The Lycanwolf

President Andrews

Jane had spent most of the afternoon in Colville and had found a few more enterprises that she was interested in for one thing or another. The day had been pleasantly promising, as she had the contract for the SteelWorks, and knew that the 3,000 acres with it would be a great boon for the Smith's in the Pack. She looked over the current operations and immediately saw areas for improvement, and further investment to increase the human workforce to what it had previously been.

She had just finished her dinner and walked into her office when her computer started Chirping. She walked over to it, and turned the monitor on to a call from President Andrews. She clicked accept and waited for the secure connection to be established.

"Hello President Andrews, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Jane asked genuinely shocked.

"Well it's not often a person receives 2 calls from me in two days. But a birdie tells me that your Pack is planning a major expansion, and has made offers on a lot of properties to expand your defensive perimeter. Rumors of a joint effort with the city of Colville also abound." President Jackson Andrews said coyly. "You wouldn't be thinking of starting a war would you?"

"Starting one, no. Preparing for what I believe is to come, Yes." she said. "Sounds like Mr. Miller isn't as independent in his defensive actions as I believed."

"No, he is not. However your proposal brings an interesting merit to it. We will also approve of all of your Economic measures, and the pack expansions. But we will have to iron out a few particulars on the fence that is being proposed. That will of course be in a few days once this Conclave concludes, Luna, I have two feelings when it comes to you and always have.

"First you are going to complicate my life, and I have a very strong feeling about this. Second, you are bound to do great things. I don't think there has ever been a historian that is so well prepared for when that history comes back to life." Andrews told her honestly.

"Well, I will let history decide how great the things I do are, for now my only interest is saving my people from what I fear is on the Horizon." Jane told him.

"You truly believe war is on the horizon?" he asked somber.

"I believe Zeus himself will be marching for war, and that if we do not prepare now, quickly. We will be caught unprepared and separate we fall. If we do not set aside our differences and join together, I fear our realm will be wiped clean by those in higher power." Jane said referencing the old Olympian Gods.

It was a history President Andrews knew all to well, although he couldn't read the language as she could. "Ms Esvolt, what do you know of Magic?" Jackson Andrews asked her.

"Enough that my school will begin teaching it, and my warriors have begun training in its use as well when they are capable." Jane said as he nodded.

"Well, I must tell you that my feeling is you are correct. The Blood Moon is definitely an ill omen of what the future holds. Ms Esvolt, we will speak again at the Conclave. Let us see what you can convince my general of." he said terminating the call.

A minute later she received 38 emails that her offers were approved, and that there was paperwork for a section of the wildlife preserve that would complete their border perimeter fence. She was shocked at how quickly that had been done, as every one of her proposals to the humans was approved, other than the fence.

She smiled at what she thought her pack would think when their lands suddenly expanded by 500,000 acres and the perimeter would now cover a total of 20,000,000 acres. It would be a hard feat to cover right now, but she didn't plan it yet. She knew the humans would take the section that controlled the flow of traffic in and out of the territory.

A few minutes later she received an email from Mayor Miller, he was inviting her to the City Council meeting that was to be held. She replied she would be there, and refined a few of the plans with the addition of the acreage from the wildlife preserve.

The next morning she called a Council Meeting, and was surprised when they were all there within a few minutes. It was 0900 and the conference room table was filled to capacity with the Elders Council and the Ranked Members.

"Morning all, we had an interesting night last night." Jane said as she powered on the projector. The map showed the state of the pack as it now sat, as she had finalized all the contracts last night. "All of our proposals for land were approved, and thanks to President Andrews, the 1.3 million acres that would have separated the wall has been included in our expansion."

There was a murmur of approval around the table as this news had not been expected for several weeks, and none of them had even known about the Wildlife preserve being an option.

"There is also another issue we must decide this morning. I proposed a mutual defense wall with the Mayor of Colville, and the City Council has invited me to attend. Brian, select a Elite Warrior and we will be attending at 1800 tonight. Best dress." she said.

"What would the purpose of the wall be?" Councilor Gretchen asked.

"A good part of our survival depends on the wolves that live within this outer perimeter, as well as the human city." she said changing the slide that showed the properties they had purchased to make it possible. "Did you know that 60 percent of our supplies come from Human Distributors?" she asked them all.

