The morning after signing the council contract Evan woke before sunrise. He stepped outside and breathed the cold mountain air. The camp was quiet except for light rustling inside the enclosures. Gale stretched its wings. Ember and Strand dozed near each other while Crest cleaned its feathers with slow careful strokes.
Evan looked at them with a sense of urgency. The Rootstorm would not slow for him. He needed more beasts. More training. More structure. Dragon Freight could not survive on instinct alone. It needed strategy discipline and numbers.
He unrolled a series of papers the council had given him the previous evening. They listed authorized breeders across the continent and marked which bloodlines were stable enough for training. Some offered wyverns with thick wings suited for long flights. Others bred gryphons specialized in mountain navigation. A few extremely rare breeders raised thunderbirds that could fly through mana storms without fear.
Evan studied each list carefully. The council offered funding but he needed to spend wisely. A fleet was not only about powerful beasts. It was about balance.
Gale for heavy cargo
Ember for quick gliding
Strand for steady endurance
Crest for scouting
He needed at least six more to form proper formations. Two more wyverns. One gryphon. One thunderbird if available. And possibly a heavy ground beast for loading operations.
He walked to Gale and rubbed the wyvern’s neck. “We must travel today. We fly east to visit the ridge breeder. They have a wyvern clutch ready for early training”
Gale responded with a soft rumble.
Evan packed dried meat tools and the council’s authorization seal. He also placed emergency lanterns and spare harness straps in case storms hit.
He opened the enclosure for Ember and Strand but kept them inside. “Not today. You train here. Practice wing control with Crest. I need you ready when we expand the fleet”
Crest screeched in protest but Evan shook his head. “Guard the camp. Do not leave the perimeter”
Gale crouched low. Evan mounted and secured the harness.
They launched into the sky.
The eastern ridge stretched across the land like a jagged spine. The wind there was unpredictable but Gale handled it with strength carried from countless flights. Evan scanned the forests below. The trees still showed patches of red mist but not as thick as before.
After an hour of flight they reached the ridge breeder’s valley. It was a wide clearing surrounded by high cliffs that formed a protective bowl. Wooden watchtowers stood at the edges. Several handlers waved as Gale descended.
The head breeder a tall man with worn gloves and sharp eyes approached. “You are the wyvern courier”
“I am Evan Drakemarch founder of Dragon Freight”
The breeder nodded. “We heard the council signed a contract with you. They rarely trust couriers. That alone tells me you are not an ordinary rider”
Evan stepped forward. “I came to inspect your wyvern clutch. I need strong flyers”
The breeder led him to a large enclosure. Inside were three young wyverns about the size of large hounds. Their wings were not grown yet but their bones were strong.
“These two come from wind line blood” the breeder said pointing to a pale blue pair “They excel in climbing currents”
“And the third”
“A mountain line. Heavy wings better for lifting”
Evan examined the beasts for several minutes. He checked their breathing patterns and how they reacted to movement. One of the wind wyverns stepped toward him with curiosity while the mountain wyvern stayed still but alert.
He knelt and let the young wyvern sniff his hand. The beast lowered its head in cautious acceptance.
Evan smiled. “I will take the wind pair. Their instincts match my needs”
The breeder nodded. “They will need two weeks of basic bonding before flight. Do you have handlers”
“Not yet. I train them myself until I find suitable help”
The breeder raised an eyebrow. “Then you work harder than most. I respect that”
They prepared the young wyverns for transport. Gale watched from the landing post and seemed amused by the small beasts.
When Evan secured the cages he paid the breeder using the council’s funding token.
Before leaving the breeder walked closer. “A warning. Beasts sense the awakening. The Rootstorm frightens even the strongest bloodlines. You must keep them close during storms”
Evan nodded. “I know. My camp was attacked two nights ago by a mutated creature”
The breeder’s expression hardened. “Then you understand. The land is changing. Keep your sky fleet moving. Movement is survival now”
Evan mounted Gale again. They carried the young wyverns carefully through stable currents. When the camp came into view Ember screeched a greeting while Strand hopped excitedly along the fence. Crest flew a high circle.
Evan placed the new wyverns inside a separate enclosure. The camp felt fuller now more alive more like a true fleet in formation.
He stood in the center of the camp and breathed deeply. “This is only the beginning. Soon we train as a group. A real sky convoy”
But as he spoke the wind shifted.
A deep distant roar rolled across the valley.
All beasts froze.
Evan’s heart tightened.
That sound did not belong to any beast he knew.
And it came from the Rootstorm’s direction.