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We've FINALLY reached the end of Chapter 13. 14 is gonna be an eventful chapter, where all the little pieces of the story, all the plot elements, finally start coming together.

Chapter 13: Fallen Angel, Part 4

Daniel shoved the main door open with his head. He couldn’t fit his entire body through, but…

“Danny!” a familiar voice called out to him. A second later, a tiny Kitsune nuzzled up against his left foreleg.

He nuzzled Jess gently, happy to see her again. His mind, however, was racing. Jack was telling the truth, they really WERE here, but why did Shorak let them go? Ryder was sitting in a chair near the door, drinking from a water bottle. He was trembling and not saying much. He also wasn’t making eye contact with anyone, even Daniel.

Daniel pushed Jess back gently. “Why’d Shorak let you go? Did he change his mind about holding you for ransom? Where’s Claire and Ben?”

Her smile faded and she looked away. “I…” she started hesitantly, haltingly. “They’re…”

Her reaction spoke volumes and Daniel realized they WEREN’T released. “You escaped?” She nodded slowly after a short pause. “How’d you get past Silver and the rest of the Iron Talons?”

“We had help. Hiro helped us out, as well as another familiar named Skye.”

Skye...Daniel searched his memories but couldn’t remember anyone named Skye, familiar or otherwise. “What type of familiar was he?”

“I don’t know. He LOOKED like a pigeon.”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat and he drew a sharp breath. He took an involuntary step back, accidentally banging into the doorframe on his right.

“He saved us,” she quickly said. “I don’t know why, but he helped us. We wouldn’t have made it without him.”

“A pigeon-like familiar…” Jack suddenly said quietly, shaking his head. He’d been watching the reunion silently up to this point. “Why, by Garmr’s Gates, would one of Siren’s pet Shrieker Pigeons help you? He doesn’t ‘help people'; he uses people. If one of his familiars aided your escape, it’s because it helped their master in some way.”

“I...I don’t know.”

Shriekers...Daniel had seen the little monsters before. Siren set them loose on those police officers the night before. The thought of one of them ‘helping’ someone...he just couldn’t see it. He could still hear their screams in his head, both the humans’ and the pigeons’.

“Are Claire and Ben alright?” he asked.

Her expression fell further. “I don’t know. But Claire’s really, REALLY sick. Last time I saw her, she could barely move. Razur said she’s dying.”

So, Claire WAS getting worse. They HAD TO get her out of there. “Did Razur take her to a hospital yet?”

She shook her head. “No, Shorak won’t let him. That’s why I had to come find you, to get her help. Please, we have to rescue her!”

Daniel’s anger peaked at these words. He withdrew his head and turned to walk away.

“And where exactly are you going, Daniel?” Jack called after him.

“I’m going to get my friend back,” Daniel answered with a growl. He quickly spread his wings. “I won’t let Shorak kill her just to make a point. He’s gone too far this time.”

His things were up on the roof, near where he slept. He hadn’t had the chance to put them back on yet. He checked that everything was in the backpack, then re-attached the leg-strap to his foreleg. He had just picked up the bandolier and was deciding whether or not to take it when Jack walked out onto the rooftop. He ignored the man and set the large belt aside.

“You challenge Shorak and you’ll end up either dead or beaten to a pulp,” Jack said, drawing the Gryphon’s gaze. “HE has centuries of experience; YOU have less than a month. I agree that he’s taken this too far, but if we rush into this without a plan, everything will fall apart. You’re not gonna do Claire any favors by getting yourself killed.”

Daniel hesitated. He hated it when Jack started talking more sense than he did, especially that day. “DO you have a plan, then?”

Jack nodded. “Thanks to Ethan, we do. Command still refuses Shorak’s offer, but the Silver Claw can provide the supplies instead. Providing Shorak hands over Claire before that, he’ll get enough food and clean water to sustain his group for another 3 months. It’s an offer he can’t refuse. What happens after that is need-to-know, though Brocke is being very helpful in that matter.”

Need-to-know...classified...Daniel was liking those terms less and less. First, they refused Shorak’s offer and now Jack was siding with the Silver Claw? ‘Hypocrite’ was sounding more and more like a good description of him. Despite that, though, it sounded more or less like a solid plan.

He nodded. “When will we go back to talk with Shorak?”

“Tomorrow morning, bright and early. I suggest you get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

He had trouble falling asleep after that, mind racing and considering exactly what would happen tomorrow. His gaze was turned toward the south. Shorak...what the hell was he thinking?

"Good evening, Avery,” a familiar voice suddenly said behind him. He tensed instinctively as he turned, claws gripping, beak opening slightly. Ethan was walking out of the stairwell. There was an object wrapped in plastic clutched in his hands.

“What do you want, Ethan?”

Ethan sighed, shaking his head. “Avery...I know we’ve had our differences in the past, and we BOTH have good reasons to hate each other. However, I want to make it up to you, at least in part.” He started to unwrap the package he was holding.

Daniel watched curiously. He couldn’t deny that he was interested in what it was. “What is that?”

“It's a gift from me to you.” The wrapping fell to the ground and Ethan held out a…

“A DOG COLLAR?!?” Daniel hissed in anger, shaking his head. “So, you wanna insult me now, too?”

“I know it LOOKS like a dog collar,” the man reassured him, “but it’s not one. In fact, it took me a LOT of work to make this device. I wanted to make it look unassuming, something people wouldn’t find strange- or odd-looking.” He unlooped the ‘belt’ part of the collar. “Have you ever heard of form-changing clothing?”

Daniel thought for a moment, searching his knowledge of magical devices. “Yeah, they’re worn by humanoid Mystics. They change shape to match the form of the wearer.”

Ethan nodded in the affirmative. “Many shapeshifters also wear them. This collar was based on that concept, though it’s much, MUCH more complex than the standard stuff.” He fiddled with it for several seconds and pulled a tiny rose quartz crystal out of the leather that made up the collar. “Whenever you use a veil or change into a human by other means, these crystals will materialize clothing on your person automatically. Then, when you resume your Gryphon form, they’ll automatically store the clothing as energy. Conversion is an interesting field of magical research.” He returned the crystal to its spot in the accessory.

Daniel examined the collar with newfound curiosity. That kind of a device...it’d be invaluable to him, especially if he could figure out how he changed forms earlier. He was, however, skeptical. “And you’re just gonna...GIVE this to me, just like that?”

Ethan shrugged. “Call it an apology, call it a peace offering...heck, call it whatever you like, but it’s yours. No strings attached, I promise.” He lifted the collar and slowly approached the young Royal.

Daniel hesitated for a few seconds, then lowered his head so that Ethan could put the collar on him. It was too small, but as the leather made contact with his feathers, it started to grow and lengthen. By the time it stopped, it was a perfect fit, settling comfortably around his neck near his shoulders. Not too loose, not too snug, just right. Ethan looped the belt into place and stepped back.

