Shifter

[An Agreement]

[Xander]

For his entire existence, Xander had never known the Dargon and Moruga clan to have held a single meeting without bloodshed. The last of its kind was when the Morugas lured his grandfather to a meeting, under the guise of peace talks. Then they tried to kill him and his three emissaries. He'd barely escaped with his life.

Xander wasn't about to underestimate their ruthlessness.

The Moruga clan leader entered the meeting room, walking step in step with his partner. Behind him, a strong looking woman clad in black flighting leathers entered. She wore her jet black hair back in tight braids that trailed down either side of her head. Her beautiful features starkly contrasted her menacing aura. Her lush lips were in a thin line, mirroring the angry expression the two other warriors behind her wore.

"Why have you called this meeting?" His father spoke, his words echoing throughout the room.

"Marion." The Moruga clan leader motioned. The warrior woman bowed slightly to her leader, and then faced Xander's father. Every instinct in his body urged him to attack her, with the way she looked at his father. The threat that lay in her eyes. But Xander resisted, listening intently as she began.

"Demons have returned. In the mountains. We found a guard from the Nezat clan with a demon bite, sent to patrol their borders." She stepped back.

If Xander's father was afraid or surprised by the news, he didn't show it.

"You're sure of this?"

The woman nodded tightly. "The wound moved, as if it was alive. Black as night. There's only one creature that can inflict such a wound."

His father nodded thoughtfully, as the Moruga clan leader began.

"The other clans do not interest me. You are our longtime enemy because you pose the biggest threat. I have come to ask for a respite from our constant warring, a moment of peace while we figure out how to handle the demons."

Xander looked at his father. He wished he could hear all of the thoughts in his mind. He wished he could communicate with him. Tell him "We cannot trust them. Do not do what they ask. Do not make a deal with them."

"I would ask for something more from you." His father spoke not just as a man, but with the wisdom and power of generations of Dargon leaders in his voice. "We need to unite our armies to battle the demons."

Silence fell over the room.

One of the Moruga warriors spoke first. "How do we know you will keep your word? That you will not just send our people to fight, while yours stay protected?" Their leader gave her a disapproving look, but father still answered the question nonetheless.

"As an offering, I will send you my only son and heir to fight alongside you."

The room grew quiet. Xander turned towards his father, unable to hide the shock from his face. His father did not look at him.

"We need to be united against these demons. It is the only way either of our people survived the last time they surfaced." His father paused. "Alone, we stand no chance against their forces."

The Moruga leader nodded. Xander's head began to swirl as he scanned the room. His eyes landed on the female warrior, her deep brown eyes locked on to his. Slowly, a wicked smile formed on her face.

Xander realized his father had sent him to die.