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I could smell them. They had just been here. However, they had left not too long ago. I glanced around, expanding my mind. I closed my eyes, communing with the elements: the calm earth, the refreshing wind, the ever burning fire, and the flowing water. The trees around me whispered to the grass as the wind sang to the earth. My eyes snapped open. Leaping up quickly, I landed on a strong branch of a tall tree. Masking my presence, I watched as a group of vampires entered the clearing. I listened in.

"Look, I just do not get why we must continue to do this." One said.

"Alejandro wants to test the strength of the dragon."

"Which one?"

"The Dead One."

"I'm not even sure I believe that. I mean, if he were dead how could mere humans bring him back?"

"Don't underestimate the power of their 'science'. It's magic in its own right."

"Bah, I think you put too much faith in them."

"Huh, shut up. Let's just get on with our patrol and be done with it. Who knows? We may even get to feed!"

I watched as they left, then leapt down. There's a hunting party out today. With a sigh, I followed after them.

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I had just washed up and had come back to the village. I entered the small building we all called home to find Dylan up and awake. I knelt next to her. "How do you feel?" I felt her forehead. No fever.

"I'm not sure." She answered. "I feel weak!" She cried and hugged me. I froze for a minute, then wrapped my arms around her.

"I know." I soothed her. "But the poison should be gone now. Let me see." The mark was still there, but it wasn't black anymore. The curse had been lifted. "It looks better." But there was still residual poison. I knew there might be, but with the curse lifted, the poison would eventually be purged from her system completely. Still, her recovery would take time. She asked where Skye was. I had dreaded this moment. "In the other room, why?" And she brought up feeding him. I sighed and looked her in the eyes. "Dylan, with you still being weak, and with all that had happened, I think it's best that he drink other milk."

I watched the tears run down her face. "Why?"

"There is still poison in your veins, and I'm afraid that it could kill him. I don't want to see that happen. You're going to live; you will make a full recovery. But it's going to take a while. Skye is getting bigger by the day, and I know this is hard, but....I think it's time he was weaned."