Dragon's Wolf

Maps and Eyes

Aeriella's POV

I could feel the unease that the other dragons emitted when I walked purposely into the center of the village where a broad, stout hut stood. Opening the door I found one of my old officers, a retired male who seemed to have packed on the pounds since he was stationed here ten years ago. Last time I'd come to the holding village was with my father, and that was when he was teaching me how to work with others who didn't know my status. 

The old man smiled at me and greeted me with what started out as a hug but ended as a handshake, "Ma'am I didn't know you were comin' today or I woulda prepared somethin' for ya."

Waving my hand I shook my head, "No need, where's the reports from the most recent refugees?"

"Right this way m'lady." He walked into the filing room where the walls were lined with drawers from top to bottom filled with old and new files going back to the creation of the village by my great, great grandfather. He opened three drawers titled with dates, "Right here are the ones from the past two years. Mostly young 'uns lookin for places to stay temporarily at first, but 'bout half way through last year we got an influx of juveniles and old dragons who shoulda been set on their territory. Most of them are from the Western Tribe's bordering dragon lands but some are nomadic dragons that drift through west of the Mississippi to the coast."

"What about the south, near the Caribbean?" 

He sighed and scratched his head, "Seems Florida's been cleared out too moving up into Georgia. So far they're all sayin its the big Tribes doin the dirty work but they aren't even trying to occupy the land in ways of settlin it."

Frowning I looked to the world map that was hanging on the wall and mentally marked where they'd been taking territories. This doesn't make sense, they're infringing on the other shifter's lands that we'd sworn not to touch. The nomadic dragons didn't have a set territory so they were allowed to stay there, but the tribes swore never to take that land since we already had enough of it. 

I can understand the Westerns wanting it because they've always had a size complex regarding land, but the Caribbeans make no sense. Those dragons are mainly aquatic dragons with no interest in land other than their islands where they nest, breed, and raise young till they could swim. 

Aaron's voice jumped me from my thoughts, "Isn't it just gearing up for war?"

When I frowned knowing I was thinking the same thing he sighed and gestured to the map, "Look at it this way, why would they want land they know they're not going to use? It's a bartering chip to use against the tribes who don't want to go to war with all the other weres, and if they don't barter and start fighting with them then there's the war they want. Either way it's a way of egging you on and forcing your hand to act. If they piss you off enough they'll have reason to try to take your power away."

Nodding impressed with the way he spoke of it and the quickness of his conclusions I leaned back against the cabinets, "So what's pissing the other weres off other than encroaching on their land? I can understand that, but the dragons and all other shifters all know that territory only extends to those of the same species. Different species territories commonly overlap and its their job to work together for the sake of the land. If not then the United Species Land Alliance will act and punish the perpetrators." 

Aaron began laughing but when he looked in my eyes he stopped, "You man you really didn't know? That council is just a load of crap, they don't enforce any of their so called preaching. They just sit around and get paid off by the highest bidder before turning a blind eye to it. Those Western Tribe guys are famous for running out weres or making life hell for them. There's been numerous complaints issued to the council but they've never acted on it despite being clearly in violation of the rules." 

Aaron's POV

She seemed to be taken aback by what I'd said, but nonetheless it was true. The council had never once acted on the other were's behalf in the past ten years, and everyone except the dragons seemed to know it. Word has it there was only one shifter that had kept the council in line, but no one knows who he was and everyone assumes he's now dead since they'd been slacking off. 

Me, on the other hand, I'd met a councilmen once and he'd completely rubbed me the wrong way. I was sixteen at the time and that fat, pompous man thought that his shit don't stink made me not like the entire council at all. I know it's shallow, but they all seem to be the same to me even now. 

I've just watched too many packs get pushed around by them and luckily my brother and me never let it happen to ours, but a lot of the packs the next state over had been run out or beaten down by them. Us and the surrounding packs had gotten a lot of new members from that area who'd been driven out of the area by dragons.

It hit me. I'd not liked dragons, but why? I suddenly love them now but that's probably because my mate is a dragon. My beautiful, wonderful, lovely little mate... I felt myself slowly grin and blinked to find her snapping her fingers at me. Her beautiful blue eyes looked serious and short, "Hey, this isn't something to be smiling about. Did you figure something out?"

I shrugged, "Only that you are the most beautiful girl in the world."

She rolled her eyes and turned back to the map, "I know I am, now enough of that. We need to get serious and fast before war really strikes."

Gently turning her chin towards me with my forefingers I looked her in the eye, "I am serious."

I don't know why I had to make that point clear to her, but I did and she paused for a minute looking me in the eye in return. Aeriella seemed to melt then solidify all in those azure eyes for a few moments before that old man cleared his throat, "Should I give ya two a minute?"

I tore my eyes away from her and shook my head, "No, now what were we on?"

He eyed me suspiciously, "The invasion if they happened to invade."

Raising an eyebrow I resisted shaking my head. There's no way that they'll invade this early in the game unless they just wanted to waste the energy they spent kicking the surrounding dragons out of their territories. No, they'll wait and put pressure on this place like they did with the other tribes, packs, clans, herds, and families before they attack. If anything this is probably the most secure place to be from them other than the Eastern Tribe which I hear is more lax and less militant than this one.

It seems that my lovely little mate was able to pick up on what I'm thinking presumably through our pack -mate- link which is still unusually fuzzy for a mate bond. I wonder why? Is it because we're two different species? If so, I've heard that it works from other cross species mates. Hm...

A hand slapped the back of my head, "Get it together fuzzy."

Did Aeriella just call me fuzzy?

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A/N

Sorry this one took me forever to post, school just got crazy and my life is suddenly eat, sleep, school, homework, repeat. I'll try to get the next one up sooner! As always, comment if anything pops into your head while reading or what you think should happen next, I'm always open to ideas!