Chapter 9: The Hunter's Instinct

Hunger was no longer just a need—it was a tool.

I could feel it in my bones, in my muscles, in my wings. Every bite of food, every scrap of meat, every struggling prey I sank my teeth into made me stronger.

And I was beginning to enjoy it.

Not just eating—but hunting.

It wasn't about survival anymore. It was about control.

Each morning, I woke with a purpose. My body still wasn't strong enough to challenge the giants of this world, but I was no longer the weak, starving hatchling I had been. My wings could carry me farther. My fire, though still weak, sparked more frequently. My claws were sharper, my reflexes quicker.

And so I hunted.

At first, I stuck to the small creatures—squirrels, rodents, oversized insects. Anything that I could catch with minimal effort.

Then, I got bolder.

I started stalking larger prey—small lizards, scavengers picking at old carcasses. They were faster, more cautious. They had survived in this jungle for a reason.

But so had I.

One morning, I found a nest of strange, reptilian creatures—half the size of me, with long tails and sharp little claws. They reminded me of tiny dinosaurs, their beady eyes constantly scanning the trees for danger.

They didn't see me until it was too late.

I dropped from a low branch, landing on one before it could react. My claws sunk into its soft belly, my teeth snapping down on its neck. The others scattered, screeching in terror, but I didn't care.

I had my kill.

I tore into the meat, relishing the taste. It was different from the fish, the deer scraps. Richer. More powerful.

And I felt the difference almost immediately.

My body tingled, heat rushing through me like a slow-burning fire.

When I spread my wings, they felt stronger.

When I flexed my claws, they felt sharper.

I ate until nothing was left but bones, then wiped my snout against my forearm, breathing deeply.

I could feel it.

I was growing.

I still wasn't ready for the true monsters of this island, not yet. But every meal brought me one step closer.

One day, I wouldn't just be hunting these small creatures.

One day, I would be hunting them all.