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She looked up at the hunter.
There was no menace in his eyes. No malice. Just a soft, tired smile as he stared down at her like she was something delicate—something worth not hurting.
Gently, he set her back on the ground. No sudden movements, no anger. Just quiet understanding.
Then, without a word, he turned and walked back to his camp.
Cautiously, she followed, one pawstep at a time. Her instincts screamed danger, but her body was too exhausted to argue. Hunger gnawed at her, and her legs felt like they might give out at any moment. She had no choice.
The hunter must've sensed it too. Without turning around, he placed a wooden bowl of soup on the ground between them, then sat back at a comfortable distance. He busied himself with wrapping his hand, not from her bite—she realized—but from scrapes he must've gotten while hunting the wolf earlier.
Guilt bloomed in her chest. She had bitten him.
Curling up a few feet from the campfire, she let the warmth soak into her scales. It was comforting, calming. She could leave now, technically. But where would she go? She didn't know the terrain. The road ahead could stretch for miles. And she'd never survive another night out there, not in this tiny body.
"I guess he's not as bad as I thought…"
Her legs still ached from walking for hours, but it wasn't as bad as yesterday. Curiously, she whispered to herself, "Status."
A soft ping echoed in her head.
LEVEL: 1 (2/5 EXP)
Status: Hatchling
Species: Young Ancient Elemental Dragon
Health: 120 / 120
Stamina: 4 / 40
Mana: 0 / 0
Strength: 8.6
Agility: 4
Physical Resistance: 2
Elemental Resistance: 4
Magical Resistance: 0
Ability: ???
Her eyes widened.
She'd gained two EXP—probably from eating that rabbit earlier. The memory made her stomach twist a little, but still… progress was progress.
At least no one tried to skin her today. That was always a win.
She glanced toward the hunter, now dozing lightly beside the fire. His body looked completely drained.
He must've been up all night hunting wolves…
Before she could reflect any further, a loud screech cut through the air.
Her head snapped up. A massive shadow loomed above—wings spread wide, gliding silently in circles. A bird. No, not just any bird… a raptor.
Another screech—and it dove.
She tried to dodge, but the talon still caught her hind leg. Pain exploded through her body as the claw tore into her flesh, leaving a trail of red in the snow.
She yelped, bolting into the underbrush for cover.
The hunter shot up. His eyes locked on her bleeding form.
The eagle dove again.
He didn't hesitate. Sprinting forward, he grabbed her in one arm—just as the raptor's claw raked across his back.
"Argh!" he grunted, staggering but not dropping her.
With his free hand, he ripped a short knife from his belt. The eagle circled back, talons gleaming, ready to dive again.
It screamed as it fell from the sky.
But so did the hunter—his scream was one of focus. In a blink, the knife spun from his hand like lightning. It met the eagle mid-dive, burying deep in its throat.
Blood sprayed as the creature crashed into the snow, lifeless.
Panting, the man dropped to his knees, laying her down with care. Her leg throbbed—sharp, hot pain—but even through her tears, she saw him reach into his pack and pull out herbs.
He cleaned her wound first.
Not his own.
Blood soaked through his white shirt, staining his leather jacket. Around his neck was a fur scarf—one she didn't recognize. Exotic. Wild.
Despite the pain, she stared. Admiring his calm, his skill, his selflessness.
He wrapped her leg and tucked her gently near his backpack, layering cloth over her like makeshift blankets.
She looked at him then, really looked. This man, a total stranger, was tending to the wound she had caused. Protecting her like she mattered.
Her chest tightened.
In that moment, she didn't just feel weak. She felt useless.
Once again, she was someone who couldn't do anything for herself. In her past life, she'd been the girl who always tried to be what her parents wanted—studying nonstop, chasing some ideal she never chose. There were no vacations. No adventures. Just endless pressure to succeed, to achieve, to be perfect.
And still… she'd failed.
Not anymore.
Looking up at the stars, she made a silent promise—not just to herself, but to whoever, whatever had thrown her into this world.
I will become stronger. No matter what it takes.
She tried to speak, to thank him. But only a soft growl came out—like a kitten trying to roar.
The hunter blinked, tilting his head.
She tried again. Louder this time. Still nothing.
She huffed and gave him a guilty look. Her eyes said everything: I'm sorry.
He just chuckled and said something in a soft, unfamiliar language. "Fler tiha arehe."
The words meant nothing to her, but his tone did.
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the world in crimson light. The snow sparkled like fading embers, slowly melting beneath the first whispers of spring.
Nightfall came.
He stirred the fire, feeding it carefully. Then pulled out a lantern from his pack.
It glowed faintly, runes etched into its glass. Inside, a strange blue stone pulsed with energy.
He placed his hand on the top and murmured something—nonsensical syllables that sounded like magic made real.
The lantern flared to life, casting a soft, ethereal glow.
He bundled her back into the cloth-lined bag, covering her snugly like a sleeping bag. She curled up, tail wrapped tight, eyes fluttering closed.
Until—growling.
Not her stomach.
From the woods.
Her ears twitched. She peeked through the folds of the cloth—
And what she saw next made her heart stop.