Somewhere deep in the Demon Forests....

..........

"Third Elder! What do we do now? Both Patriarch and Young Patriarch are dead. The Grand Elder had fallen ill from the events that had transpired and is currently physically and mentally incapable of leading us. It all depends on you now." A young human-form Sharpfang bowed to a middle-aged gray beard Sharpfang in human-form. This was Third Elder Neil the third most influential Sharpfang in the Sharpfang family.

"There's not much we can do. With our strength cut down by more than half, we can only lay low. Fuck! We might need to move out of here and head back to the main family." Third Elder Neil sighed.

"Should we prepare ourselves for departure?"

"Hmmm, alright. Let's do that. Go notify everyone that we will leave by tomorrow sunrise. How's the situation with the Fox Dragons? Any word from them yet? Have they...have they found out about their Young Master?"

"No, there hasn't been any news from them. Our spies indicated that they showed no signs of movements. The Fox Dragon family might not know about their Young Master's situation."

"I hope that's the case. We need to move out of here before they find out...." The Third Elder Neil trailed off as a familiar scent of blood pierced through his nostrils. "What's that smell? Hey! Do you sme-!?"

The Third Elder of the Sharpfang family gaped in surprise as he saw the Sharpfang in front of him stiffen with eyes bulging out in a dull and trance-like state. A thin trickle of blood flowed out of his mouth. The Sharpfang collapsed forward in front of the Third Elder, revealing part of his head sliced clean off. An eerie laughter resounded throughout the room. Third Elder Neil looked up and searched through the darkness until his eyes landed on a slight subtle and continuous movement.

"YOU!!" The old Sharpfang gasped.

"Haha! As expected of an elder from a branch family of the Sharpfang Clan. To be able to sense me...it's truly a waste." The shadowy figure laughed dryly.

"W-What do you want?"

"Speak! Why did our Master suddenly lose his spirit connection with our Young Master? Where is Young Master? Did something happened to him?"

"That....AARRRGGGGHHHH!!" The Sharpfang hesitated only to receive a piercing stab to his right shoulder.

As the Sharpfang clenched his wound in pain and fell to his knees, the powerful Fox Dragon growled, "Are you a sissy? Stop acting like an idiot and speak or I swear I'll tear you apart limb by limb and feed you to my snakes!!"

"Please don't kill me!" The Sharpfang bowed as low as he could go, terror filling his entirety, "It was not our fault! It...it was the Toxic Razortails! They were giving asylum to a human. It was that human who did it...it was him!"

"What happened to the Young Master!"

"That...that human...he killed the Young Master...."

"What!? Who?! Give me a name!"

"Will you promise not to kill me?"

"Give me a name and I'll think about it."

"Thank you so much. The human is a young boy that goes by the name of Aldred Blackehearth."

"Good! Aldred Blackehearth...we the Fox Dragons will never let you go!" The Fox Dragon vowed as he suddenly grabbed the throat of the startled Sharpfang and lifted him up.

"W-Wait! I've told y-you the human's n-name! Y-You said y-you would let me g-go!"

"No...I said I'll think about it...and I've thought about it. Now die." The Fox Dragon explained before he clenched his grip. With a crack, the Fox Dragon crushed the Sharpfang's throat. He dropped the limp corpse and dusted himself. He surveyed his surroundings and spoke one sentence before disappearing into the shadows.

"Kill them all!"

That night, hundreds of heart-wrenching screams echoed throughout the forests.

..........

"Matriarch! Bad news! Terrible news!" A messenger rushed into the Main Hall, an apprehensive expression plastered on his face. Matriarch Sheila looked at the Toxic Razortail who barged in sweating and fretting.

"What is it?" Matriarch Sheila asked.

"The Sharpfangs...they...they've all been wiped out last night!"

"What!? How did this happen?"

"We don't know but we did find that there were traces of Shadow magic! The Third Elder of the Sharpfang family was found with his throat crushed and his body half-devoured by snakes!"

"Shadow magic? Snakes?! Oh shit! Shalik the Snake Blade! Quick! Bring Aldred here!"

"Yes!" The messenger replied before leaving the hall.

Matriarch Sheila sat down heavily and massaged her head. They know...the Fox Dragons now know who did it...who killed their Young Master. She needed to protect Aldred...she needed to send him away!

*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*

"Come in!" Matriarch Sheila replied.

"You wanted to see me Aunt Sheila?" Aldred asked as he opened the door and walked in.

"Sit down Aldred. I have some unsettling news to tell you."

"What is it?"

"The Fox Dragons...I just received news that they had wiped out the entire Sharpfang family last night. Elderly, children, women, crippled...none were spared."

"This! So you think they know I killed their Young Master?"

"Yes! You need to leave this place immediately. Go hide...um...I'll contact the Mud Wyrms' Patriarch. Maybe he will take you in for a while. The Fox Dragons don't know of their involvement with us and even if they did, they have no way of finding the Mud Wyrms."

"Okay. Then, I'll go pack my things."

Seeing Aldred leave the room, Matriarch Sheila sent a mental transmission to the Mud Wyrms' Patriarch, "Patriarch Loam, I need a favor."

"Well, what do we have here? Matriarch Sheila? It's an honor. What can I do for you?" Patriarch Loam replied.

"The Fox Dragons have caught wind of who it was that killed their Young Master.... Can you shelter him for a few months?"

"Hmmm...we talking about that human boy right?"

"Yes. Is there a problem with him being human?"

"No...not really. But you do know we tend to travel in the dirt most of the day. Last I recall, humans suffocate underground...."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about Aldred. He's developed an unique skill that let's him tunnel underground and even stay there for long periods of time. So, it shouldn't pose a problem."

"A skill eh? Interesting! Fine, I'll have someone come by in the afternoon to pick him up."

"Thank you, thank you."

"No problem. I'm sure you will return the favor someday."

With the conversation ended on a positive note, Matriarch Sheila sighed with relief. She could feel a burden lifting from her shoulders.

..........

A few hours after lunch....

..........

"They're here! The Mud Wyrm escort is here!" A Toxic Razortail exclaimed.

Aldred Blackehearth walked out with a bag of necessities slung over his shoulders. Soul followed him...he had begged both Aldred and Matriarch Sheila for permission to follow Aldred. After some time, they agreed. Matriarch Sheila contacted Patriarch Loam about the new addition and he agreed as well...carefully citing that Matriarch Sheila now owed him two favors.

"You are the human Aldred correct? And this is Soul?" The Mud Wyrm escort asked.

"Yes. And what may I call you?" Aldred replied.

"This one is known as Tobalt. I am the nephew of our Esteemed Patriarch. You don't have to be so formal...we are of the same age after all."

"Ah, yes. It's nice to meet you Tobalt."

"Likewise."