“Also, there’s something else, something that was a LOT harder to get right but you’ll LOVE.” The man cleared his throat. “Magenta 12.”

As he said this, the collar started to glow bright yellow and vibrate. Something expanded out of the collar and encased Daniel's torso. After about 4 or 5 seconds, Danny found himself wearing a leather breastplate. It was light-weight, form-fitting, and had large, cushioned holes in the back for his wings. He spread his wings and flapped a few times to make sure he still had full range of movement. It felt exactly the same; there was no change in his wing movements.

“That leather is light-weight, but it can also stop a bullet,” Ethan continued. “It took a long time to get all the enchantments right and I went through 8 prototypes in the process. The clothing looks and feels like normal fabric, but it’ll be like wearing a kevlar vest without all that weight. Oh, and one more thing: you remember the trigger phrase I used a minute ago? Repeat it so that the device will react to YOUR voice and no one else’s. I made an adjustment for voice activation after learning you can talk, which is why I didn’t give it to you sooner.”

Daniel nodded and said, “Magenta 12.” The armor piece started glowing, and after a few seconds, he found himself wearing the collar again. “You really made this just for me?”

Ethan sighed and closed his eyes. “To be honest, Avery...no, actually, I didn’t. I FINISHED it for you, but I STARTED on it almost 3 months ago.”

This got Daniel curious. “Who were you making it for? And why?"

“It was gonna be for an acquaintance of mine as a Christmas present. I’d still give it to her, but…” Ethan trailed off.

Daniel suddenly realized who it was meant for. “It was Karen Thomson, wasn’t it?”

Ethan nodded sadly. “She could’ve really used it, too. She discovered her ability to shapeshift by accident and went through a small fortune in clothing before she got the hang of it. We weren’t close, but I figured it would’ve been a nice gift.”

So, Karen knew how to shapeshift too. It made sense since she was also a Descendant.

“There’s no electronics in it, so you can wash it however you want. You can swap out all of the articles of clothing EXCEPT for the shirt: the crystals are located in the shirt’s collar, made to look like fake jewelry. As long as you’re wearing the shirt when you change to Gryphon form, everything you’re wearing will be stored away. If you ever use a Creature Mystic veil or animal veil, the collar will shrink or grow to match your new size. I don't recommend turning into anything smaller than a domestic cat while wearing it, though. I'm not sure how the collar would react if you do, though it'd probably just stop shrinking after a certain point. Humanoid Mystic veils (Goblin or Tengu, for example) won't be a problem, you'll still come out of it fully-clothed just like with human veil. Oh, and whatever you do, don't lose it. It’s worthless to anyone but you now that it’s linked to you, but it’ll be virtually impossible to replace.”

Daniel nodded and reached up toward the collar with his left talon. His claws barely touched the buckle when the collar unbuckled itself, allowing him to remove it easily. He looked down at the leather collar clutched in his left talon. It was light gray and looked exactly like a dog collar at a glance, the only thing missing was a brand imprint and ID tags.

“You can also consider it an early birthday present,” Ethan suddenly said. “It’s next month, right, your 17th birthday?”

Daniel was caught by surprise by this remark. To be honest, he’d completely forgotten about his upcoming birthday. He’d had a lot on his mind lately, to say the least. “Come to think of it, it is. But how’d YOU know that?”

“Your parents told me.”

This stopped Daniel cold. “You’ve...talked with them?”

“Jack asked me to a while ago, right before you left Richmond. He figured they should be informed of where you’re going to be for the coming weeks. They’re worried about you, ya know. They’re glad you’ve found a well-paying job, but they want you to come back home.”

Daniel had conflicting emotions regarding this. He missed them too, but he didn’t know when he’d return home. Things would never be the same when he did; he’d have to figure his whole life out again. Working with Jack and Alex was something new, something he didn’t have to re-learn how to do. He would eventually return home, but it wouldn’t be for a long time. He had to REALLY figure his life out before that would be an option. “How much did you tell them about me and why I’m doing this?”

“Only the things Jack told me to tell them.” Yeah, that was about as clear as mud. “Ya know, Avery...you’ve started growing on me. We haven’t seen each other much over the past month, but I’ve heard good things about you.”

Daniel looked away, unsure of what to say. He felt a little guilty over being so rude towards Ethan when he saw him walk out onto the rooftop. “I…”

“No need for thanks,” Ethan interrupted. “Good night, Avery.” He dipped his head in farewell and turned to leave.

As the man approached the door, Daniel suddenly had a thought. “Call me Daniel.”

Ethan paused for a moment, then nodded. “If that’s what you want, I’ll call you that from now on, Daniel.” He pulled the door open and stepped through. Then, seemingly as an after-thought, he called over his shoulder, “You can sleep with the collar on, if you want to. You won’t damage it easily, much less by accident.”

As Ethan left, Daniel put the collar back around his neck. It looped itself into place and settled comfortably against his feathers.

This gift…’amazing’ didn’t even BEGIN to describe it. Every little detail was accounted for to make it easier to use: self-adjusting, easy dressing and removal, multiple forms...it was truly astounding. He couldn’t wait to see what the clothing looked like. He had to admit, this collar definitely gave him a better opinion of Ethan.

~It’ll be useful in the future.~

Daniel nodded in agreement. He’d have to…

He paused, realizing what he’d just heard. His ears pricked instinctively, going to full alert, as if he was trying to hear a distant sound. ~DA?~ No response. ~You’ve been quiet for a while now.~

DA didn’t respond and Danny stopped trying very quickly. At least DA was talking to him again, that was a start. Maybe he’d be more talkative in the morning.

Daniel lowered his head to the ground and slowly closed his eyes. He fell asleep quickly after that, glad that the long day was finally over.

Wes didn’t know if he did the right thing or not, letting the 2 of them go like that. He just couldn’t bring himself to turn them in. Maybe it was because he was sorry for them, maybe because they’d already gotten that far without getting caught, maybe it was just to spite Shorak for guilt-tripping him into staying in the Camp. He didn’t really know WHY he did it, but one way or the other, what’s done was done.

It was getting late now, probably after midnight. Ben hadn’t said a single word to ANYONE since Jess and Ryder were discovered missing. He only glared at anyone that tried questioning him. Eventually, he stopped the glaring after they blindfolded him, though he still didn’t say a word. The blindfold wasn’t necessary since he would’ve taken dulling agent WITHOUT having to be force-fed it, but Shorak wasn’t taking any chances anymore. There were now 3 guards watching the young Basilisk at any given time: 2 outside the door, 1 inside the room itself. The loose wall panel had finally been welded into place, a deed Weston carried out himself with Dragon fire. He would’ve refused the order, but Shorak already looked ready to tear someone’s head off given the faintest excuse.

Currently, Wes was on guard duty inside the room. The shift would rotate every 2 hours and his time was nearly up.

“Come on, Ben,” he tried again, futilely. “Say something. ANYTHING.”

He received no response. Ben looked like he was asleep, but Wes could tell from the patterns of his breathing that he was awake. The former was curled up in a ball with his head turned directly away from Wes. Claire had been permanently moved to the infirmary so that Sinar could keep an eye on her. She was too sick to try anything, though a single guard was stationed nearby just in case.

Wes sighed, shaking his head. This one-sided conversation was going nowhere fast, and he was running out of time. He figured he might as well try a different angle. “Between you and me, I’m glad they got away.”

For the first time, Ben actually DID react. It was subtle and Wes almost missed it: his muscles tensed and his middle pair of paws twitched. He didn’t say anything, though.

“Look, Ben…” Wes continued. “I don’t like what Shorak is doing any more than you do, but we’re getting desperate here. We have less than a month’s worth of supplies here for all of us, and that’s only if we start rationing soon - VERY soon. If you were to start cooperating with us, I could talk with Shorak and-”

“Let Claire go.”

Wes paused, surprised to hear the young Basilisk’s voice for the first time in almost 5 hours. “What?”

Ben finally rolled over to face the Blue Dragon. He was still blindfolded and a thick, brown leather muzzle muffled his speech. “Let Claire go or take her to a hospital and I’ll do whatever you want me to do. She doesn’t deserve what you’re doing to her.”

Ben was right, Claire DIDN’T deserve this - and neither did he.

“Please, just cooperate with us and I’m sure Shorak will compromise. Just tell him what he wants to know.”

Ben didn’t answer and turned away again.

Wes swore under his breath. He was absolutely certain Ben DIDN’T know who tried to kill Silver, but he was being stubborn and refused to answer any questions. Seriously, all it would've taken was him saying he didn't know.

Silver was currently in a very bad state. Thanks to Razur, the wolf would survive, but his attacker destroyed half his face. The wound looked like part of his face had been cut off with a sword. Shorak wanted the culprit’s head on a spike. Without clues, though, they had no idea who or what to look for. It obviously wasn’t an accident, either. Anyone could see that it was deliberate.

Suddenly, the door opened and Tork walked in. “Your shift’s over. I’ll take over from here, Weston.”

Wes reluctantly nodded and got up to leave. He paused and said to Ben, “Good night, Ben.” He received no response and left with a sigh.

He considered going straight to bed, but he figured he might as well check in on Claire first.

A brown Gryphon was guarding the entrance to the infirmary. He received a stiff nod from the avian as he walked through the door. Claire was fast asleep on one of the cots. Physically, she LOOKED healthy, but she was asleep more often than not and didn’t say much while awake. Silver, he noticed, wasn’t around. Last time he was here, the wolf was being treated just outside the door. He must’ve been moved. Sinar had stepped out.

He walked up to the bed and nudged her gently. She blinked open her eyes and smiled up at him. “How’re you feeling?” he asked softly.

“Terrible. Where’re Jess and Ryder?”

“They made it out.” His volume dropped. “This isn’t right. You NEED help.”

She shook her head. “I’m just...glad they’re alright.” She fell silent after that and closed her eyes.

Wes shook his head and walked out. It was getting late. He needed to get some sleep.

As he rounded a corner and his living quarters came into view, he stopped dead in his tracks. He could see the glaring, golden eyes and gray-blue feathers from here. The fact that Shorak was LYING IN FRONT OF HIS DOOR made it clear he wasn’t there by coincidence.

Wes sighed and continued walking. Time to face the music, it seemed. “Shorak, I…”

“Where’s Silver?” Shorak cut him off.

Wes paused, confused. That was one question he DIDN’T expect. “What?”

“Silver disappeared over an hour ago. No one saw him leave or where he went.”

Wes chuckled, shaking his head. “That wolf stands at 7’4”. Don’t tell me you’ve MISPLACED him.”

He stepped forward to try and maneuver around Shorak. Faster than Wes could blink, the old Royal lunged at him.

Wes gasped, clawing futilely as Shorak pinned him down by the throat. He wouldn't realize it until later, but the claws gripping his neck were glowing green. The latter snarled at him, beak open threateningly, “Do NOT test me, Weston. I know you helped them escape!”

Wes hesitated, then his expression hardened. “I regret NOTHING. What you’re doing is WRONG! Claire is dying and you don’t give a fuck!”

Suddenly, Shorak’s grip tightened, cutting off the Blue Dragon’s air supply. Wes’ vision started to fail and trickles of blood leaked out between the Royal’s claws. He pawed weakly at Shorak's leg, even kicked with his hind-legs, but to no avail. The Gryphon lowered his beak near Wes’ left ear-hole and hissed, low and dangerous, “YOU attacked Silver.”

Wes barely heard the words at that point, fading in and out of consciousness, but what he heard didn’t make sense. He didn’t…

Suddenly, Shorak hurled him aside into a nearby wall. Wes choked down air, massaging his bleeding neck.

“Pack whatever belongings you have and get out. You’re no longer a part of the Iron Talons.”

Wes hesitated, still crumpled on the ground. “What? I didn’t attack him, though!”

“You’ve already confessed. There’s no point in lying about it now. You have 1 hour, then I’d better never see you again. You used to be my friend, and that’s the only reason I’m not killing you.” Wes didn't see it, but there were tears in the old Gryphon's eyes as he said this and walked away.

Wes lay there silently for a long time after Shorak left, still confused. And now, above all else, he was afraid.

Daniel awoke early the next morning, refreshed and re-energized. He stretched all 7 of his limbs as he stood up, basking in the early-morning sunlight. It was a beautiful morning, the beginning of a new day.

He looked over the edge of the rooftop. The parking lot was mostly empty of people, though he could see Alex leaning against a patrol car in human form. He looked worried about something, deep in thought and arms crossed. He looked up as Daniel landed nearby.

“Morning, Daniel,” he greeted. “We…” He paused, looking curiously at Daniel’s neck. “What’s with the new accessory?”

“A gift from Ethan. He gave it to me last night.”

“You do realize that’s a dog collar, right? Any natural-born Gryphon would’ve been offended by that. Heck, I would’ve been offended by that.”

Daniel nodded. “Doesn’t bother me.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever, I’m not the one wearing it.” He nodded towards the main entrance. “Jack’s not even awake yet, so we’ve probably got 3 or 4 hours before we leave.”

Today was the day, the day they’d get Claire the help she needed. 3 months’ worth of food and water and all Shorak had to do to get it was hand Claire over first. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. It seemed like an unfair trade, all those supplies for 1 hostage, but Daniel didn’t question it at the time.

He’d eventually come to regret that.

Alex had returned to his reverie, looking worried about something.

“Something wrong?”

He sighed, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. I just want to meet with Shorak and be done with it.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get Ben back too, just not today.”

Alex’s expression grew pained and he grimaced. “Yeah...yeah, of course we will.” He fell silent after that, and for just a second, Danny thought he sounded uncertain.

Daniel’s mind wandered after that and eventually fell on Jack’s identity. That Scryer...red fur...Jack COULDN’T be a Fire Fox, could he? That would explain a LOT, but...

His ears pricked as he heard a bird land nearby. Phillip had landed on the car Alex was leaning against. The sight of the Augurey gave him an idea and he trilled to get Phillip’s attention.

Alex looked up. “What’s up?”

Another short signal and Daniel nodded at the police station roof. Phillip nodded as well and went to meet him up there.

“I need to talk with Phillip privately,” he said to Alex. “I’ll just be a minute or 2.” He took flight and headed for the roof.

Phillip was waiting for him there, looking at him expectantly. “I need a favor,” he said quietly. The Augurey cocked his head at him. Right, he’d need a veil to talk to him.

Daniel reached into the compartment attached to his leg and withdrew a human veil. Time to see if this collar REALLY worked. It’d last 2 hours, so he’d be back in Gryphon form before they left.

He downed the potion and the changes started quickly. It was painful, though not nearly as much as the first time he took a veil. Within a minute, he was human again.

He looked down at himself, surprised to find himself fully dressed. To be honest, he’d had his doubts in the back of his mind, even if he didn’t voice them. He was wearing blue jeans, a green T-shirt, black shoes, white socks and boxers. It was all there, as Ethan promised, and it all fit him perfectly. The collar really DID work! Phillip was staring open-beaked at him.

“I’ll explain later,” Daniel told him. “Right now, though, I need to ask a favor. I need you to ‘borrow’ something from someone for me.”

Phillip’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I promise I'll PERSONALLY return it to him when I’m done with it,” Danny reassured him. “You know what a Scryer is, right? Looks like a monocle, shows things for what they really are?”

Phillip thought for a moment, then nodded.

“There’s a doctor among the Silver Claw who has one. He lives in a Rite Aid store. While we’re gone, I want you to go get that Scryer. Can you do that for me? I’ll find a way to repay you.”

Phillip was silent for a long time, then chirped quietly and took flight.

Daniel watched him fly off, hoping he really WOULD do it. He had to find out what Jack REALLY was…

Moment of truth. The 3 of them waited patiently just inside the entrance to the Camp, facing off with the Iron Talons, waiting for Shorak to arrive. Daniel noticed that both Silver and Wes were absent, but didn’t give it much thought at the time. The Mystics were nervous: claws flexing, trigger fingers twitching, ready for a fight.

Finally, Shorak approached the scene. The normally friendly and reasonable Royal Gryphon was clearly furious. His feathers and fur were puffed out like a cat and his eyes were stormy.

“What, are you here to gloat, now?” he demanded.

“Actually, we’re here to make you a counter offer,” Jack answered. “We have the supplies you need, but first, we want something in advance: give us Claire.”

“No deal,” Shorak snarled, shaking his head. “You’ll get both of them when the supplies start arriving.”

“You only HAVE 1 hostage, Shorak,” Jack countered. “Claire is dying. If she waits that long to get to a hospital, she’ll die before those supplies arrive. She’s completely worthless to you as a hostage.”

“Then you’d better hurry up, hadn’t you?”

Daniel stepped forward. “She’s…”

Jack raised a hand, stopping him. “I got this, Daniel,” he said confidently. He turned back to Shorak. “The original deal was for enough supplies for all of you, including yourself, to last a month. If you give us Claire first, you’ll get 3 months.”

There was complete silence. All eyes turned to Shorak. Even Shorak himself couldn’t hide his surprise, the anger lifting. Then, he growled, “You’re lying!”

Jack shrugged. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Either way, what’ve you got to lose? If you refuse and it turns out I’m telling the truth, you’ll be underwater again a month-and-a-half from now. So, what’s it gonna be? 2 hostages for a month of supplies or 1 hostage for 3 months? This is an offer you can’t refuse.”

Shorak closed his eyes with a sigh. “This is the last time I’m negotiating this deal with you. Just...just take her and go.” He turned and nodding at a Naga to his right. “Take them to the infirmary, then show them the exit afterwards.”

Daniel’s heart-rate quickened. He could feel there was something very wrong here, but the vibe was coming from Jack, NOT Shorak. Jack was hiding something major...but what?

When they arrived at the infirmary, they found Sinar kneeling next to Claire. He was surprised to see them, but it passed quickly. “Shorak finally agreed?” he asked.

Daniel nodded. “It wasn’t easy, but yeah.” He turned to Claire. “We’re getting you to a hospital.” She smiled faintly, but didn’t say anything. Jack knelt down and gently lifted her in his arms.

The trip out of the Camp was slow, but Daniel’s spirits were on high the entire trip. The elation, sadly, didn’t last.

They were well outside the Camp and nearly to Jack’s car when suddenly Jack stopped dead in his tracks. Daniel turned to him, annoyed by the delay. “What is it?”

Claire was hanging limply in Jack’s arms. He had 2 fingers against her neck, checking for a pulse. Daniel’s breath caught as realization struck. The man looked up at him, his expression grave. “We need to get to a hospital. NOW. She’s stopped breathing.”

Daniel was pacing, muttering incoherently under his breath. He wanted to be there with Claire, or at the very least out in the hallway, but he would’ve only gotten in the way. Thus, he and Alex were forced to wait outside the hospital. She’d been rushed into the Emergency Room the second they arrived.

Alex’s emotions were torn. He was scared for Claire, there was no doubt of that, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Ben. Ben was still a hostage, and after what Jack said to him the night before...he had to do SOMETHING.

He squawked at Daniel, basically telling him to calm down.

“I CAN’T calm down,” the teenager snapped back. “I can’t just sit here and do NOTHING!”

Alex felt the same way, but this situation was out of their hands now. Ben, however…

He stood up and spread his wings.

“Where’re you going?”

Alex shook his head, saying nothing. There was something he HAD to do, and hang the consequences. He’d be stabbing Jack in the back by doing this, but he didn’t care anymore.

The flight was short. He ran through his mind EXACTLY what he’d say to the man when he got there. He had the entire argument figured out and still he wasn’t sure the man would listen to reason. He hadn’t up to this point. He landed on the roof of a building near the center of the complex. He could see his goal nearby.

Shorak looked up as Alex landed near the edge of the clearing. His eyes narrowed. “I told you, I’m done negotiating.”

Alex shook his head and removed his backpack. Once he’d changed and gotten dressed, he said, “I’m not here on Jack’s orders. In fact, he’s gonna be pissed when he finds out I’m here.”

