In total there are seven pterodactyls that try diving down on us from within the clouds. I manage to dodge all of them, mainly thanks to the flying combat lessons the dragon gave me. However, Brightfire isn't quite able to hold on through all the maneuvers I use.

Clutching two handfuls of feathers that she ripped out of my neck she goes tumbling away. Instantly I perform a flip and go into a dive, chasing after her before she falls too far. I quickly catch up to her and grab her with my talons as gently as I can.

Even once I have hold of her she doesn't stop screaming, but I can't really blame her. Luckily, the pterodactyls, after missing their attacks, just give up and fly away. It would seem they are an ambush predator and won't fight on other terms.

It makes me wonder what they do when there are no clouds, but I have no way to find out. Once I am sure there are no enemies close by I perform a slow, gentle roll. This allows Brightfire to get back onto my back and resume her proper seat.

"Are you alright?"

Brightfire says "Yes, but I don't think I like flying as much anymore!"

"After a close call like that I don't blame you! Do you want me to land?"

Brightfire says "No, I can manage. Let's just return."

"Okay!"

As soon as I fly over the last of the mountains I can see the tree in the distance. It looks like a small green mountain at this point, it is growing faster than I thought it would. Which means I can start working on the ship sooner than expected as well.

It does make it a little harder to land, the clearing where I planted the tree is now covered. In the end, I find a small clearing nearby to land in and then walk to the tree. I have been feeling the tree welcoming me since even before I landed, it is getting stronger.

Silverstream says "Welcome back! How did it go? Did you find the sacred spring?"

Brightfire says "Yes, we did! I almost got eaten by the two-headed wyvern!"

Silverstream says "What?! That thing isn't just a legend?!"

Brightfire says "It was real! Ash killed it!"

As Silverstream is demanding details from Brightfire I walk up to the trunk of the tree and pat it. The tree responds with a burst of warm feelings and it feels quite nice. Then I take out the first cask and start pouring the water over the tree's roots.

At first all I feel from the tree is shock, then it quickly turns to what I can only describe as bliss. The tree greedily sucks up the water just as fast as I can pour it out. By the time I empty the fifth cask the tree is so happy that it is basically singing.

Silverstream says "Is it just me, or is the tree actually singing?"

Brightfire says "It is definitely singing!"

"Yeah, it seems to really like the spring water!"

As the tree absorbs the water I can see an effect immediately, but not in growth. The tree doesn't get any bigger, but the leaves and bark look healthier and more vibrant. However, even if nothing happened, I would count it as worth just from how happy the tree is.

"Alright. I am going to go check in with Stillwater. Are you two coming with me?"

Silverstream says "No, thank you. I will stay with the tree."

Brightfire says "I think I will stay as well!"

"Okay. Oh, before I go. Silverstream, eat this!"

Silverstream says "What? Oh, fruit? Mmm, that's delicious! Can I have another?"

"Sorry, only one per person. They are very limited in number."

Just then the singing stops and I get blasted by the tree’s feelings of hunger and greed. Does the tree want one of the fruits, can it even eat it? I guess there is only one way to find out, so I walk over and hold a fruit near the tree's roots.

Instantly a small root comes up out of the ground and takes the fruit from my hand. The fruit disappears under the soil and the tree blasts me with happiness and gratefulness. A few seconds later the tree's trunk visibly grows in diameter, I guess the tree managed to eat the fruit.

After that the tree seems to settle down, almost as if it is now sleeping. Since I don't need to carry anyone with me I shapeshift into the normal eagle and fly down to the coast. Using the eagle form to travel has become really comfortable, to the point I prefer it over flying in normal form.

Before I go in to land I circle once to see what is going on with the elves. A good amount of them are on the warship, sailing around just off the coast. On the beach the siege engines from the first warship have been completely taken apart.

There are quite a few elves there, they seem to be studying the parts of the weapons. I am guessing that they are trying to figure out ways to make improvements, like I asked. Other than that the place seems like a normal village, it doesn't look temporary at all.

However, I am pleased to see that there are a number of craftsmen hard at work. From what I can see from above, they are mostly leatherworkers. It makes sense since they have the hide from the legendary beast to work with.

Since we are on the coast I am not surprised I don't see any blacksmiths. After all, there are no ores for them to work with, at least not that I know of. After looking around a bit I finally spot Stillwater, he found a quiet spot, and I land nearby.

Stillwater says "Ash! Where is my daughter?!"

"Relax! She is back at the tree with Silverstream!"

Stillwater says "Oh! Sorry! For a second there I feared the worst!"

"Don't worry, Brightfire is perfectly fine!"

Stillwater says "That's great! So, did you find the spring?"

Rather than making him ask question after question, I sit down and tell the story. For once, I don't leave anything out or downplay the dangers and tell him everything. Once I am done I take out the remaining eighteen fruits and hand them to him.

"You eat one, then give the rest to the most promising elves. Only one per person."

Stillwater says "Alright. Anything else?"

"Oh, can you throw together a storage shed for me? I need to store my stuff to make room in my pouch. I want to go back for the wyvern's corpse."

Stillwater says "Sure. That is easy enough. It should only take an hour or so."

"Thanks! Anything going on that I should know about?"

Stillwater says "No, but we aren't sending our scouts out very far. So we don't know what is going on with the orcs or the humans."

"Alright, I can check on them when I return to the spring."

Stillwater says "Other than that, the elves are doing great thanks to you! With those that you have freed our numbers have more than doubled and everyone is in great spirits!"