Drake waited at the bottom of the steps for his friends. He didn't want to make very much movement, afraid of waking the baby guardian snow cat.

"What's that?" Mike asked, pointing at the ball of fluffy white fur.

"Neve!" Jewel chirped before Drake could say anything. She quickly flew back to the sleeping cat and lay down, nuzzling into its soft fur.

"It's called a Snow Cat, and it's a magical guardian beast. According to the system, it's not part of the beast leveling system," Drake explained quietly. "I named her Neve. I didn't want to take her inside the tavern because I was afraid the noise would wake her up. She had been injured pretty badly, so she needs her rest."

Chad bent forward and carefully stroked the kitten's head, making the sleeping snow cat purr louder. Chad smiled widely. "I want one!" he whispered excitedly.

"I found her injured in the forest. She hatched out of a glowing white egg. It disappeared when I touched it. Jewel searched the bush for more, but didn't find anything," Drake told his friends, while watching the sleeping kitten in his arms.

Mike grinned. His eyes were focused on the sleeping kitten. "Let's scout the area. Maybe there are more," Mike suggested to Chad, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of finding a magical guardian beast. "Not many animals, magical or not, have only one baby. That's a cat, and there is usually an entire litter."

Chad nodded, agreeing as they rushed toward the forest. He looked at Jewel. "I doubt they'll find anything."

Jewel made a sound, as if she was chuckling. She agreed with Drake.

***

In the forest, Mike and Chad scouted the trees, looking under shrubs and large bushes.

"I want to find a guardian beast," Mike mumbled, looking under yet another bush.

Chad nodded his head as he peered into an animal's tunnel. He could tell something lived inside the dirt tunnel, but wasn't sure what. "All I'm finding is rodent holes," he complained.

They had also sent Thor and Althea out to search on their own. They were looking for anything resembling an egg or a magical beast. They hadn't yet returned with positive news. There were only negative ones.

***

Back in town, Drake headed to his cabin. Mayor Ivan had given them an area where there was room to set up two of the cabins. In the end, they decided to only set up one. They preferred staying in the same cabin.

Carefully holding Neve, Drake opened the door of his cabin and walked in. He went immediately and sat on the small sofa, leaving the small kitten in his arms. He didn't want to disturb her. She had just been healed of her injuries; she needed her rest.

It wasn't long before he fell asleep himself.

***

Back in the forest, Chad sat on a rock, drinking water from a thermos. "Nothing," he complained.

Mike was beside him, drawing lines in the dirt with his sword. Chad watched him. "Isn't that going to dull the edge?"

Mike only shrugged in response. They had been out all day, and it was already getting late. They hadn't found anything. They were waiting for Thor and Althea to return. They were both bummed out for not finding a magical beast. They hoped that the dragons would have better luck.

Not far from them, the sound of something large approaching could be heard.

They ignored it, thinking it was their dragons. That was until a low growl sounded. As soon as they heard the growl, they immediately stood up, getting into a fighting stance. They saw a beast the size of a small dog.

In fact, it looked like a dog but had three tails. Fire burned at the tips. The beast's eyes glowed with orange flames.

The beast's fur was pitch black with streaks of orange that flickered as if on fire.

Chad stared at the beast as it stared back. Its focus was solely on him. He put his bow away, raising his hands, palms out. "Hello…" he spoke in a soft voice, trying to show he wasn't hostile. "I can call you Blaze," Chad told the beast. "You look like fire is bursting around you. That's a good name for you."

The beast cocked his head, listening to Chad.

Chad continued, trying to hint to Mike that the beast wasn't regular; it was an elemental one. "I know you're a fire beast. There are none that I know of," he continued.

The beast sat, wagging its triple tails, listening to Chad. Its entire demeanor had changed.

Mike slowly put his swords away, hoping that Chad was not delusional. He still had his gauntlets on, but always had them on. They were part of his clothing, in his opinion.

Chad slowly took out one of the endless food bags he received in the dungeon for his dragon and took out a chunk of meat. "Are you hungry?" he asked the beast, offering it to him.

The beast slowly stood, then walked up to the chunk of meat, sniffing it. After being satisfied with the smell, he carefully took it out of Chad's hand and ate it in one gulp.

Chad smiled. He kept his hand out. Slowly, he moved to pet its head. The best moved closer, letting him. "Yep, your name is Blaze," Chad whispered to the beast, before pulling out another chunk of meat for the elemental dog.

The beast's eyes flashed green before its orange flames returned. Only now were emerald flames mixed in with the orange ones.

Mike watched his friend with the elemental dog. He didn't know the name of it. They wouldn't until they got back to Drake. His system should be able to tell them. He felt left out, not being able to find one. He figured they could stay out in the forest a little longer. Maybe another one would show up.

Just then, Althea and Thor headed toward them. They had come back empty-handed. They hadn't found anything either.

The three headed back to Draco town with the small fire dog trotting along behind them.

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