Shorak’s expression softened. “Then, why ARE you here?”

“I’m here for Ben.”

“You can talk with him, but he’s staying here until you’ve fulfilled your end of the deal.”

Alex took a deep breath. “I want...I want to make you another offer, just between you and I. A trade, if you will. Ben is one of my closest friends. He’s barely 12 and I know he’s scared right now, even if he doesn’t show it.”

Shorak looked away for a moment, thinking. “He never mentioned that. I doubt it’ll change my mind, but for old times’ sake, I’ll hear you out. What exactly are you offering in trade?”

Alex closed his eyes and started to plead his case. And, at the same time, he sealed his fate.

It’d been almost 3 hours since Alex’s departure when Jack finally walked out of the hospital. His expression was grim. Daniel was back on his feet in an instant.

“How is she?”

“Sick. VERY sick, as a matter of fact. They were able to get her breathing again, but…” Jack sighed. “I don’t think it’ll be enough, Daniel. Those blood cleansers are very powerful and aggressive potions. They’re meant for much, MUCH earlier stages of the infection. In her current state, they could kill rather than save her. They might no longer be an option.”

Daniel remained silent, looking away.

“Where’s Alex?” the man suddenly asked. “And, come to think of it, where’s Phillip? He was supposed to return this morning, but he hasn’t come back yet.”

Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know. Alex left without explanation a few hours ago.” He pointedly side-stepped the question of Phillip’s whereabouts.

Jack nodded, but before he could respond, they heard leathery wings flapping. Daniel turned to see a large Green Dragon land nearby, carrying in his paws under him…

“Ben?” Jack said before Daniel could. “What…?”

“Shorak decided to accept your new offer,” the Green Dragon said, stepping back. Ben remained silent, looking down at his forepaws. “I was surprised by his change of heart. He was reluctant at first, but that Peregryphon of yours talked him into it.”

“Peregryphon…?” Daniel paused. “You mean Alex?”

“WE didn’t offer you anything,” Jack said, pushing past Daniel to face the Green Dragon. “What exactly did that insubordinate Gryphon offer you?”

“In exchange for Ben’s freedom, Alex volunteered to take his place until the deal is fulfilled."

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We've FINALLY reached the end of Chapter 13. 14 is gonna be an eventful chapter, where all the little pieces of the story, all the plot elements, finally start coming together.

Chapter 13: Fallen Angel, Part 4

Daniel shoved the main door open with his head. He couldn’t fit his entire body through, but…

“Danny!” a familiar voice called out to him. A second later, a tiny Kitsune nuzzled up against his left foreleg.

He nuzzled Jess gently, happy to see her again. His mind, however, was racing. Jack was telling the truth, they really WERE here, but why did Shorak let them go? Ryder was sitting in a chair near the door, drinking from a water bottle. He was trembling and not saying much. He also wasn’t making eye contact with anyone, even Daniel.

Daniel pushed Jess back gently. “Why’d Shorak let you go? Did he change his mind about holding you for ransom? Where’s Claire and Ben?”

Her smile faded and she looked away. “I…” she started hesitantly, haltingly. “They’re…”

Her reaction spoke volumes and Daniel realized they WEREN’T released. “You escaped?” She nodded slowly after a short pause. “How’d you get past Silver and the rest of the Iron Talons?”

“We had help. Hiro helped us out, as well as another familiar named Skye.”

Skye...Daniel searched his memories but couldn’t remember anyone named Skye, familiar or otherwise. “What type of familiar was he?”

“I don’t know. He LOOKED like a pigeon.”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat and he drew a sharp breath. He took an involuntary step back, accidentally banging into the doorframe on his right.

“He saved us,” she quickly said. “I don’t know why, but he helped us. We wouldn’t have made it without him.”

“A pigeon-like familiar…” Jack suddenly said quietly, shaking his head. He’d been watching the reunion silently up to this point. “Why, by Garmr’s Gates, would one of Siren’s pet Shrieker Pigeons help you? He doesn’t ‘help people'; he uses people. If one of his familiars aided your escape, it’s because it helped their master in some way.”

“I...I don’t know.”

Shriekers...Daniel had seen the little monsters before. Siren set them loose on those police officers the night before. The thought of one of them ‘helping’ someone...he just couldn’t see it. He could still hear their screams in his head, both the humans’ and the pigeons’.

“Are Claire and Ben alright?” he asked.

Her expression fell further. “I don’t know. But Claire’s really, REALLY sick. Last time I saw her, she could barely move. Razur said she’s dying.”

So, Claire WAS getting worse. They HAD TO get her out of there. “Did Razur take her to a hospital yet?”

She shook her head. “No, Shorak won’t let him. That’s why I had to come find you, to get her help. Please, we have to rescue her!”

Daniel’s anger peaked at these words. He withdrew his head and turned to walk away.

“And where exactly are you going, Daniel?” Jack called after him.

“I’m going to get my friend back,” Daniel answered with a growl. He quickly spread his wings. “I won’t let Shorak kill her just to make a point. He’s gone too far this time.”

His things were up on the roof, near where he slept. He hadn’t had the chance to put them back on yet. He checked that everything was in the backpack, then re-attached the leg-strap to his foreleg. He had just picked up the bandolier and was deciding whether or not to take it when Jack walked out onto the rooftop. He ignored the man and set the large belt aside.

“You challenge Shorak and you’ll end up either dead or beaten to a pulp,” Jack said, drawing the Gryphon’s gaze. “HE has centuries of experience; YOU have less than a month. I agree that he’s taken this too far, but if we rush into this without a plan, everything will fall apart. You’re not gonna do Claire any favors by getting yourself killed.”

Daniel hesitated. He hated it when Jack started talking more sense than he did, especially that day. “DO you have a plan, then?”

Jack nodded. “Thanks to Ethan, we do. Command still refuses Shorak’s offer, but the Silver Claw can provide the supplies instead. Providing Shorak hands over Claire before that, he’ll get enough food and clean water to sustain his group for another 3 months. It’s an offer he can’t refuse. What happens after that is need-to-know, though Brocke is being very helpful in that matter.”

Need-to-know...classified...Daniel was liking those terms less and less. First, they refused Shorak’s offer and now Jack was siding with the Silver Claw? ‘Hypocrite’ was sounding more and more like a good description of him. Despite that, though, it sounded more or less like a solid plan.

He nodded. “When will we go back to talk with Shorak?”

“Tomorrow morning, bright and early. I suggest you get a good night’s sleep tonight.”

He had trouble falling asleep after that, mind racing and considering exactly what would happen tomorrow. His gaze was turned toward the south. Shorak...what the hell was he thinking?

"Good evening, Avery,” a familiar voice suddenly said behind him. He tensed instinctively as he turned, claws gripping, beak opening slightly. Ethan was walking out of the stairwell. There was an object wrapped in plastic clutched in his hands.

