Chapitre 6: Chapter 6: Expanding the Pack
The five hatchlings were restless now, their short legs moving in small bursts as they shifted around the nest. Their eyes tracked every movement I made. When I stepped away from the center, they followed without hesitation, their feet making soft sounds against the grass.
I walked slowly at first, testing them. They moved in a loose group, spreading out slightly but never letting the distance between us grow more than a few paces. Their movements were uneven—short bursts forward, pauses, then quick catches to close the gap—but their focus was constant.
On the far side of the clearing, near the tree line, I saw a fallen log lying half on its side. The wood was dark and weathered, moss clinging to the shaded parts. I crouched and placed my hands under the upper edge, pushing until it rolled over with a dull thump against the ground.
Underneath, the damp earth was alive with movement—beetles, pale grubs, and other small crawling things, disturbed from their shelter. The nearest hatchling lunged forward, snapping up a beetle in its jaws. The others followed quickly, picking at the exposed insects with quick, precise bites.
I stepped back slightly, letting them work. The activity was efficient—each one hunted individually, but without fighting over the same spot. Within minutes, the exposed earth was nearly bare. Only a few insects escaped into the grass.
When the log was no longer a source of food, I stepped away toward the open middle of the clearing. They followed instantly. This time, I increased my pace. Their steps quickened to match mine, their tails held level behind them for balance.
I lengthened my stride further, moving into a slow jog. The hatchlings stayed with me, adjusting to the faster movement with surprising ease for their size.
When I broke into a run, they responded without hesitation. Their steps were lighter than mine, their speed natural. I made a wide loop around the clearing, keeping an eye on their formation. They followed the path I set, never cutting across or wandering away.
After several laps, I slowed to a walk. Their breathing was faster, but none of them showed signs of exhaustion. It was good—early conditioning would make them stronger and more coordinated.
When we returned to the nest, I called up the System. The interface appeared in my thoughts immediately.
[Dinosaur Reinforcement Available]— Option 1: 2 Triceratops (juveniles)— Option 2: 2 Tyrannosaurus rex (juveniles)— Option 3: 7 Utahraptors (hatchlings)
I considered each in turn.
Two Triceratops would be powerful for defense, their bulk and natural armor making them dangerous in close combat. But they would grow slowly, and their needs for space and food would be high. In the short term, they would be more difficult to conceal than useful.
Two Tyrannosaurus rex would be unmatched in direct combat. But they would grow massive, and their size would make secrecy impossible within weeks. They would also require a constant supply of large prey, which would draw attention to any area they inhabited. In a place like Westeros, something that big could not be hidden for long—not without attracting armies or dragonriders.
Seven more Utahraptors offered something different. They would grow quickly, reach usable size in a short time, and could operate in coordinated groups. With twelve total, I could field them in multiple teams or keep them together as a single, overwhelming pack. For now, speed and numbers mattered more than raw size. Large beasts could come later, when territory and defenses were secured.
I made the choice.
[Selection Confirmed: 7 Utahraptors (hatchlings) – Incubation to begin after current batch reaches Juvenile Stage]
The System acknowledged the decision. The additional eggs would not appear immediately—they would come when the current hatchlings were older, allowing me to focus on their training without dividing attention.
The five around me were watching again, heads tilting in small, sharp movements. They were attentive but not restless now, their earlier energy balanced by the running and feeding.
I looked toward the path leading out of the clearing. It was time to leave. They could not follow me back to the village—not yet.
I turned to face them fully, focusing on the Beastmaster's Ring. The warmth against my skin increased as I projected the intent for them to remain here. I stepped backward toward the edge of the clearing, holding my hand slightly out to reinforce the signal.
They shifted, a few taking short steps forward, but stopped before crossing the line I set. Their heads moved, watching me, but none followed. The bond through the ring held.
I waited until their movements settled completely before turning away. My pace through the forest was steady, retracing the familiar path. The village came into view soon after, its sounds and smells replacing the quiet of the clearing.
In my room, I locked the satchel and ring away for now. The day's work was done. Tomorrow, I would return to check on them, bring food, and begin the next stage of their development.
The pack had begun. Soon, it would grow.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone