Minx faltered, shaking her head. No... I don't want to do it. What would Kaleb think?
Kaleb didn't promise to save his people by bringing home an enemy's hide, did he? was the Faelyr's rejoinder. I understand why he's uneasy at the prospect of us hunting his fellow dragons, but we don't have a choice. It's either this dragon's life or the Fae!
Sure, replied Minx, but what about the Talon Range guard? Kaleb is going to ask some of his friends to assist us against Valry. If we slay this dragon, it might ruin our chances to win them over and forge an alliance.
Mau wasn't buying it. You act like this alliance is a done deal. They may just laugh Kaleb out of the room for asking such a favor. We don't have the time to wait and see if the dragons of the Talon Range are willing to team up with us. We can't rely on their loyalty. But we can rely on your bow, can't we?
Minx was torn. The beast just ahead of them promised relief for her people. A well-placed arrow could solve many of her problems. That same arrow might destroy her relationship with Kaleb, though, and make it impossible to seek the aid of other dragons in defeating Valry's forces. She nocked an arrow and raised her bow, taking aim and trying to weigh her odds of success. If I were to fire from here, I could possibly strike one of its weak spots. But if I miss, the noise of the battle will surely wake up Kaleb. He'll realize what's happening and—
She startled as her bow was torn viciously from her grasp. Kaleb had emerged, stone-faced, from the camp, and had caught her in the act. “What do you think you're doing, Minx?”
The Fae huntress was stunned into silence. She couldn't hope to explain herself—she'd been caught red-handed and was filled with shame.
“How many times have we been through this? Didn't I promise you my help? Didn't I say we could work this out another way? I'm willing to call upon my friends. Isn't that good enough?” The fury in his eyes gave way to plain disappointment—and somehow, that wounded Minx more deeply. “What were you thinking?”
Her eyes scanned the ground. “I... I'm sorry, Kaleb. I didn't... I didn't want to do it, but...” She threw her hands up. “There's no more time! I just thought that, you know... maybe I should take the shot. I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. I don't want to kill a dragon—believe me. But if I don't, my people won't survive! Wouldn't you do the same thing? Wouldn't the death of a single dragon be worth the survival of my people? That's what I'm trying to get through to you. This is bigger than just a single dragon. The Fae will be wiped out unless I do my duty!”
He shook his head in disgust. “We've already come up with a plan. This is unnecessary and you know it. It's barbarism, plain and simple. I care as much about my people as you care about yours, and I'm not keen on sacrificing one of them for your cause. And what's more, if you do this, no other dragon will ever bother to trust you again. All you'll be doing is continuing the cycle of hate and violence between our kinds.”
It was true; though her desire to help her people remained, she couldn't stand herself for nearly having gone through with it. “I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry.” Minx looked up at him pleadingly, eyes dampening. “I mean it.” She tugged at the glowing bracelets on her arms, slipping them off her wrists. “Here,” she said, pressing them into his hands. “Take them. I don't need them anymore.”
Kaleb studied the bracelets for a time, then nodded. “You sure?”
“Yeah,” replied Minx. “If I'm not hunting dragons, I have no use for them. We're going to do this your way.”
“Fine.” Kaleb motioned to the dragon in the distance. “If it's all right with you, I'm going to go have a chat with this friend of ours. Maybe he'll be able to pass on a message to the Talon Range guard, since I'm not ready to fly yet. You and Mau should go back to the camp.”
Minx and the Faelyr did as they were told, returning to the fire as Kaleb set about meeting the other dragon. I shouldn't have listened to you. This is the better way to handle things. The Fae huntress dropped her bow onto the grass and took a seat on a fallen log. Kaleb is right.
For the sake of the Fae—not to mention all of Pan and Heilo Lake—I certainly hope you're right. The Faelyr yawned, giving her paws a momentary stretch and baring her claws. I never thought I'd see the day when our very own Dragon Hunter would be the one siding with dragons.
Minx chuckled. Trust me, no one's more surprised than I am. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Teaming up with Kaleb and his friends is the best shot we have.
It'll be wonderful if these Talon Range dragons are as optimistic as you are. Mau lowered her head atop her paws and returned to her catnap.
Eventually, Kaleb meandered back to camp. Compared to earlier in the day, he looked more or less like his normal self. His breathing was a little more labored and his step had something of a limp to it, but his complexion had improved over the