“What do you want, Ethan?”

Ethan sighed, shaking his head. “Avery...I know we’ve had our differences in the past, and we BOTH have good reasons to hate each other. However, I want to make it up to you, at least in part.” He started to unwrap the package he was holding.

Daniel watched curiously. He couldn’t deny that he was interested in what it was. “What is that?”

“It's a gift from me to you.” The wrapping fell to the ground and Ethan held out a…

“A DOG COLLAR?!?” Daniel hissed in anger, shaking his head. “So, you wanna insult me now, too?”

“I know it LOOKS like a dog collar,” the man reassured him, “but it’s not one. In fact, it took me a LOT of work to make this device. I wanted to make it look unassuming, something people wouldn’t find strange- or odd-looking.” He unlooped the ‘belt’ part of the collar. “Have you ever heard of form-changing clothing?”

Daniel thought for a moment, searching his knowledge of magical devices. “Yeah, they’re worn by humanoid Mystics. They change shape to match the form of the wearer.”

Ethan nodded in the affirmative. “Many shapeshifters also wear them. This collar was based on that concept, though it’s much, MUCH more complex than the standard stuff.” He fiddled with it for several seconds and pulled a tiny rose quartz crystal out of the leather that made up the collar. “Whenever you use a veil or change into a human by other means, these crystals will materialize clothing on your person automatically. Then, when you resume your Gryphon form, they’ll automatically store the clothing as energy. Conversion is an interesting field of magical research.” He returned the crystal to its spot in the accessory.

Daniel examined the collar with newfound curiosity. That kind of a device...it’d be invaluable to him, especially if he could figure out how he changed forms earlier. He was, however, skeptical. “And you’re just gonna...GIVE this to me, just like that?”

Ethan shrugged. “Call it an apology, call it a peace offering...heck, call it whatever you like, but it’s yours. No strings attached, I promise.” He lifted the collar and slowly approached the young Royal.

Daniel hesitated for a few seconds, then lowered his head so that Ethan could put the collar on him. It was too small, but as the leather made contact with his feathers, it started to grow and lengthen. By the time it stopped, it was a perfect fit, settling comfortably around his neck near his shoulders. Not too loose, not too snug, just right. Ethan looped the belt into place and stepped back.

“Also, there’s something else, something that was a LOT harder to get right but you’ll LOVE.” The man cleared his throat. “Magenta 12.”

As he said this, the collar started to glow bright yellow and vibrate. Something expanded out of the collar and encased Daniel's torso. After about 4 or 5 seconds, Danny found himself wearing a leather breastplate. It was light-weight, form-fitting, and had large, cushioned holes in the back for his wings. He spread his wings and flapped a few times to make sure he still had full range of movement. It felt exactly the same; there was no change in his wing movements.

“That leather is light-weight, but it can also stop a bullet,” Ethan continued. “It took a long time to get all the enchantments right and I went through 8 prototypes in the process. The clothing looks and feels like normal fabric, but it’ll be like wearing a kevlar vest without all that weight. Oh, and one more thing: you remember the trigger phrase I used a minute ago? Repeat it so that the device will react to YOUR voice and no one else’s. I made an adjustment for voice activation after learning you can talk, which is why I didn’t give it to you sooner.”

Daniel nodded and said, “Magenta 12.” The armor piece started glowing, and after a few seconds, he found himself wearing the collar again. “You really made this just for me?”

Ethan sighed and closed his eyes. “To be honest, Avery...no, actually, I didn’t. I FINISHED it for you, but I STARTED on it almost 3 months ago.”

This got Daniel curious. “Who were you making it for? And why?"

“It was gonna be for an acquaintance of mine as a Christmas present. I’d still give it to her, but…” Ethan trailed off.

Daniel suddenly realized who it was meant for. “It was Karen Thomson, wasn’t it?”

Ethan nodded sadly. “She could’ve really used it, too. She discovered her ability to shapeshift by accident and went through a small fortune in clothing before she got the hang of it. We weren’t close, but I figured it would’ve been a nice gift.”

So, Karen knew how to shapeshift too. It made sense since she was also a Descendant.

“There’s no electronics in it, so you can wash it however you want. You can swap out all of the articles of clothing EXCEPT for the shirt: the crystals are located in the shirt’s collar, made to look like fake jewelry. As long as you’re wearing the shirt when you change to Gryphon form, everything you’re wearing will be stored away. If you ever use a Creature Mystic veil or animal veil, the collar will shrink or grow to match your new size. I don't recommend turning into anything smaller than a domestic cat while wearing it, though. I'm not sure how the collar would react if you do, though it'd probably just stop shrinking after a certain point. Humanoid Mystic veils (Goblin or Tengu, for example) won't be a problem, you'll still come out of it fully-clothed just like with human veil. Oh, and whatever you do, don't lose it. It’s worthless to anyone but you now that it’s linked to you, but it’ll be virtually impossible to replace.”

Daniel nodded and reached up toward the collar with his left talon. His claws barely touched the buckle when the collar unbuckled itself, allowing him to remove it easily. He looked down at the leather collar clutched in his left talon. It was light gray and looked exactly like a dog collar at a glance, the only thing missing was a brand imprint and ID tags.

“You can also consider it an early birthday present,” Ethan suddenly said. “It’s next month, right, your 17th birthday?”

Daniel was caught by surprise by this remark. To be honest, he’d completely forgotten about his upcoming birthday. He’d had a lot on his mind lately, to say the least. “Come to think of it, it is. But how’d YOU know that?”

“Your parents told me.”

This stopped Daniel cold. “You’ve...talked with them?”

“Jack asked me to a while ago, right before you left Richmond. He figured they should be informed of where you’re going to be for the coming weeks. They’re worried about you, ya know. They’re glad you’ve found a well-paying job, but they want you to come back home.”

Daniel had conflicting emotions regarding this. He missed them too, but he didn’t know when he’d return home. Things would never be the same when he did; he’d have to figure his whole life out again. Working with Jack and Alex was something new, something he didn’t have to re-learn how to do. He would eventually return home, but it wouldn’t be for a long time. He had to REALLY figure his life out before that would be an option. “How much did you tell them about me and why I’m doing this?”

“Only the things Jack told me to tell them.” Yeah, that was about as clear as mud. “Ya know, Avery...you’ve started growing on me. We haven’t seen each other much over the past month, but I’ve heard good things about you.”

Daniel looked away, unsure of what to say. He felt a little guilty over being so rude towards Ethan when he saw him walk out onto the rooftop. “I…”

“No need for thanks,” Ethan interrupted. “Good night, Avery.” He dipped his head in farewell and turned to leave.

As the man approached the door, Daniel suddenly had a thought. “Call me Daniel.”

