Time passed by both quickly and slowly for the young dragon as she kept watch over her sleeping companions body. Her wounds gradually healed up although she would still require some time before she even thought about moving unless she absolutely had to.
Eventually though Luna did begin to awaken. She was groggy and she was hungry, thirsty and her entire body aced something fierce. She had most definitely pushed herself beyond her limits during that fight. Then as she remembered how the fight ended and what happened afterwards she bolted upright and frantically looked about only to relax as she noticed the amused and concerned gaze of Violet staring at her.
"Glad you are back up. How are you doing?" The dragon asked her.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. More importantly how are you thought? You were in terrible shape when I was last awake, when did you wake up? How are your injuries? Can I do anything for you?" As the torrent of words flowed out of the no longer small sad one Violet couldn't help but snort in amusement and affection at how worried her companion was about her.
"I have been better, but thanks to you I am alive." Violet gently bumped her head into Luna's chest before continuing in a much softer voice that was accompanied by a wave of emotions that Luna struggled to comprehend at first. "Thank you."
The emotions was a condensed bundle of thoughts and realisation's that she had been mulling over whilst she watched Luna sleep. It contained all of her worry, affection, trust and everything else that Violet felt towards the beastkin. At first Luna was stunned at the depth of emotions that hit her all at once and she needed quite some time to fully process all of it but when she did a wide smile broke out on her lips and tears formed in her eyes.
Quickly pulling together a bundle of emotions herself Luna embraced the young dragon before sending it to her. Hoping to share how much she cared for and relied on Violet. The relationship between these two had formed extremely quickly but with the constant exposure to danger they were in it was only natural for attachments to form quickly. This along with the vulnerable state that Luna was in when she first met Violet had caused the young woman to cling to the companionship and support that was wholeheartedly given to her by the dragon.
Whilst both girls may be too young to truly understand what it was that they felt for each other. They both felt that they had well and truly bound themselves together and they would have it no other way.
The two companions stayed like this for some time before eventually pulling apart. Luna pulled out food for both herself and Violet and together they ate drank and recovered for quite some time.
When Luna had awoken it was just after dawn and by the time that they ventured out of the small cave it was approaching evening. Now that Luna had awoken her passive healing ability had quickly set to work fixing up the slowly healing injuries of Violet and she was able to recover much faster. She was still injured but they both decided that it would be best to exit this valley of flames as soon as possible.
And so it was with great care and whilst covered by Violets void shadows the two companions slowly made their way towards the steep path that they used to first decend into the valley.
They slowly made their way up the cliff wall being careful to not attract any untoward attention and especially for Violet being careful so as to not strain her still injured front leg. She still bore the scars from nearly being bitten in two and even though the flesh was mended her scales around each wound now bore a distinct crimson hue that differentiated them from the rest of her violet scales.
Whilst some may consider this as a scar and may be shamed by it as a dragon violet thought of it differently than most. No for her this was proof of her strength for surviving such a powerful blow. And more importantly for Violet proof of the strength of her companion who was able to deliver the finishing blow to that same mighty beast.
Eventually though the two manage to make it to the secluded cave they first camped at that overlooked the Valley of lava and flames where they promptly entered and collapsed in a heap together. The climb had taken quite some time and it had thoroughly worn out the young dragon as she had to be extra carful to not put too much pressure on her injured leg.
But as they huddled together and had some food they both soon fell back to sleep, glad to have survived their precarious delve into a land of fire.
———
The area that our two companions found themselves in was known as the Elemental Valleys. It was like most places within the Endless Forest a place of magic and mysteries. However, it was also know for its unique landscapes it was mainly comprised of a massive stretch of highlands that was cross crossed with innumerable valleys and canyons. Withing these valleys it was common to find some which were inundated with one or two particular mana types.
Be this fire like the valley that our two companions just left, to more exotic elements such as lightning, ice and even shadows. As such it was a melting pot of different types of beasts attuned to all sorts of mana types. Maybe creatures and societies daughter this place out for just such a reason.
One such creature that had called this place home for many many years was one that had only recently awoken from its long slumber after 'dying' many years ago. Thanks to its nature as a litch, one of the more powerful variants of undead it was able to form a phylactery. This wondrous item allowed a litch to be reborn when its body is destroyed and this litch in particular had worked hard to ensure that its phyla feet stayed hidden and safe.
Its main body had been destroyed hundreds of years ago by an accursed leopard beastkin as it was in the process of establishing its domain over in the frozen north. It had left its phylactery in the place it was first 'born' which was within a underground valley within these Elemental Valleys. It was a place of rich death mana where undead were naturally spawned their forms taking the shape of any one of the numerous creatures that died in this vast landscape above.
The litch was first formed as a simple skeleton but over the years it managed to evolve multiple times to take its current form as a litch. Much power was lost by taking this evolutionary form but in return it granted the undead greater intellect and the ability to reform its body if destroyed. It may have taken centuries for its new body to reform and its strength may have been reduced to that of a fresh level 1 undead.
But thanks to its long unlife and its great grasp on magic it was able to quickly grow its strength. As it did so it began to plan for its next rise to power and it happened across a small orc village living not too far from its current lair. Deciding that they would make excellent tools for revenge the litch endlaved the small and weak clan, from there it began to raise up the orcs into a formidable force, growing them in both number and individual might
Then it sent off the orcs to scours the Forrest to the north in search of any remnants of its hated foes legacy. It took many years but eventually the litch learnt of a powerful snow leopard clan residing around where its domain once stood.
Unable to directly challenge this powerful clan the litch raged for a long time before it came up with an idea, a wild idea that would poise a great risk to itself but one it felt was worth the risk.
And so a grand ritual of profane power was constructed. By sacrificing a significant portion of the pitches accumulated might it was able to redirect the core of the Endless Storm to pass right over the clans home drawing in the dreaded Storm Titan who passed directly over the clans territory. And then the hoards of storm touch monsters which followed in its wake waged war on the leopards greatly diminishing their strength to the point that the pitched orcs could sweep in and wipe the rest of them out in one fell swoop.
Some of the clan escaped their demise but this only delayed their downfall. And no after all these years the litch's revenge was finally complete. The last of the snow leopards had been wiped out and the litch could once more go about regaining its lost power and begin to form a new domain of death. This time it would do it right. This time no one would get in its way. This time the litch known as Kalzork the Cruel will rise from the ashes and claim what is rightfully its. And it would seem that even the almighty system had blessed its rise to power as near days before its orc slaves wiped out the last of its hated foes descendants it received a wonder our message.
[Initiating Champion Beast Protocol]
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