Kapitel 36: Chapter 34

I couldn't let myself sulk in my private space for too long, there were things that I needed to do, but I tried to convince myself the real reason that I was in here was to bathe myself. Bit by bit I indulged in the cleansing dirt going over, under, and around my scales, scrubbing the filth of battle from me. Around my face and up to my elbows I was caked in gore from the wolfstag's innards, and I took special care to scrub every inch of myself repeatedly while letting the exfoliation begin to wash away my insensate rage.

It was better that I allow Percral to live in disgrace and show that mistakes were punished, but not always by death. That would show that I could be a multifaceted leader… but was that what keelish would respect? Did that matter? Since I was still much stronger than the rest of the brood, especially after this latest [Quest]'s completion, they couldn't really oust me, and they would intrinsically wish to follow me due to our nature, as well as my new skill [Innate Leadership].

Finally calmed, I looked at the notifications.

[-Young Bloodletter Brood Alpha: Gain the loyalty of all surviving members of the brood. Progress: 19/49]

[New Skill acquired.]

More easily understood was the loyalty. Percral had stopped being a loyal follower of mine when he'd fled, and now was once again a fair-weather follower. That meant that there was a member of one of the other packs that had somehow gotten themselves killed. Damnation below, I needed to hurry and get these spawnlings to rally behind me so I could help ensure they became much more than they were currently growing to be.

A new [Skill] however…

[New Skill: Dominance acquired.]

After a moment's thought, the effect of the [Skill] revealed itself.

[Skill: Dominance; a passive Skill granted to those who have demonstrated their ability to force others to obey them. This Skill grants an aura that incites loyalty, obedience, and fear in others. This aura allows the Skill holder to more easily dominate and subjugate others. This Skill can evolve.]

This… would work well with [Innate Leadership]... I roused myself and stepped out of my personal quarters and then, passing by a resting Oncli and Treel, into the communal space. The area was totally packed between the wolfstag and python's corpses, even with the python being more than half consumed at this point. Shaking my head at my own hurry to supply even more food to the brood through sending some to hunt Toothy Bullfrogs, I set to begin eating from the corpse of the python.

As I gnawed on a bone, Sybil sidled up next to me and began speaking quietly.

"The hunt… was more dangerous… than you said." It wasn't a question, just a flat statement.

"Why do you say so?"

"Your tail… Oncli's injuries… Took is limping… and Percral fled… for a reason."

I barely flared my frills in acknowledgement. "It was close. But we won."

Sybil bowed her head in agreement. After a moment, she changed the subject. "It was better… to let Percral live. You are now… a merciful leader."

I flicked my tail, neither agreeing nor disagreeing as Sybil continued speaking. "Now, to show… your mercy… you should allow… the rest… to come eat. It will… help sway the weak."

Finally, I pulled my head from the body of the serpent. "You read my mind. I'll be back soon."

Regardless of Sybil's sound advice, the Martanimis's flesh hadn't been treated at all and the only reason it hadn't already spoiled was because of the relative cool of the underground. It needed to be eaten or disposed of quickly, and if doing so could earn me goodwill with the rest of the brood, I would share it out as communally as necessary.

Before long, I was in front of the entrance to what was once Tieran's pack. I called in, then, without waiting, continued.

"If any of you are still hungry, feel free to eat your fill from the snake out here. If it's all gone, you can ask to help yourselves to the wolfstag. Ask for permission before eating any of the wolfstag, or there will be a problem. The snake is fair going though."

After waiting for a moment, I was about to leave before Shemira's voice called out as I heard her approaching.

"Why do… you share?" Slowly she entered my view, and I was struck by how she was, in a way that I couldn't understand, exceptionally beautiful. The realization struck me, but I quickly shook myself from the uncomfortable thought. I noted her nervous posture as she asked, and the instinctual beast within me wished to cater to her desires, to protect her, but fortunately I was able to quickly tamp that part of myself down. I flicked my tail noncommittally before I answered.

"As I see it, before long you all will be my subordinates, members of my pack. Might as well make sure you don't get yourselves killed first."

Shemira didn't seem to trust the words that left my mouth. I continued, "The jungle is much more dangerous than we know, it's better to follow the strongest around. So, you'll follow me eventually." Then, I turned and left.

I curled my fingers and allowed my claws to dig just a little into the flesh beneath my scales. With the sharp pain came clarity, and I immediately resolved myself to never again spend time alone with Shemira. I couldn't be sure, but her presence seemed to carry a slight hint of influence over me beyond a basic attraction.

My visits to the other two dens were much less eventful, their Alphas quickly expressing gratitude and then leading their packs to feed. Before long, they were joined by Shemira's pack, and then, with three dozen mouths tearing into it, the serpent was left with just bones. The long body was somewhat impressive, and I fancied coiling it up somewhere as a sort of trophy, but not for long. The skull, what would have been the focal point of any decoration, was shattered in the center from where I had exited, and, as far as trophies went, the Martanimis, was weak.

The skull of the wolfstag, however, may be worth keeping. I contemplated that as I watched the rest of the brood happily finish their meal. This much meat would have filled all of us for multiple meals just seven days ago, but now, with at least fifteen having died and my nineteen abstaining, the meat was all gone within a couple of minutes.

As I was about to return to my den to rest, the Alphas of the two packs other than Shemira's approached me and asked to join my pack. Before long, I'd learned their names (Ilne and Katre, both females), directed them to ask Sybil how they should join in our space after we all took our rest. Then, I looked pointedly at Shemira as if to say "I told you so," and she simply led her pack away in silence. Their time too would come, so leaving Shemira's stubbornness aside, I finally retired to my quarters. As I passed through the common space of our den, I noted that Oncli was noticeably larger than he had been when I'd come through here before. Ideally, he was evolving and would soon be mostly healed from the bodily transformation that brought.

Finally, I laid down. And then, unconsciousness.