DOUBLE UPDATE. MAKE SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT CHAPTER FOR YOU.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

When a Cloud chooses a Territory, there is nothing they will not do in the name of protecting what they deem as theirs. It is theirs to care for, to nurture. It is instinctive, not even a thought. There is no doubt, no hesitation when it comes to carrying out these instincts. It's the nature of a Cloud. So Skull does not question when he starts visiting the Family more often, how he prowls along the edges of wherever they've set up that week to make sure everything is working as it should, that no one is intruding in an unwelcome manner. He doesn't think about the way he brings back more supplies than he usually would, how he relaxes a bit more than before when he steps into the Family's boundaries.

He doesn't notice the way his Flames leak everywhere he walks, lingering on people and places, an unconscious way of 'marking' his territory to anyone with Flame Sense. The purity and strength of his Flames mean that even if his his visits- lasting anywhere from three days to a week or two if something needs to be seen to- are on the shorter side of the spectrum they coat all the equipment, all the people he walks around.

This is very much a Cloud's Territory, and any Flame User will sense it even long before they approach it.

This has a strange effect on his Family's Fighting Ring.

The Flame Users that approach the Ring know they are fighting in a Cloud's Territory. Even blocks from the actual fighting ring, the presence of this mysterious Cloud's Flame presses down on those who approach in silent warning.

This is Mine. You are permitted here only by My Say. Have Care with how you act.

The very strength of Skull's Flames insure that most Flame Users will obey his implied rules. The reluctance to stir a Cloud's temper- much less one of this strength- means that Incidents cut down.

Fighting outside the ring cuts down to near nonexistence, as the Fighters want to avoid damaging the Territory and stirring the Cloud that guarded this place. It also acts as a draw to the truly powerful, those who wonder what a Ring run by a Cloud might be like.

Skull is unaware of what he has done, and has no idea that in pulling the more powerful eyes onto his Family's Ring he increases their Income by quite a few figures.

It is what allows the eventual carving out of a more permanent place for the Training of the Civilians. What allows his family to spread out. To grow.

Skull's inner Cloud purrs.

This is his, these are his people, and they are growing, flourishing under his care.

He is content.

His people are happy, are safe.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

So I am apparently a horrible person? I've had the chapter before this one done for a while, and thought I posted it up already. I really really did. I was very confused when I finished this chapter today and went to post it only to see the 'missing' chapter.
So confused. Sorry you all waited when I apparently had the previous chapter ready.