Chapter 22: Stoneclad Raptors
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Stonejaw Range bristled with stories of raptor packs with granite hides, rock eating ursines, even the rare beast called 'Cliff Basilisk' that turned prey to petrified statues.
Zephyr's stomach clenched. "We can't fight C‑Rank beasts head‑on." He needed a plan. Otherwise death awaited them.
When Fenna woke up, Zephyr recreated a hand drawn map. Grent had once showed to Zephyr. They mark minor trails along the eastern ridges. Star stood on the parchment, tail tracing routes.
"We start by scouting," Zephyr said. "Measure beasts, find a weak pack member. We need to find a beast core for Star. If he became stronger then we got better chances. But this area is dangerous. We might get hurt."
Fenna set her jaw. "Okay! I will brew stronger healing pills. I got some herbs inside my pouch."
Three hours later they hiked a goat path up the first ridge. Star gilded ahead, disappearing behind boulders, returning with chirps. Zephyr's Dragon Sense felt for heavy mana pulses, but none found yet.
Near midday, they topped a granite bluff. Below, a plateau stretched like a cracked table. On its far edge, skeletal pine trunks encircled a shallow pit filled with bones and gemstones.
Through his Sense, Zephyr counted three heavy mana signatures and many lighter flickers. They craned their heads over the rock lip.
Stoneclad Raptors (Rank-E), a muscular creature with four legs covered in plates of granite gray scales. They root like a raptor dinosaur. Two adults ripped flesh from a furry carcass. A juvenile paced the pit, pecking at crystals embedded in bones. Within the nest gleamed a single green blue orb the size of Zephyr's fist. It was a condensed C‑Rank beast core.
Fenna's breath caught. "Look There."