The return trip began under a pale sky. Evan urged Gale to keep above cloud level where the air was thin but calm. The silver was delivered yet the unease in his chest did not fade. The frost bear territory looked unchanged from above but the strange claw marks near Frostbridge kept replaying in his mind. They were deeper than bear tracks and longer than wyvern talons. Something new was moving through the region.
Gale glided through high currents with stable rhythm. Evan checked the sky behind them. No beasts followed. But the feeling of being watched lingered like a cold wind.
After an hour they descended toward the eastern ridge. The forest below seemed darker than usual. Evan saw long streaks of black mist rising from the trees. It was subtle but visible to trained eyes. The Rootstorm influence was spreading like ink spilled into water.
He guided Gale wide around the forest edge. When they finally reached the camp the sun was halfway down. Ember stood on a landing post while Strand explored the perimeter. Crest sat on a log sharpening its beak against wood.
Evan felt a quiet pride. They were adapting fast.
But his pride faded when he saw one of the training posts split in half. Wooden splinters lay across the ground.
Something attacked the camp while he was gone.
Evan dismounted and knelt near the broken post. The marks were deep fresh and curved. Not a beast he recognized.
Crest screeched and flapped its wings. Ember growled low while Strand moved behind Gale for protection.
Evan stood slowly and scanned the tree line. “Whatever did this is close”
He walked to the edge of the clearing and studied the dirt. Tracks curved in tight circles. Three claw marks followed by a dragging tail. The shape was strange. The spacing inconsistent.
A mutation
Exactly what the watcher warned him about.
Evan took a steady breath. “We must strengthen the camp. Build higher fences reinforce the enclosures and prepare for night defense”
He began working immediately. He moved heavy logs to form a new barrier then stacked stones near the perimeter. Gale pushed large branches into place with its snout. Ember carried smaller pieces of wood. Crest watched the sky intensely.
For two hours they built until the sun lowered behind the mountains.
As the sky darkened a cold wind passed through the clearing. The beasts stiffened at once. Gale flared its wings. Ember crouched. Crest screeched a warning.
The forest fell silent. Too silent.
Evan stepped backward slowly. “Stay calm” he whispered
A shadow moved between the trees. Long tail dragging strange claws scraping bark. Evan saw only a silhouette but it was enough. The creature was almost as tall as a wyvern with limbs that bent in unnatural ways. Mana pulsed around its body like red mist.
The mutation had reached a new form.
Evan did not run. He stood still and analyzed every movement. He needed to understand its pattern.
The creature approached the clearing. Crest shrieked and took flight circling above. Ember growled and stamped the ground. Gale moved forward shielding Evan with its wings.
The creature paused. Its glowing eyes scanned the beasts. It tilted its head then stepped forward again.
Evan whispered “Hold Gale. Let it choose. We need to know if it is territorial or hunting”
The creature moved closer. Its claws clicked against stone. Its tail swayed like a whip.
Then
It lunged.
Gale roared and struck with its wing. The creature staggered but recovered instantly. Evan rolled aside. Ember leapt forward and bit the creature’s leg. Crest dove from above and struck its back.
The creature screeched and swung its tail knocking Crest aside.
Evan grabbed a long spear he kept near the fence. He braced it against the ground. When the creature lunged again he drove the spear into its shoulder.
The creature shrieked and pulled back. Red mist leaked from the wound. It stumbled into the tree line and vanished into darkness.
Silence fell again.
Evan breathed hard but stayed alert. “Do not chase it. It will return with others if we follow”
Gale lowered its wings. Ember and Strand stayed close to Evan while Crest glided down slowly.
Evan touched Gale’s neck. “We survived our first direct attack. But this means the Rootstorm is accelerating. We cannot wait for danger to come to us”
He looked at the three young beasts the growing fleet of Dragon Freight.
“We must become the fastest strongest and most adaptive transport in the sky. If the land grows dangerous we stay above it. If new monsters rise we prepare countermeasures”
He tightened the straps on Gale’s harness.
“Tomorrow we start emergency route training. Night flights storm glides and coordinated formation. If the world changes we fly ahead of it”
The beasts answered with soft growls and steady breaths.
Dragon Freight was evolving into a true sky fleet.
Just in time
Because the Rootstorm had only shown its first shadow.