Alara, in complete rapport with Jacard, saw through his eyes, though she sat in a meditative position on a mountain several miles away.

Jacard noticed two unknown wolves approaching the area. He attempted to keep his position with the sun behind him. The recent additions made it more strenuous since their distances place them at different angles. I don’t know how long I can stay in this position. Hovering is a lot harder than flying. It required me to use my wings more. The wing muscles on my back are getting sore.

Jacard, why not just come home?

Something is going on here. I have to drop further. The wolves may be the same pack as Elef and Hightower.

As if Jacard had called them, he heard a distant voice.

Hightower mind spoke. Jacard? I can barely hear you. Is that you?

Jacard, where buddy? Where are you? Elef joined the conversation.

Jacard closed his eyes for a moment.

Alara recited a spell.

When Jacard opened his eyes, he saw much further. Thanks, Hon.

Hightower laughed. I like you, Jacard, but calling me your honey is going too far.

Sorry, that was for Alara. Juggling telepathic conversations is difficult.

Hightower, Elef, and Daniel, along with a few other wolves Jacard was not familiar with, arrived. They acknowledged the other two already here.

Alara, I am going down. It is the pack. Jacard quit hovering and floated down to the small group.
They shifted to their human form. A good sign of trust.

When Jacard landed, he heard an unfamiliar voice in his head. It was faint. He had to concentrate to hear it.
Damn. What the hell are they doing here?

Jacard didn’t know who said it, but he assumed it was one of the original wolves.

Elef ran forward as if to give a hug and then paused. “Dude, you have… wings? When did this happen? Awesome.” He walked around Jacard as if inspecting a car he was about to purchase. “And Talons?” He leaned in and peered at his face. “Scales? Man, you have changed. And you wanted to be a wolf? Wow. Can we change places?” He grinned, smiled, and laughed.

Jacard moved in for a hug, spread his wings, and encircled him with them. “It is good to see you too, my friend.”

The freshlings were getting closer. They were running towards them now.

Hightower plated his legs wide and his nostrils flared. “Get ready to take these things out.”

Jacard said, “Hightower, we should subdue them and find out what happened to them. Who turned them?”

Without warning, another vampire appeared. “I did.” She wore a black skintight jumpsuit and smelled of rotting meat. She was not a freshling.

Alara was concerned. Jacard, be careful. I didn’t sense her until the last moment.

The white wolf, in human form, said, “This is Vocair. She works for Dista.” Damn that young woman, she is going to spoil everything.

Jacard realized he was the wolf he had detected earlier. Why couldn’t the others receive him?

*

Fixier was fuming inside.

Hubaire mind spoke to his father. The other wolves could not hear their communication. Hubaire was not from their pack, and Fixier could block them. They did not know that Jacard could hear their discussion. How did they find out? This is bad. You realize Vocair will report everything back to Dista.

Fixier introduced himself and his son. “Jacard, is it? My son is not in the pack, but I am Fixier, a new edition.”

Several of the wolves’ eyes widened. He had never told them of his boy. There would be questions later. He looked at Jacard like he wanted to eat him.

Uh, Dad. The fresh-lings? They are our focus. Did you not say you were trying to change? Killing something to take its skin is not the ‘New’ Fixier way.

Fixer sighed. His son was right. “We need to take these freshlings out. We do not have time to discuss.”

*

Fixier was correct, but Jacard didn’t like it. Why had this Vocair turned so many? Where did she…? Vocair was nowhere to be seen. What is this Fixier’s problem? Did his son insinuate Fixier wants to kill me for my skin?

The freshlings were upon them.