Hell Hounds

Yolanda stood at the door to the Alpha's office. Waiting after she knocked. She could hear many people moving in inside. No one responded to her repeated knock. So, she took a risk entering. It was chaos in it. Alpha Gregory was trying to work with people everywhere, doing their own work. With the door open, she understood why no one responded to her knock. No one could hear it. Where these people come from? When did they get here? At least they'd have help.

She dodged a few people to get to her leader's desk. He looked like he needed a holiday. In the minute it took Yolanda to get to his desk, he'd consulted on five different issues, answered his own phone, and was attempting to do something on his computer.

When Gregory noticed Yolanda, he stopped what he was doing. "Tell me you have something."

"Yes, good and bad. We found the Fae. Yes, they are close. However, there are many more than expected."

"Stop right there. Lue, Dean, come here we have an eyewitness report finally."

The Mage and Fianna crossed the room listened. "Okay, start from the top, Yolanda."

Much of the work slowed or stopped outright so they could hear the report.

Now, Yolanda felt uncomfortable and very watched. "While on patrol, we found a barguest. It ripped into a grave at the old Colton farmstead. Catherine and I backed off and called for backup." Dean was taking notes as she spoke. He at least was polite enough not to ask questions. "David and Farrah responded. I think the barguest's fully grown. It appeared to be the size of all of us combined." "Yes, some Fae use them as attack dogs or mounts. Go on."

"The beast's summoned by what sounded like a horn. We followed at a distance as it followed the sound. It took a long time, but we tracked it to the picnic location near the town of Danbury." "Crap, there's fifteen kilometres from the town. If they move through the dream realm, they'll instantly be in the middle of town."

"I'm not finished. There are at least two confirmed shining ones. A male and female. We didn't get close enough to hear their names. The hunt's numbers range from 75 or more confirmed. But we're forced to pull back by the sheer numbers of Fae in the meadow. I'm sure there're more."

"So we've confirmed there's at least one hunt as we speak." Lue was mumbling to himself. Yolanda could almost hear the gears of his old mind clicking as he processed this information. "They appeared to be partying and waiting for something. We saw weapons, but no prisoners or slaves. Yet."

"That may be good. But we can't expect this to be their only gathering area. Another night holds their darker actions." Dean mentioned over the top of his notebook. Lue's head nodded in agreement. Yolanda couldn't believe how complex this had come. From a severed arm to a fairy invasion. "I left the dragons in there with orders not to reveal themselves. However, I mentioned the known areas to them. I hope they take the advice. Have the twins tried to enter the Dream Realm?"

"No. We'll try that as a last resort. I don't want them questioning what their loyalties and morals are. You know how persuasive Fae can be."

"Yeah, and they wouldn't hesitate to use them to get to us and entertain themselves," Dean mumbled over his now malfunctioning pen. He tossed it into the trash can by the desk and pulled another from one of his many secreted pockets.

"This is a mess. What if they change their target and use the Dream Realm to go after another town?"

"David worried the shining ones might insult one another. Then seek revenge on each other through a personal war."

"Another valid possibility. The Fianna will arrive in a matter of hours. The mages are present. They're setting up portals to move people out of here. That will start in a few hours. Only the bears will stay here. They've declined temporary relocation. So it'll be them and those who agree to fight."

"I'll go find my mate, then. We'll look in on the armoury."

"Don't panic, there's Fianna down there. So, it won't be as bad as you might believe." Seeing as most armouries like this one, the Fianna set up, equip, and supply them. The worst thing would be they complain about how she's running it. That wouldn't be unheard of. Or unreasonable. Many of the weapons were dangerous if they're used or stored incorrectly. They made these weapons, and she believed they felt responsible towards them.

"That's fine for now. I still want to know. What's down there and its state. It is my armoury."

Sometimes Lue forgot his people weren't the only ones that respected the items created to protect them. "Before I go. Is there anything else? Questions I need to answer?"

Gregory looked at the other two men. They both shook their heads no. "For now. No. Though go check on the armoury. Then get some sleep. I saw your mate pass here an hour ago, and he looked ready to drop."

"Great. Just what I need. My mate getting scared off by overworking him. Please try not to kill him. He's growing on me."

"Relax he's comported himself so well with the Bears that Leland mentioned him by name."

"What? Why was he near the Bears? He's supposed to be patrolling." Yolanda looked at her leader for understanding.

"He's part of the closest patrol that escorted the Bears to where they'll be staying. The dragons landed as the Bears arrived. So, your mate helped with the interrelations between our factions. The last thing we needed was a protocol issue. So please understand, I recognize he's trying to fit in, and he's doing a good job of it. The man didn't blink an eye when the Dragon faction landed."

"Well, I'm glad to hear that. I didn't know what I'd if it didn't work out."

"We'd do what we always do. Try to make it work out. You know we wouldn't abandon you."

"Yes, thank you. I'll go find him. We'll be in the armoury for the foreseeable future. If not there, then message us at our cottage." With a nod of dismissal from her leader and his consultants? Friends? Business associates? Those names all fit but didn't quite fit. The English language didn't seem to have a word for this. Or Yolanda never learnt it. Which could be possible?"

A few simple queries about the packhouse told Yolanda. Her mate's sleeping in a make-shift bunk room. She needed to tip-toe into the room and hunt by his scent. Not an easy feat when you're surrounded by shifters. These weren't only wolves. There were now bears and dragons intermixed. She suspected a few Fianna were there. It would make sense why they accept lan into the mix. He wouldn't set off anyone's instinctive alarm bells because the shifter was aware of the Fianna. Also, he smelt like her.

Gregory looked at the Mage and Fianna after Yolanda left. "Everyone leave the room. Wait to be told when to return. We won't belong." That wasn't the truth, and everyone knew it. If he were calling the council together. No one could predict the time wasted.

As the others filed out. Gregory sent out a mass text. "I'll summon everyone that needs to know. Then we might have a chance at making a plan."

Both men agreed with his decision. Transparency and inclusion would allow this to go smoothly. If they could keep the politics to a minimum, they just might survive this.

Responses started almost instantly. The Ragnar, the Dragon faction's ambassador, entered almost immediately upon receiving his text. Gregory's father replied that they'd be right along. Others would filter in.

It wouldn't take long for all representatives to arrive. It's the last time they'd hold a meeting here. At this rate, they'd need to build a smaller version of the council chambers. Just to hold the peace. "A viable plan would make everyone rest easier, and I feel in nothing else it will set everyone's mindset towards victory."

"If only that was all we needed. This group worked well last time. Let's hope we can repeat that. The council couldn't pass anything in the time allotted. Let alone about forming a unified force. So we can't be sure whether everyone will be on board with it."

"True, but nothing else does it. This will prove the need for it." The men sat down once they'd greeted Ragnar.

"You have information then of where the Fae are hiding?"

"We have one location. Now it's time to plan our move. Once everyone is here, we'll give all the details and then brainstorm.