Hell Hounds novel Chapter 47

Ian saw enough of the first dragon shifter’s appearance he understood they were old and formal. First, they wore a modern take on medieval clothing. They looked like they were part of a Viking documentary. Tunics, pants, and boots. The women wore simple dresses that ended just past the knee. In place of winter jackets, they wore a heavy type of cloak. Ian realized the packages they carried were the cloaks wrapped around their clothing. He left the scene. Ian wondered how many generations of dragons flew that same way?

                Walking through the woods in the dark. It was his job to make sure that none lagged or became lost. Behind him there were vehicles, trucks, SUVs, trailers, and several campers. Ian overheard a child ahead of him asked his mother if they’d stay here for a while or would they be moving again. They didn’t have a stable home. This wasn’t the first event they needed to run from. It broke his heart.

                Once they handed off the community of bear shifters, Ian’s team returned to their patrol. This time Mario stayed in human form. Ian whispered to them as they walked the tiny path through the trees. “Is it that bad for the Bears? I heard a kid ask if they’d need to move again.”

                “We were lucky after the Lich. Wolves live in packs like this estate. Bears, though, live in family units like humans, but not in close-knit communities. The Lich used that isolation to prey on them for victims. No time to mourn any deaths. The Bears decided to start a community like ours. The time to build buildings, security, and services wasn’t there. Our Alpha has tried to help them. Lend them equipment and supplies. He offered services until they set their own up. He helped them connect them with vendors. Even offered our construction services. Time, however, wasn’t on our side. Winter and then this happened. We can’t leave them exposed. It’s wrong, and a breach of the secrecy of our existence. In my opinion. It’s an enormous mess. This started three months ago. We’ve been working to fix it, and stop one disaster after another.”

                “Yet, every human around is ignorant of the chaos your lives are. Your struggle to survive, and not force this on the human population.”

                “If history tells me one thing. We’re forced to rely on humans the first time. But humans are the ones that changed. It’s our place to protect others this time. We aren’t the slaves this time.”

                “Last time?”

                “We’re taught that the Fae created us as slaves and foot soldiers for their private armies. We were beasts to be slaughtered for their whims and entertainment. Humans banished the Fae after a great battle that lasted ages. In doing so they broke our bond with the Fae, freeing us. Our ancestors pledged to protect those in need of protection from things beyond their control. In other words, the supernatural.”

                “The Lich, and now the Fae.”

                “Our rogue elements. Other mythological creatures wake from sometimes. Magical mishaps. The list goes on. Our reach and power aren’t just to keep our secret. It enables us to do what we must do. Humans wouldn’t react well to some of our rulings. Our punishments can be severe, but it matches the need for peace, and safety.”

                “The ‘yeah but.’ When they use the saying, ‘two wrongs don’t make a right.’”

                 “How do you imprison something that can’t be imprisoned? How do you kill the unkillable? You kill the ones that can’t be imprisoned, you imprison the unkillable and pray it never gets out.”

                “The Lich?”

                “Drain the magic from the thing he keeps his soul shard in. Then execute him. Otherwise, he lives forever. It’s a when he gets out, not an if. It all starts again. That’s why the mages were involved. It’s not just their research skills and portals. They have some scary talents.”

                “So you’re saying if I see a bunny. Run.”

                “Don’t joke. The fae race called Pooka favour turning into bunnies. Those are not friendly creatures once they have you trapped.”

                “I was joking, but I’ll take that as a fair warning.” Ian realized with that information, he was out gunned, outnumbered, and uneducated. He’s so far out of his element that he was endangering himself and others. The overwhelming urge to run and hide plagued him for the rest of his shift. Nothing else happened except the sun came up on the gray world. Thankfully, no tinges of blood in sight.

                His team returned to the packhouse to find the area in chaos. A dragon shifter in Gregory’s office demanding to know the why of something. He seemed panicked and angry. Ian stopped a shifter as she passed, “You know what’s going on?” It was one of Edith’s assistants, he couldn’t remember her name.