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

Rocks, thorns, and endless dense forest.

Like frightened wild beasts, they fled for their lives in the unfamiliar heart of the mountains, daring not to walk on any place that looked like a road, but only climbing up the steepest and most hidden path chosen by Shadowflame.

Hunger, thirst, and exhaustion were constantly eroding their strength, but the potential pursuers behind them and Caron's calculating eyes, gleaming in the moonlight, were like invisible whips, driving them to keep going.

On the afternoon of the third day, they stumbled into a valley with relatively flat terrain but unusually dense vegetation.

A river, not very wide but with a rapid current and crystal-clear water, flows down from a higher mountain peak like a silver ribbon, cutting through the rocks and forests in the middle of the valley, making a rushing sound, and flowing into a bottomless pool surrounded by tall trees below.

The air was filled with abundant moisture, the sweet, pungent smell of humus, and a certain vibrant, wild aroma.

More importantly, this place is almost completely isolated from the outside world.

On both sides were towering, steep cliffs covered with vegetation. The entrance to the valley was mostly blocked by huge boulders and tangled vines. The only narrow entrance was also cleverly concealed by dense bushes. If it weren't for Shadowflame's excellent aerial vision and instinctive guidance, they would never have been able to find it.

"This is it." Will stopped and looked around.

Exhaustion nearly broke his body, but his spirits were lifted.

This place is easy to defend and difficult to attack, with a stable water source. The pebble beach by the river and the woodland by the pool provide open space for activities and natural shelter.

More importantly, he could feel that the freshness in the air seemed more active than elsewhere, and even his breathing was much smoother.

Daenerys nearly collapsed to the ground, leaning against the roots of an ancient tree, panting heavily. Her face and body were covered in mud and scratches, her short, silver-gold hair clung to her forehead, and her purple eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and utter exhaustion.

But she still managed to lift her head, observing her new surroundings, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes: "This place... is so secluded. There's water."

Shadowflame's reaction was the most direct.

It had long since broken free from Will's embrace, spreading its now quite large black wings, circling low over the valley, its dark gold vertical pupils sharply scanning every rock crevice and grove of trees, and emitting a satisfied, low gurgling sound from its throat.

Then, it folded its wings and landed lightly on a flat, smooth boulder by the pool. It lowered its head, extended its forked, dark red tongue, and licked the clear, cool water.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the forest, falling on its black scales and refracting a dark luster. The edges of its wings, which were over 1.5 meters long when fully extended, were thin as cicada wings, faintly revealing the dark red blood vessels beneath.

Contract Dragon: Shadowflame.

Status: Rapidly growing hatchling.

Satiety level: 40% (severe hunger).

Body length: approximately 0.75 meters.

Wingspan: Approximately 1.5 meters.

Growth stage: Hatchling stage.

Abilities: Basic Fire Breath (Hatchling level, significantly enhanced in power and control), Weak Dragon Might (Enhanced), Scale Armor Defense (Strengthened), Sharp Claws (Enhanced), Hatchling Wings (Strong, capable of short-distance gliding and low-altitude maneuverability).

Intimacy level: 52/100.

His satiety level had dropped to a dangerous 40%. Will himself was starving.

The most urgent task is food.

He mustered his spirits and, together with Daenerys, quickly crafted some rudimentary fishing tools and a crude sling using materials readily available by the river—tough vines, flexible branches, and sharpened pebbles.

Shadowflame, on the other hand, took the initiative to assume the tasks of vigilance and "high-end" hunting.

It flew over the deep pool, its dark golden vertical pupils like the most precise scanner, locking onto the plump trout swimming in the pool and the larger dark shadow vaguely visible in the deep water, and then, like a black arrow, it swooped down!

It's no longer just a simple gliding dive.

This time, as Shadowflame swooped down, its strong fledgling wings began to flap violently at a specific frequency and amplitude!

Although it cannot yet provide enough lift for it to truly take flight, the violent flapping motion greatly increases its diving speed and impact force, allowing it to skillfully turn on the water surface and pull itself back up, or even hover briefly, in the instant after hitting its target or missing its target!

"Splash!" "Splash!"

Water splashed everywhere.

Shadowflame's claws, like steel hooks and sickles, precisely seized a large trout that was trying to escape, and its sharp claws instantly pierced through the fish's body.

Without pausing, it flapped its wings forcefully, lifting its struggling prey off the water and flying back to the shore. It dropped the still-whipping trout at Will's feet, then took to the air again to find its next target.

Its movements are fluid, swift, and efficient, full of the elegance and power of a predator.

Each flap of its wings stirred up air currents, producing a deep whistling sound. The black silhouette traced dazzling trails across the pool and the forest floor.

Daenerys was mesmerized, even forgetting her work. Her purple eyes followed Shadowflame's figure, filled with pure amazement and pride.

"It... is flying better and better," she murmured.

Will was equally shocked, but even more so, he felt gratified.

Shadowflame is growing, adapting, and gradually transforming the talent in his bloodline into real power.

This secluded valley, and this river whose energy seems unusually vibrant, may be the key to its breakthrough of the next barrier.

They soon obtained enough food—several plump trout, two wild ducks whose wings were broken by Shadowflame's scorching breath after being startled from the forest, and even a fat otter that Shadowflame had driven out of its riverside cave and which was eventually killed by Will with a sharpened wooden spear.

They lit a small, carefully controlled campfire under a rocky cliff by the river where they could shelter from the wind.

The oil from the grilled fish drips into the fire, sizzling and mixing with the aroma of the roasted wild duck, creating a mouthwatering feast.

This time, they can relax their tense nerves a little and enjoy a relatively peaceful and satisfying meal.

Shadowflame had the biggest appetite, almost monopolizing half an otter and two wild ducks.

It ate with great relish, its dark golden vertical pupils narrowed in satisfaction, and even the bony spurs on its back seemed to shine even brighter.

As he consumed a large amount of high-energy meat, Will could clearly feel that the warm current transmitted back through the contract was unusually surging, and a certain "boundary" within Shadowflame's body was being constantly impacted and loosened by the rapidly increasing power.

Over the next few days, they settled down in this secluded valley.

Will and Daenerys used branches, broad leaves, and vines to build a sturdier and more comfortable shelter in a crevic in the rock wall.

They explored the surrounding valley, confirmed it was safe, and found several edible fungi and tubers to enrich their menu.

Shadowflame completely regarded this valley and the sky above it as his own territory.

It spends a lot of time each day practicing flying over the river.

Initially, gliding was the primary mode of flight, supplemented by flapping wings. They shuttled back and forth over the pool and forest, familiarizing themselves with the characteristics of airflow and training their wing muscles and coordination.

It leaps down from the heights again and again, flapping its wings with all its might. Sometimes it can glide a little further, and sometimes it falls wobbly, rolling around on the soft mud or water, getting itself all disheveled. But it immediately gets up, shakes its wings, and tries again, without being discouraged.

Will and Daenerys often sat on a large rock by the river, watching Shadowflame practice tirelessly.

Daenerys would quietly cheer for each successful turn or hovering, while Will silently observed the angle and frequency of its wing flapping, as well as the subtle adjustments in its body posture. Occasionally, he would convey some vague ideas about balance and leverage through the contract—not specific guidance, but more like a sharing of experience and an instinctive resonance.

The river seemed to have a special attraction for Shadowflame.

It not only hunts on the water's surface, but also often skims low over the turbulent river, and even tries to immerse its head or wings in the icy water.

Once, it tried to land on a protruding rock in the river, but due to the impact of the water flow and its unstable wing control, it plunged into the river.