She looked around and saw the shock on most of their faces. "What exactly are you proposing?" Councilor Jon asked her.

"We protect what is ours, we bring the industries we need to survive separate from the world. If the war I think is coming arrives, we need to be prepared to survive at all costs. Unfortunately that means we will need the help of the humans in their nearby settlement." she said and the councilors nodded at her wisdom.

Even if a war did not erupt, the new strategy would ensure that they were almost untouchable. They would make money from the export of the additional goods, and if they were ever cut off they would be able to wage a war far more superior to even the strongest pack or clan. Even the most naive among them knew that this would benefit the Dragonian Pack, as well as the Human Settlement of Colville.

"What is the judgement of this council?" Jon asked and looked around the table. Each of the 13 Councilors nodded in approval. "Very well Luna Esvolt, you have the approval of this council to proceed. Ensure we are kept apprised of any situation that might occur." Jon said as they all stood. They all bowed to her before leaving the room.

At 1800 hours exact Jane, Brian and Trevor walked into the Colville City Council Hall. The 9 members that made up the board that sat behind Mayor Miller, and somehow they all looked related to her.

"This Emergency Meeting is hereby called to order. We are honored that Luna Jane Esvolt of the Dragonian Pack has agreed to our invitation. It is your proposal that has made the necessity of this meeting." Brian Miller said as he sat there looking at her.

"Luna, we understand that you are asking to join in a mutual defense endeavor?" Chairwoman Jacqueline Ingard asked.

"Yes ma'am, with the recent developments we believe a great conflict will be facing us. It is our wish to confront this threat, and the assistance and cooperation of your town would benefit each of our peoples." Jane answered.

"Yes, it has long been the cooperation between your Pack and our Clan that has brought prosperity. However you think are interests are enough to join our defenses together?" Brian Atwood asked from the right.

His statement brought the situation into clear relief, as she realized this was a Clan Meeting. "Yes sir I do, currently 60 percent of our supplies come from your distribution center. With that, we supply nearly 70 percent of the labor force in the settlement." Jane said of their mutual interests. "There are only a few miles that separate our Pack and Clan, without each other neither of us would have prospered as well as we have. But with the threat that will be upon us, I fear separate we will not survive." she told them bluntly of her assessment.

A few of the Clan Council nodded in agreement, all of them knowing that the blood moons did not occur often. And they all remembered the stories of the Titan Wars as most of them were mages as well. They had felt the return of magic, and knew that was another bad omen.

"What would our agreement exactly be?" one of them asked.

"We will help build the perimeter wall, and it will be manned however we can agree to. As I told Mayor Miller, we will leave control of the entrances to and from town to your control. Patrol Schedules can be made for separate sectors that each of us control, or we can combine the patrols across the entire wall. We will accept whatever terms you feel comfortable with." Jane answered for him.

They all turned their microphones off, and joined in a conversation that Brian had to stand and join. They talked for several minutes, and she was sure it was about the kind of relationship they wanted.

They all finally returned to their seats, and Chairwoman Jacqueline Ingard turned her microphone back on. "Ms. Esvolt, we understand the Pack will begin construction of a new Academy?" she asked.

"We have begun the planning stages and have been purchasing land just for that purpose." she answered a little surprised they knew that already.

"What if we offered to expand this from a mutual defense pact, to a Shared Interests Pact?" She asked being vague.

"We would entertain the notion. What would your proposal be?" Jane asked.

"If we are to maintain the defense of this wall together, it makes sense that our young warriors train together, and our warriors in general. We have noticed as you said our interests are more closely aligned than we realized, and a pact that benefits both of us would be for our Pack and Clan to join forces." Chairwoman Ingrid said to nods of approval from the Clan Council.

"I will need to adjust the location of the school, and we will have to come together to make it a reality. But if each of us commit to a combined future that protects Man and Wolf alike, we believe we will survive anything." Jane said.

"We will need to have many more meetings to iron out all of the details." Councilor Michaels said from his seat.

"May I suggest we hold the next combined meeting at the Pack?" Brian suggested. There was some clear apprehension from several of the Councilors of the Human Clan.

"Clan Ingard would be honored to attend the next Council Meeting in the Pack Chambers. 1 week from now." Chairwoman Ingard said slamming her gavel. She knew there would be several more meetings of the council before that meeting occured. Just as Jane would.