions before accepting the new mental link.

***

Fia had lain under the tree the entire time Viliant was gone. The dragoness tilted her head, listening intently for rustles in the long grass to interrupt the chirping crickets.

A new friend kept her company in the meanwhile, easing her of the worries which had magnified with the onset of darkness. The magical luna moth landed on her nose, gently pulsating its luminescent wings.

He's gonna be okay! Fia told herself over and over again. It was illogical to worry about the shadow dragon so much now that night had fallen. However, his earlier show of weariness entertained the idea that he might be too worn out to cast magic. Viliant would have to be careful in town and rely on natural stealth.

The faint glow of the moth's turquoise wings helped calm her. You're right, Fia agreed. There's nothing to worry about!

Nothing should happen to Viliant in town. Roughly twenty-four hours had passed since they made their escape over the wall—not enough time for the humans to catch up with them, or so she hoped.

Fia was pulled from her rumination, as Viliant's voice lifted over the long grasses. She bombarded him with a fresh telepathic connection until he accepted it. Ooh, Viliant! Look at this. I found a butterfly!

At the mention of an insect, Viliant must recall the horror of the flies. He rushed through the grass with a basket in his mouth and goat in tow, and proclaimed, Where's the bug? I'll kill it!

Naturally, Fia turned her head to look at him which caused the moth to float away. No! Come back! She followed its flight pattern intensely with her nose. Her slitted pupils grew larger around the middle, and her head coiled back. She could not resist any longer. Fia snapped the moth into her mouth and held it carefully on her tongue.

I see you got it, Viliant said, a touch disappointed.

The fluttery, dusty wings—still moving—tickled the inside of her mouth. Fia sneezed out the moth with a trail of glowing specks. In all haste, the moth tried to drift away from the dragoness who had nearly eaten it.

Don't go away! Fia blew a tiny ember. This was her technique in attracting it to her in the first place; the glowing moth came back for the light. Fia would halt her stream of fire as soon it drew near, tricking it to land on her nose, but then her concentration was interrupted.

Fia, stop messing around.

Her flames did not cease soon enough. The moth flew directly into the fire so that its wings were engulfed. The delicate membranes turned to ash, and its crispy body dropped to the ground.

Wah! My friend…. It's all your fault, Viliant! Fia's grief lasted a grand total of ten seconds. Immediately after, she asked, Do you want me to roast that goat now?

Of course, Viliant sneered. Let me kill it first. The dragon derived great pleasure as he raked his claws across its neck and slit its throat.

The slaughtered goat collapsed to the ground. As the fresh blood oozed out, their meal already looked scrumptious.