Chapter 43: Rise of the Elders

The crowd of dragons circled the clearing, wings tucked, heads lowered in silent respect. The skies were calm, but the air buzzed with tension and anticipation. I stood at the top of the stone outcrop, above the ponds, the homes, and the lands we had built with fire, fang, and family.

This was more than a home now. It was a nation. A kingdom. A clan.

And a clan needed order.

I lifted my head, letting my voice ring out. "I, Shredder, the first of this clan, name myself as the Clan Head of the Dragon Clan."

Not one sound of protest.

I could feel the stares, the respect—earned through years of fighting, hunting, protecting. They knew what I had done. What we had built. And none doubted I was fit to lead.

I turned toward my son—my eldest. Strong, proud, and already a father of his own brood. He stepped forward.

"And I appoint my eldest son as the first Elder of the Dragon Clan."

He gave a slight nod, his wings spreading wide before folding them tight against his back. The dragons below murmured, not in dissent, but approval.

I looked over them all. "There will be five elders in total. Not chosen by popularity. Not by blood. But by the Clan Head. Each elder will be judged by their wisdom, strength, and what they have done for this clan."

Wings shifted. Tails swayed. But no voices rose. The rules were clear. And no dragon could deny the order we had lacked before.

"Until all five elders are chosen, Kong—our great ally, our protector—will act as one of the Elders of the Dragon Clan."

The ground trembled as Kong took a single step forward, standing tall near the gathering. Even though he didn't speak our language, his eyes met mine with full understanding. He pounded his chest once—a silent acceptance of the role.

I turned back to the clan, voice cold now.

"If any dragon breaks the rules, if any dragon threatens the clan, the family, the future—they will be cast out. Or killed."

My fire flared from my jaws, a controlled burst that scorched the ground near the stone. "We are not just beasts now. We are a force. And we will not allow chaos, selfishness, or betrayal to weaken us."

Silence.

And then a thunder of roars erupted around me—all dragons agreeing. Not one protest. Not one voice raised in defiance.

Because the rules made sense.

They'd seen the Skullcrawlers rip apart lone beasts. They'd seen what happened when creatures fought alone.

Unity was survival. Order was strength.

I stepped down from the stone, walking past the rows of dragons—young and old, wild and raised here. They moved aside with respect.

My mate landed beside me, calm and proud. Our younger cubs fluttered near the edge of the gathering, wide-eyed but silent.

I turned back once more.

"We will grow. We will learn. We will protect this land, this clan, and each other. And one day, when the skies are full of our kind—this day will be remembered."

The roars returned—louder this time. Echoing over trees, rippling the surface of the ponds.

This was the beginning of something greater than survival.

This was the rise of a legacy.

This was the Dragon Clan.