Chapter 25: The Bounty of Time

A full year had passed since the day she first appeared at the edge of my pond, and the island had shifted around us. The once silent, empty cave now felt alive with the hum of our existence—our existence. It was strange how quickly we had become a part of this island, just another force of nature in a world that had nearly killed me a thousand times over.

But now, things were different.

The pond, once barely more than a small pool of water filled with fleeting fish and danger, had transformed. The fish we'd carefully relocated—those few we'd spared from the snake's insidious grasp—had flourished. They were now multiplying, gathering in the clear waters like a living tide.

It was a sight to behold.

I had never watched something grow so quickly.

She and I checked the pond almost every day, hovering above it in the mornings, peering into the depths to see the bustling swarm below. The fish were thriving, their bodies growing larger, their movements stronger. They darted playfully through the water, their scales shimmering as they navigated the clear depths we'd so carefully managed for them.

Every time I saw them, I felt a thrill. This was my creation. This was ours.

They had multiplied.

I could see it clearly now: a sustainable food source, living and breathing right beneath us. With the fish thriving, we were no longer just scavengers. We were farmers—hunters and caretakers of the island's resources.

But it wasn't just the pond that had grown. The island itself had become our home in a way I hadn't thought possible when I first opened my eyes in this body.

We had claimed the island as ours.

Deer and boar were now regular meals. We hunted in tandem, coordinated and efficient, circling our prey, using our fire and wings to drive the animals into ambushes. Our meals had gone from a few scraps, a catch of luck, to a steady stream of flesh and bone.

We fed on the land, and the land, in turn, fed us.

The boars—stubborn, muscular creatures with tusks that could pierce a dragon's hide—were among the most satisfying of our hunts. Their meat was tougher, richer. We tore into them with savage precision, splitting their hides open and digging deep to get to the heart of the feast. Deer were lighter, quicker, but no less satisfying.

Every hunt brought a sense of pride. We were no longer surviving on scraps. We were in control.

And every time we returned to the pond, I could see the difference in our reflections. The scales on my back had darkened, becoming stronger, thicker. My wings had stretched wider, more muscular, and I could fly longer, harder.

She, too, had grown. She was sharper, faster. Her fire burned hotter now, and she could hold her ground with more confidence. I could sense it in the way she moved—like a true predator, not just a survivor.

But it wasn't just our physical strength that had changed. Our connection, our bond—it was stronger, more solid than I could have imagined. We shared our meals, our hunts, our rest, and every moment in between. Our nights were spent curled side by side, the crackling of fire the only sound in the cave.

There were no more doubts. No more wondering if she'd leave.

She was mine, and I was hers.

And we were alive.

The island no longer seemed so hostile. Even the skullcrawlers and the massive predators that used to stalk the jungle felt distant, less menacing. We were at the top of the food chain now. Every challenge became just another opportunity to prove that we were more than the creatures who fought for survival.

We were the rulers of this land.

I would wake up every day beside her, watching the sun rise through the misty trees, knowing that together we could conquer whatever came next. Whether it was a creature of the island, or something even bigger, even more dangerous.

Together, we would fight.

And we would win.

As the days passed, I looked at the pond again, the water shimmering beneath the shadows of the trees. The fish swam freely now, too numerous to count. I felt a pull in my chest—something that felt like ownership, but also like protection.

I had built this. We had built this.

And with every meal, every hunt, every flight through the air, I could feel the power growing in me. In us.

I could feel it rising, like the island itself had taken root in my bones.

We weren't just surviving anymore.

We were thriving.