Ethan paused for a moment, then nodded. “If that’s what you want, I’ll call you that from now on, Daniel.” He pulled the door open and stepped through. Then, seemingly as an after-thought, he called over his shoulder, “You can sleep with the collar on, if you want to. You won’t damage it easily, much less by accident.”

As Ethan left, Daniel put the collar back around his neck. It looped itself into place and settled comfortably against his feathers.

This gift…’amazing’ didn’t even BEGIN to describe it. Every little detail was accounted for to make it easier to use: self-adjusting, easy dressing and removal, multiple forms...it was truly astounding. He couldn’t wait to see what the clothing looked like. He had to admit, this collar definitely gave him a better opinion of Ethan.

~It’ll be useful in the future.~

Daniel nodded in agreement. He’d have to…

He paused, realizing what he’d just heard. His ears pricked instinctively, going to full alert, as if he was trying to hear a distant sound. ~DA?~ No response. ~You’ve been quiet for a while now.~

DA didn’t respond and Danny stopped trying very quickly. At least DA was talking to him again, that was a start. Maybe he’d be more talkative in the morning.

Daniel lowered his head to the ground and slowly closed his eyes. He fell asleep quickly after that, glad that the long day was finally over.

Wes didn’t know if he did the right thing or not, letting the 2 of them go like that. He just couldn’t bring himself to turn them in. Maybe it was because he was sorry for them, maybe because they’d already gotten that far without getting caught, maybe it was just to spite Shorak for guilt-tripping him into staying in the Camp. He didn’t really know WHY he did it, but one way or the other, what’s done was done.

It was getting late now, probably after midnight. Ben hadn’t said a single word to ANYONE since Jess and Ryder were discovered missing. He only glared at anyone that tried questioning him. Eventually, he stopped the glaring after they blindfolded him, though he still didn’t say a word. The blindfold wasn’t necessary since he would’ve taken dulling agent WITHOUT having to be force-fed it, but Shorak wasn’t taking any chances anymore. There were now 3 guards watching the young Basilisk at any given time: 2 outside the door, 1 inside the room itself. The loose wall panel had finally been welded into place, a deed Weston carried out himself with Dragon fire. He would’ve refused the order, but Shorak already looked ready to tear someone’s head off given the faintest excuse.

Currently, Wes was on guard duty inside the room. The shift would rotate every 2 hours and his time was nearly up.

“Come on, Ben,” he tried again, futilely. “Say something. ANYTHING.”

He received no response. Ben looked like he was asleep, but Wes could tell from the patterns of his breathing that he was awake. The former was curled up in a ball with his head turned directly away from Wes. Claire had been permanently moved to the infirmary so that Sinar could keep an eye on her. She was too sick to try anything, though a single guard was stationed nearby just in case.

Wes sighed, shaking his head. This one-sided conversation was going nowhere fast, and he was running out of time. He figured he might as well try a different angle. “Between you and me, I’m glad they got away.”

For the first time, Ben actually DID react. It was subtle and Wes almost missed it: his muscles tensed and his middle pair of paws twitched. He didn’t say anything, though.

“Look, Ben…” Wes continued. “I don’t like what Shorak is doing any more than you do, but we’re getting desperate here. We have less than a month’s worth of supplies here for all of us, and that’s only if we start rationing soon - VERY soon. If you were to start cooperating with us, I could talk with Shorak and-”

“Let Claire go.”

Wes paused, surprised to hear the young Basilisk’s voice for the first time in almost 5 hours. “What?”

Ben finally rolled over to face the Blue Dragon. He was still blindfolded and a thick, brown leather muzzle muffled his speech. “Let Claire go or take her to a hospital and I’ll do whatever you want me to do. She doesn’t deserve what you’re doing to her.”

Ben was right, Claire DIDN’T deserve this - and neither did he.

“Please, just cooperate with us and I’m sure Shorak will compromise. Just tell him what he wants to know.”

Ben didn’t answer and turned away again.

Wes swore under his breath. He was absolutely certain Ben DIDN’T know who tried to kill Silver, but he was being stubborn and refused to answer any questions. Seriously, all it would've taken was him saying he didn't know.

Silver was currently in a very bad state. Thanks to Razur, the wolf would survive, but his attacker destroyed half his face. The wound looked like part of his face had been cut off with a sword. Shorak wanted the culprit’s head on a spike. Without clues, though, they had no idea who or what to look for. It obviously wasn’t an accident, either. Anyone could see that it was deliberate.

Suddenly, the door opened and Tork walked in. “Your shift’s over. I’ll take over from here, Weston.”

Wes reluctantly nodded and got up to leave. He paused and said to Ben, “Good night, Ben.” He received no response and left with a sigh.

He considered going straight to bed, but he figured he might as well check in on Claire first.

A brown Gryphon was guarding the entrance to the infirmary. He received a stiff nod from the avian as he walked through the door. Claire was fast asleep on one of the cots. Physically, she LOOKED healthy, but she was asleep more often than not and didn’t say much while awake. Silver, he noticed, wasn’t around. Last time he was here, the wolf was being treated just outside the door. He must’ve been moved. Sinar had stepped out.

He walked up to the bed and nudged her gently. She blinked open her eyes and smiled up at him. “How’re you feeling?” he asked softly.

“Terrible. Where’re Jess and Ryder?”

“They made it out.” His volume dropped. “This isn’t right. You NEED help.”

She shook her head. “I’m just...glad they’re alright.” She fell silent after that and closed her eyes.

Wes shook his head and walked out. It was getting late. He needed to get some sleep.

As he rounded a corner and his living quarters came into view, he stopped dead in his tracks. He could see the glaring, golden eyes and gray-blue feathers from here. The fact that Shorak was LYING IN FRONT OF HIS DOOR made it clear he wasn’t there by coincidence.

Wes sighed and continued walking. Time to face the music, it seemed. “Shorak, I…”

“Where’s Silver?” Shorak cut him off.

Wes paused, confused. That was one question he DIDN’T expect. “What?”

“Silver disappeared over an hour ago. No one saw him leave or where he went.”

Wes chuckled, shaking his head. “That wolf stands at 7’4”. Don’t tell me you’ve MISPLACED him.”

He stepped forward to try and maneuver around Shorak. Faster than Wes could blink, the old Royal lunged at him.

Wes gasped, clawing futilely as Shorak pinned him down by the throat. He wouldn't realize it until later, but the claws gripping his neck were glowing green. The latter snarled at him, beak open threateningly, “Do NOT test me, Weston. I know you helped them escape!”

Wes hesitated, then his expression hardened. “I regret NOTHING. What you’re doing is WRONG! Claire is dying and you don’t give a fuck!”

