Game of Thrones, Ice and Fire, I hatched the Black Death.

Chapter 17 Young Dragons Must Learn to Hunt on Their Own

Will sat by the river, watching Shadowflame skim across the water in the morning light, precisely snatching a leaping silver fish, then with a graceful turn, disappearing behind the canopy of the opposite mountain forest.

It now often ventures out alone to hunt in more remote mountains, swamps, and even along the coastline.

Its flying skills have become increasingly proficient, its perception has become more acute, and its instinct to avoid danger has become increasingly powerful.

Will could vaguely sense its location and general condition through the contract, which gave him some peace of mind.

But not enough.

He needs Shadowflame to be stronger and grow faster.

He also needs himself, and Daenerys, to have more resources for self-preservation and adaptability.

This secluded valley is a temporary haven, not a permanent haven.

"Vell," Daenerys's voice interrupted his thoughts.

She came over carrying a small basket of freshly picked, brightly colored berries, her face flushed from her work, her short, silver-gold hair fluttering in the morning breeze. "Look what I found! These berries are very sweet, and I've tested them; they're not poisonous."

She sat down beside him, handed him the basket, her purple eyes sparkling with anticipation, as if presenting a treasure.

Will picked up a deep purple berry and put it in his mouth; it was indeed sweet and juicy.

He nodded: "Hmm, not bad."

Daenerys smiled, picking up a piece for herself and eating it, her gaze following the direction Shadowflame had disappeared, her tone full of pride: "Shadowflame is getting more and more powerful, flying so high and steadily. Will it go even further today?"

"Perhaps." Will looked at the distant, layered mountain silhouettes. "It needs a larger hunting ground, and it also needs to become familiar with its surroundings."

He paused, then turned to Daenerys. "We can't stay here forever. Food, salt, tools... a lot of things will run out. And we need to know more about what's happening out there."

Daenerys's smile faded slightly, replaced by a hint of worry: "It's dangerous outside.... Someone like Charon..."

"So we need to be prepared." Will's tone was calm but firm. "Shadowflame is training and hunting outside, paving the way for us. And we, here, also need to train."

"Training?" Daenerys asked, puzzled.

Will stood up and walked to the rock hollow where they kept their "belongings," taking out the hunting bow and quiver he'd gotten from Charon, along with the hunting knife. "From today onward, I'll teach you archery, as well as basic combat and wilderness tracking. You'll also teach me what you know—like identifying plants, and... when you were a child in the Red Keep, did you hear anything about dragons, about Valyria, about the great families? Any detail might be useful."

Daenerys's eyes lit up again, this time with the solemnity of someone entrusted with a great responsibility. "I can shoot arrows! Viserys… he had a teacher teach us a little before, though he wasn't very attentive… but I remember some!"

She quickly replied, "My mother and Sir William Darryl told me some stories about dragons and the family before, as well as Prince Rhaegar's journal... I read a little bit of it, although I was very young then..."

Her voice lowered, as if recalling an unpleasant past, but she quickly rallied, "I'll tell you everything! Everything I remember!"

Thus, life in the valley entered a new rhythm.

During the day, Shadowflame often takes flight early in the morning, heading to vast forests, wetlands, or coastlines for long periods of flight training and independent hunting.

It brought back more and more kinds of prey, and the animals were getting bigger and bigger—deer, wild goats, and even once dragged back a half-grown wild boar. It also had a few shallow marks on its body from fighting with large beasts, but the defensive power of its scales and its own regenerative ability allowed these wounds to heal quickly, leaving only faint marks, more like a badge of honor for growth.

It occasionally brings back some peculiar "souvenirs"—a pebble with a special luster, a huge bird feather with vibrant colors, and even once a small piece of dark red rock with charred marks, seemingly formed from cooled lava.

Will was unsure if these things would have any particular benefit for Shadowflame, but Shadowflame seemed to enjoy them immensely.

Will and Daenerys remained in the valley to continue their "training".

Vell modified Charon's hunting bow to better suit Daenerys's arm strength, using tough vine bark to make the bowstring, shaping the arrow shafts, and polishing the flint arrowheads.

Daenerys couldn’t even draw the bow at first, and her fingers quickly developed blisters, but she persevered and made slow but steady progress.

Will himself also intensified his practice. His physical fitness was superior to that of ordinary people due to the nourishment of dragon blood, but his archery skills also required hard work.

He also taught Daenerys how to use a hunting knife for basic parrying and stabbing, how to set more complex traps, and how to observe animal tracks and weather changes.

They spend more time exchanging information.

Daenerys recounted her memories of the Targaryen family's history, her vague knowledge of dragons, the characteristics and feuds of the various houses of Westeros, and even the layout of the Red Keep and the royal domains.

Will, drawing on the information he knew before his time travel, posed questions to guide her memories and try to piece together a more complete and realistic picture.

He also taught Daenerys more systematic wilderness survival skills, how to treat simple wounds, and how to use the terrain for cover and defense.

At night, Shadowflame would return, sometimes with prey, sometimes simply lying quietly beside Will, using its body heat to dispel the chill of the mountains.

Through the contract, Will could sense its daytime experiences—the fatigue of a long flight, the excitement of successfully capturing a large prey, the wariness and confrontation when encountering other predators, and the curiosity of exploring unknown territories…

These vague fragments of consciousness allowed Will to have a general understanding of its situation even when he wasn't physically present, and also gave him a more comprehensive understanding of the ecology and potential dangers of the area.

Contract Dragon: Shadowflame.

Status: Young dragon stage (stable growth).

Satiety level: 82% (good).

Body length: approximately 0.9 meters.

Wingspan: Approximately 2 meters.

Growth stage: Young dragon stage ( ).

Abilities: Flame Breath (Young Dragon Level), Dragon's Might, Enhanced Scales, Sharp Claws and Fangs, Flight (Proficient).

Intimacy level: 63/100.

The growth rate has indeed slowed down, but every step has been solid.

Intimacy steadily increases through separation and reunion, side-by-side companionship and mutual support.

This situation lasted for more than a month.

The leaves in the valley are beginning to turn a little golden, and the long summer seems to be showing signs of loosening up.

One afternoon, Yingyan returned home earlier than usual.

It didn't bring back any large prey, only two plump pheasants. Then, it seemed somewhat restless, pacing back and forth by the river, occasionally raising its head to look towards the mountain pass to the southeast, making low, warning growls in its throat.

Will immediately became alert.

Through the contract, he tried to perceive the vague information transmitted by the Shadow Flame—not a specific image or sound, but a "feeling":

In the distance, there are unfamiliar, hostile presences moving about. They are numerous, moving slowly but with a clear purpose and direction…

They seem to be heading towards the mountain range where they are.

Shadowflame spotted them while circling high in the sky to scout.

"Someone's coming," Will said in a low voice to Daenerys, who was practicing archery. "Not just any hunters, but a group that seems to be organized."

Daenerys paled and lowered her bow. "Is...is it a member of Charon's clan? Or..."

"I don't know," Will thought quickly. Shadowflame's warning couldn't be wrong.

The other side has a large number of people and a specific purpose.

Although their valley was secluded, it was not entirely without clues.

If the other party has a guide familiar with the mountains and forests, or conducts a thorough search, finding the entrance is only a matter of time.