Chapter 17
Chapter 17: Wings Over Stonejaw
The stone tower crackled with soft dawn light. Thin beams slipped through broken roof slats, tracing golden ladders across dusty air. Zephyr woke first. His breath steamed in the cold, but warmth pulsed from the blanket‑nest beside him where Star slept curled around the blue‑green beast core. Each soft exhale sent sparks dancing across the dragonling's scales.
Zephyr eased to his knees. He reached out, brushing one finger along Star's neck. A quiet hum buzzed in his chest: the bond alive, strong. Bloodline power, newly awakened, sang under his skin like sunlight under ice.
Fenna stirred on the other side of the firepit, blinking sleep from hazel eyes. "Morning," she whispered.
Zephyr smiled. "Morning." He gestured at Star and the crystal. "Think he's ready to absorb a shard?"
Fenna sat up, rolling her shoulders. "Let's find out. I measured his wings after you dozed—forty‑two centimeters. He's growing fast."
Zephyr's eyes widened. "Already? That's nearly half meter span."
Star yawned, revealing small fangs, and chirped as if proud. He nudged the core with a fore‑claw, then looked at Zephyr expectantly.
Zephyr knelt. "Okay, little scout. This is different from pellets." He pulled a slim iron chisel from his pack, slid the core onto a folded cloth, and tapped gently. A chip the size of a fingernail snapped free, glowing softly.
Star's pupils widened. Zephyr held up the shard, checking with the System:
Core Fragment: B‑Rank