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

          “They appeared to be partying and

         “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

Yolanda couldn’t believe how complex this had come. From a severed arm to a fairy invasion. “I left the dragons

     “No. We’ll try that as a last resort. I don’t want them questioning what their

      “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

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

“David worried the shining ones might insult one another. Then seek revenge

Fianna will arrive in a matter of hours. The mages are present. They’re setting up portals

     “I’ll go find

and supply them. The worst thing would be they complain about how she’s running it. That wouldn’t be unheard of. Or

  “That’s fine for now. I still want to

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

          Gregory looked at the other two men. They both shook their heads no. “For now. No. Though

      “Great. Just what I need. My mate getting scared

               “Relax he’s comported himself so

            “What? Why

          “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

      “Well, I’m glad to hear that.

         “We’d do what we always do. Try to make it work out. You know we wouldn’t abandon

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