(d.a.m.ned feline. He'll get what's coming to him soon.) I thought in irritation. Over the next month the air began to turn colder and leaves began to fall off the trees. I had gathered the fruits on my tree. The fruit itself doesn't rot for a while it seems. I have enough to last me a while and the fruit changes depending on what the beast eating it enjoys. I had many flavors from home that popped up often. But in the end I ended up eating bugs because I had to conserve the fruits and try to eat a more balanced diet. Sometimes a rodent or beast would find my lair and make their way in I'm always a surprise to them. The rodents I leave alone. But the big beasts I generally can eat. So far I've managed to kill a stone bear and a snow bird. I gained ice resistance from the bird but nothing from the bear. The ice resistance was just swallowed by my multi-element resistance or M.E.R. as I've come to call it. Been very handy as of late. cold doesn't effect me as much but I still feel it. Makes it easier to not hibernate but winter still makes it harder to stay warm.

The snows coated the ground. There was a collection of rodents that would stop by my nest over the years. The if I couldn't find anything to eat they would sometimes bring me nuts and things that they had found in their scavenging. It was harsh somedays where the bark door I had constructed was frozen shut and I had to heat it to let everyone out. I continued feeding the tree with ashs, water, and uneaten sc.r.a.ps. It actually seemed to enjoy me being there. I was warm and it was being nourished. I can't speak to plants but sometimes the tree seemed... happy. The bark was green inside the shelter and the roots never invaded farther than they needed for warmth. I slowly grew as time went on. The springs came slow. But they settled in quickly. I had to make a trench that led to the well so the melting snow-water wouldn't make a big out of the nest.

When spring finally settled in and the snow was gone I got to roam outside a bit. I stretched my wings and took a look at the once damaged right wing. It had scarred quite badly. The red now had a large, jagged,slightly puckered, white line that stretched from the front to the back of the wing. It was a nasty looking thing. I slowly closed my wings as I ventured a bit more. I found the boundary of the tiger and sat there at the edge of its territory. (Some day I'll get you.) I thought. My stomache growled hungrily. I looked around for food. Fortunately I found a badger that was still asleep. Fortunate for me I had grilled it to perfection at that time too.

/ Host Has consumed Woodland Rage Badger. Host gained pa.s.sive skill Enraged state. System discarded due to detrimental effects. Placing materials toward growth and muscle strength/ toughness/

I continued my hunting every day. Eventually I had grown to about 6 feet in length and About 2 feet wide. My muscles were nicely tuned and I had little fat to me. I was a killing machine. A monster turned to my environment. Everything within a certain area was mine. I had the chance to prove it knew day. The tiger came across his border and into mine. I was venturing around the borders of my territory when he entered. He was the same size as when I saw him last still 5 feet long and 2 feet wide. but he was slightly taller. I slowly opened my wings and jumped/ flew into the tree tops. I soared above the tree tops and watched him till he was deep enough in my territory for me to truly justify fighting him.

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I divebombed him. I dove downwards and slammed into his back at full force flattening him to the ground. I dug my claws into him trying to fly into the air with him but he was too heavy. "Ragh!" He roared in frustration as he rolled on the ground away from me. He had b.l.o.o.d.y marks on him from where my claws had sunk into his back. He let out a deep growl in my direction as he and I started circling each other.

I was patient and waited till he lunged forward. I lunged backward slammed my body downward on top of him. (My scales are hard as rock. I dare you to try breaking them now!) I thought. I slammed into him and he let out a mew of pain. He bolted backwards shaking his head as a small trickle of blood came from his head. He once again tried pouncing. I spun and smacked him away with my tail. He went flying through the air and landed with a thud. I guess he had enough seeing as seconds later he ran away. I looked at my claws and thought for a moment. ( I don't know how long it's been. But I think Sam would be happy if she saw me now.) I thought in a mix of happy and sad emotions. It wasn't long later that I got the thing I wanted most at that moment. I got Sam.

?

Sam sat across from me as tears rolled down her face. She held her cup of juice as her tears fell.

" I'm so sorry..... I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough. And I know I'm still not strong enough." Her head hung low as she slightly curled into herself. " Please don't leave me alone again." She sobbed. " I don't have any right to ask this of you. But Please...." She let the tears flow as she sat there shaking. I felt my heart soften as I looked at her. ( The same little girl I knew all those years ago. ) I thought. I got up slowly without the chair making a sound. I went to her side of the table and hugged her. She balled as I picked her up and carried her back to her room where she fell asleep still holding onto my clothes. I used the earth manipulation to move the stone chair from the other side of the room to where I was and sat there while she slept.

I meditated a bit on the things that happened. (I have been through much. But not nearly enough to protect her efficiently.) I thought. ( I'm still missing 6 flames and I need to get more powerful. Else we'll fall prey to something else.) I wrecked my mind. What to do. I saw a shadow flit past the window. I used a spell and made the shadows cover me hiding me from the light of the moon light coming from the window. (Necromancy has it's perks.) I thought as I smirked. I saw a small clawed hand move toward the window and insert something making the latch on the window rise and the window opened outward. The being entered. It was short and covered in black cloth. It held a jagged and curvy dagger in its right hand. It was holding the handle facing its thumb with the blade downward. It slowly mounted onto the bed and got close to Sam's chest before it raised the blade and stabbed toward her chest. Unfortunately for it my s.h.i.+eld wing stopped the dagger dead in its tracks with a clang. Sam came to with a start and quickly grabbed her sword from the side of the bed. The shadows wrapped around this being and held it in the air as she rose and stood by my side a little nervous of the thing I was holding in place with magic.

It was a humanoid creature. The shadows fully gave way before me revealing me to the person. I reached up at the snarling being and pulled off the dark ninja wrapped material. To my surprise I found a red headed cat eared girl. " Well... That's new."