Each year there are fewer and fewer Darkwings born, or at least it appears so to Chargot. He is responsible for coordinating the raids against the others. Those puling excuses for Dragons that pander to the descendants of David. "Why are they thriving when we are not? They control the numbers of births each year where we breed and lay eggs in sufficient numbers, yet we are hard pressed to find enough able Dragons to launch a raid against their community....and they always win." Chargot turns from the window and looks at Dralgo his Sargeant who has had better sense than to answer that question. Chargot is...Chargot and sometimes it is best to leave him wondering aloud and avoid the trouble that answering can bring. Dralgo has better sense, even though he believes he knows the answer, he will keep his mouth shut and his thoughts to himself. One tends to live longer that way. Still, the desire to tell him that the "Others" thrive because they are disciplined is extremely strong. The "Others" are community oriented, the Darkwings are out for themselves, none willing to obey unless the giver of the order is stronger, faster, more deadly than they are. Where the "Others" grow crops, raise fowl and share the bounty with each other, the Darkwings scavenge for meager sustenance, sometimes killing and eating their own young because they are too lazy to hunt for a meal. Yes, Dralgo knows when to keep his mouth shut and his head on his shoulders, and Dralgo knows that the Darkwings will never succeed in their mission.

"Why do I ask of you that which I can't answer myself?" Chargot asks. The knock at the door and the entrance of Dremia, the latest mistress of Chargot relieves Dralgo of the necessity of trying to find a suitable answer. He is grateful when he sees the look in Chargot's eyes, it means that he will be dismissed and will be able to return to his own wife Faiela. Dalgo is a Dragon of habit, not for him the intrigue of chasing the always willing female dragons that have too much time on their hands. They spend it going from dragon to dragon without leaving themselves time to care for their eggs or for their young. In their defense he supposes it would do no good for them to care, they would be mistreated and abused for trying to protect their offspring from any of the hungry males. Their Mistress, Daniella offspring of Daniel Layton whose blood they all carry is no better. She spends her time in debauchery with whatever males are available to her, and woe betide any who should refuse, Dragon or human. He has managed to avoid her eye, and has lived far longer than any but Chargot. Things are progressing nicely between Chargot and Dremia, he can now ask to be dismissed and will incur no wrath for his forwardness.
"Yes, yes Dralgo, leave us why don't you? I have matters of importance to attend to here with Dremia. Don't I dear one?" Chargot laughs at Dralgo as he quickly moves to the door. "What's the matter Dralgo, afraid to see a real Dragon in action?" Dralgo swallows the taunt as he closes the door."Soon....very soon you will not have Dralgo to kick around." he thinks

Dralgo, his wife Faiela and son Grentha have been making surreptitious plans to leave their home. They no longer can live in peace with the rest of the Darkwings. There was the time when Grentha was nearly murdered while outside playing with his friends. It was only the knowledge that he was the son of the second in command to Chargot that stopped Lelbot from making off with his son. Faiela is not safe from the advances of other Darkwings either. He is getting older and there will come someone stronger that he must protect against. That is the way of life in their community, dragon eat dragon with only the strongest surviving. They are not entirely ready but it will be soon and they will be gone from this hellhole and heading for what they hope will be a better life. Arriving at home he finds Faiela tending to another wound inflicted on his son.



"Now what?" he asks. Grentha tells of going to pick berries at the request of his mother when he is set upon by another hungry dragon. He managed to escape again because he was recognised as son of Dralgo. He is burned on face and arm, but not badly. This news angers Dralgo, it is time to leave and the excuse for leaving the compound has been provided. He must escort his wife and son on their forraging expedition. They will be away before they are missed. He tells his wife this and she is in agreement because she is frightened for her son. They secrete about their person what gold and silver they have managed to put by and leave their abode. They encounter Langar, the son of Chargot and tell him that they will be gone much of the day to hunt for herbs to heal their sons wounds with. This will give them a head start in case Chargot should decide to hunt them. Once out of sight they can take flight and be far away before anyone is the wiser. Everything has been left at home to look as if they will return any time. It will be hard convincing the "Others" that he is too tired of living in the Darkwing community to continue, but he hopes that bringing his wife and son with him will make the difference. He wants a better life and possibly he can barter for a place in the community with his knowledge of the Darkwing community that is lacking. He hopes so, although he is a descendant of Daniel, he has heart and it has been badly wounded by life with Darkwings and their wicked ways.