I Became Part of the Dragon's Hoard

Bery's eyes blinked open to warm sunlight, the dream still fresh in her mind. She sat up and looked next to her, finding Valerie blinking her eyes open. She'd awoken in an expensive looking white princess bed in the middle of the wilderness. It was even complete with the netting and all.

"Each time, you manage to surprise me with something like this," Bery said, gripping her soft blankets in awe. "What other things do you have up your sleeve?"

Valerie grinned and hugged the kitten. "More importantly, how was your sleep? Did you have any special dreams?"

"So you knew something about that? Was that all real? Did I really meet Lady Kanai?"

The dragoness nodded. "It was a very special pool after all. You'd been saying that you wanted to meet her, and I thought this would work."

Bery blinked several times before hugging Valerie tight. "Thank you so much. She really does care about me."

Valerie held on tightly to her kitten, calming her down with soft pets. "Of course, silly kitten. But even if she loves you, I will never let her claim you as I have."

Bery giggled. "That's great to hear. Don't worry about that. She seemed more motherly to me."

Valerie held her hand out to pull the kitten off her feet.

Bery noticed on the ground was a large bag and pointed at it. "What is that?"

"Well, we can't exactly go on a trip without looking the part, can we? I stuffed a bunch of our clothes in there, so it will look normal."

"Wait a second, couldn't we just fly everywhere? Also, how did you get those over here? Did you go back while I was sleeping? And I thought that you had some kind of storage ability?"

The dragoness chuckled and placed a finger against Bery's lips. "So many questions, kitten. Don't you want to travel? I thought it would be fun for the two of us. We can fly sometimes, but other times we should enjoy the journey. Don't you enjoy the crunching of leaves underfoot?"

"I...I do. But where are we going?"

"We are heading even further north. We can really go anywhere you want, but I thought this direction would be good. Remember that kraken you tasted? Doesn't the kitten want to taste it again?"

Bery found her mouth salivating. "I do."

"And think about this, we can enjoy even more dates along the way! When we get back, I will be able to marry you properly."

"Marry!?" Bery shouted, her face growing red, and her mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"That is the end goal, but first we need to enjoy all of the couple activities along the way. There are many amazing and strange places in this world! I want you to see all of them!"

Yuri made her voice known in response. "Administrator, traveling will be good. I can collect data samples for this planet and observe its organisms more closely. I might even come to an understanding of this mana."

Bery felt utterly defeated by the two of them. Valerie's adorable face pressing closely like a lingering question in front of her didn't help. It wasn't like Bery minded anyways. Painting while on the road would be like a dream come true for her.

"Alright, alright," she finally said, "between you and Yuri…"

Valerie raised an eyebrow. "That's right. We do have to figure out something for your friend. I believe that I have an idea that would be pleasant for the both of you."

"You do?"

The dragoness nodded. "Though, the details are a surprise for later. I think both of you will like the outcome."

"And what about your hoard of treasures? Is it really okay to leave an entire castle and that big pile of gold?"

"I already told you, didn't I? You are worth more to me than all of my treasures. However, I would like to see anyone try and claim them. It would not be so easy."

Bery remembered the shield Valerie had given to Emary. She said that the flames would basically destroy anyone that threatened her. She could only imagine what would happen to raiders, and she almost wanted to send a prayer for them. However, anyone that settled for trying to rob dragons was already doomed anyway.

Valerie hoisted the bag onto her back. "Don't worry kitten, you don't have to carry one."

Bery shook her head. "What is the point of us looking normal if I don't carry a bag?"

"Isn't it normal for the wife to not have to carry anything? You can consider me your dutiful husband who will lift the weight of the world for you."

Bery's face went red once more. Nonetheless, she clutched Valerie's hand obediently, and the two started their journey.

///

Deep in the enchanted forest, a Kanai'n launched himself across a ravine. Today is the day.

Sin'ja'ra would finally have his wish. I will finally become chieftain.

He clutched his abnormally heavy warhammer and landed with a roll. Among the men who liked to fight with their claws, Sin was certainly an abnormality. He had the strength to take down foes with his natural weapons, but he preferred the large warhammer with a massive spike on the end.

The weapon was still stained with blood, yet he clutched it for another upcoming battle. Ever since last autumn, monsters settled into a cave system nearby. The difficulty of the near fight never struck anything within Sin. He knew that he would be victorious.

With the goddess on my side, my hammer will split their heads like a common fruit.

His trial awaited him, and his spot as chieftain was inevitable now. Nobody within the tribe denied his strength or resolve, which is exactly why they sent him to clear out the trolls.

After running through a thicket, he spotted the cave entrance. Trails of blood pooled below the rocky crevice. And thick weeds had to be cleared out in front of the entrance.

Trolls weren't stupid. They understood how to make their home hidden from most, but Kanai'ns were different. The smell of blood was heavy in the air for Sin's nose.

His large warhammer whacked away the weeds at the cave mouth, and he strolled inside. The Kanai'n looked towards his trusty weapon with a shake of his head.

It didn't take long for a troll to find him. The dark-furred monster stood at nearly double Sin's height, and it had rippling muscles all over its body. Five eyes remained open on the creature's face in a pattern of two, one, two. Its mouth had large canines protruding from its bottom lip, nearly past its flat nose.

The beast growled, the vibrations shaking Sin's body.

Sin did not hesitate. With a warrior's mind he charged. His warhammer swung to the side, catching the wall in the process. The hard rocky surface of the cave stopped the hammer's progression.

A sickening, beastly grin graced the troll's face, and it lunged towards the foolish cat that dashed into the monster's range.

Though, Sin met the creature with a grin of his own. The Kanai'ns muscles bulged, and the head of the hammer ripped through the rocky wall. Bits of rocks tumbled down the sloped entrance, but the armament continued the arc of its swing.

It struck hard against the troll's muscular side, and the impact sent the creature tumbling against the opposing wall. His face slammed into the surface. His nose broke with a sickening crack, and the tip of one of his large canines shattered.

An enraged shriek left the troll's mouth. He regained his balance with his large arm, pushing off the wall hard as his injuries started healing themselves.

"I heard that you guys are good at healing."

The troll didn't heed any survival instinct in its anger. It lunged at the Kanai'n like a desperate bear towards winter time.

Sin flipped the spiked end of his hammer up towards the top of the cave and swung with all of his might. The large point entered the base of the troll's chin and continued to rip through the creature's flesh, until brain matter splattered against the hard steel.

The Kanai'n watched the creature fall limply to the ground in a puddle of its own blood. "I guess the healing doesn't work if you die."

Sin licked the tip of his warhammer before spitting it out. "Blegh, I didn't think troll brain would be so disgusting."

While he was pondering how meat could taste so nasty, the wailing of more trolls sounded from deep within the cave system.

Four more? I guess you guys do care if one of your friends dies.

Clearing the rest of the cave was much easier for Sin. Of all of them, the first one had been the most challenging. It makes sense that they would send their strongest to protect the entrance.

He ripped his hammer from the skull of his last victim with a smile. "Now everyone will know that I should be chieftain."