Suddenly, Shorak’s grip tightened, cutting off the Blue Dragon’s air supply. Wes’ vision started to fail and trickles of blood leaked out between the Royal’s claws. He pawed weakly at Shorak's leg, even kicked with his hind-legs, but to no avail. The Gryphon lowered his beak near Wes’ left ear-hole and hissed, low and dangerous, “YOU attacked Silver.”

Wes barely heard the words at that point, fading in and out of consciousness, but what he heard didn’t make sense. He didn’t…

Suddenly, Shorak hurled him aside into a nearby wall. Wes choked down air, massaging his bleeding neck.

“Pack whatever belongings you have and get out. You’re no longer a part of the Iron Talons.”

Wes hesitated, still crumpled on the ground. “What? I didn’t attack him, though!”

“You’ve already confessed. There’s no point in lying about it now. You have 1 hour, then I’d better never see you again. You used to be my friend, and that’s the only reason I’m not killing you.” Wes didn't see it, but there were tears in the old Gryphon's eyes as he said this and walked away.

Wes lay there silently for a long time after Shorak left, still confused. And now, above all else, he was afraid.

Daniel awoke early the next morning, refreshed and re-energized. He stretched all 7 of his limbs as he stood up, basking in the early-morning sunlight. It was a beautiful morning, the beginning of a new day.

He looked over the edge of the rooftop. The parking lot was mostly empty of people, though he could see Alex leaning against a patrol car in human form. He looked worried about something, deep in thought and arms crossed. He looked up as Daniel landed nearby.

“Morning, Daniel,” he greeted. “We…” He paused, looking curiously at Daniel’s neck. “What’s with the new accessory?”

“A gift from Ethan. He gave it to me last night.”

“You do realize that’s a dog collar, right? Any natural-born Gryphon would’ve been offended by that. Heck, I would’ve been offended by that.”

Daniel nodded. “Doesn’t bother me.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever, I’m not the one wearing it.” He nodded towards the main entrance. “Jack’s not even awake yet, so we’ve probably got 3 or 4 hours before we leave.”

Today was the day, the day they’d get Claire the help she needed. 3 months’ worth of food and water and all Shorak had to do to get it was hand Claire over first. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse. It seemed like an unfair trade, all those supplies for 1 hostage, but Daniel didn’t question it at the time.

He’d eventually come to regret that.

Alex had returned to his reverie, looking worried about something.

“Something wrong?”

He sighed, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. I just want to meet with Shorak and be done with it.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get Ben back too, just not today.”

Alex’s expression grew pained and he grimaced. “Yeah...yeah, of course we will.” He fell silent after that, and for just a second, Danny thought he sounded uncertain.

Daniel’s mind wandered after that and eventually fell on Jack’s identity. That Scryer...red fur...Jack COULDN’T be a Fire Fox, could he? That would explain a LOT, but...

His ears pricked as he heard a bird land nearby. Phillip had landed on the car Alex was leaning against. The sight of the Augurey gave him an idea and he trilled to get Phillip’s attention.

Alex looked up. “What’s up?”

Another short signal and Daniel nodded at the police station roof. Phillip nodded as well and went to meet him up there.

“I need to talk with Phillip privately,” he said to Alex. “I’ll just be a minute or 2.” He took flight and headed for the roof.

Phillip was waiting for him there, looking at him expectantly. “I need a favor,” he said quietly. The Augurey cocked his head at him. Right, he’d need a veil to talk to him.

Daniel reached into the compartment attached to his leg and withdrew a human veil. Time to see if this collar REALLY worked. It’d last 2 hours, so he’d be back in Gryphon form before they left.

He downed the potion and the changes started quickly. It was painful, though not nearly as much as the first time he took a veil. Within a minute, he was human again.

He looked down at himself, surprised to find himself fully dressed. To be honest, he’d had his doubts in the back of his mind, even if he didn’t voice them. He was wearing blue jeans, a green T-shirt, black shoes, white socks and boxers. It was all there, as Ethan promised, and it all fit him perfectly. The collar really DID work! Phillip was staring open-beaked at him.

“I’ll explain later,” Daniel told him. “Right now, though, I need to ask a favor. I need you to ‘borrow’ something from someone for me.”

Phillip’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“I promise I'll PERSONALLY return it to him when I’m done with it,” Danny reassured him. “You know what a Scryer is, right? Looks like a monocle, shows things for what they really are?”

Phillip thought for a moment, then nodded.

“There’s a doctor among the Silver Claw who has one. He lives in a Rite Aid store. While we’re gone, I want you to go get that Scryer. Can you do that for me? I’ll find a way to repay you.”

Phillip was silent for a long time, then chirped quietly and took flight.

Daniel watched him fly off, hoping he really WOULD do it. He had to find out what Jack REALLY was…

Moment of truth. The 3 of them waited patiently just inside the entrance to the Camp, facing off with the Iron Talons, waiting for Shorak to arrive. Daniel noticed that both Silver and Wes were absent, but didn’t give it much thought at the time. The Mystics were nervous: claws flexing, trigger fingers twitching, ready for a fight.

Finally, Shorak approached the scene. The normally friendly and reasonable Royal Gryphon was clearly furious. His feathers and fur were puffed out like a cat and his eyes were stormy.

“What, are you here to gloat, now?” he demanded.

“Actually, we’re here to make you a counter offer,” Jack answered. “We have the supplies you need, but first, we want something in advance: give us Claire.”

“No deal,” Shorak snarled, shaking his head. “You’ll get both of them when the supplies start arriving.”

“You only HAVE 1 hostage, Shorak,” Jack countered. “Claire is dying. If she waits that long to get to a hospital, she’ll die before those supplies arrive. She’s completely worthless to you as a hostage.”

“Then you’d better hurry up, hadn’t you?”

Daniel stepped forward. “She’s…”

Jack raised a hand, stopping him. “I got this, Daniel,” he said confidently. He turned back to Shorak. “The original deal was for enough supplies for all of you, including yourself, to last a month. If you give us Claire first, you’ll get 3 months.”

There was complete silence. All eyes turned to Shorak. Even Shorak himself couldn’t hide his surprise, the anger lifting. Then, he growled, “You’re lying!”

Jack shrugged. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. Either way, what’ve you got to lose? If you refuse and it turns out I’m telling the truth, you’ll be underwater again a month-and-a-half from now. So, what’s it gonna be? 2 hostages for a month of supplies or 1 hostage for 3 months? This is an offer you can’t refuse.”

Shorak closed his eyes with a sigh. “This is the last time I’m negotiating this deal with you. Just...just take her and go.” He turned and nodding at a Naga to his right. “Take them to the infirmary, then show them the exit afterwards.”

Daniel’s heart-rate quickened. He could feel there was something very wrong here, but the vibe was coming from Jack, NOT Shorak. Jack was hiding something major...but what?

When they arrived at the infirmary, they found Sinar kneeling next to Claire. He was surprised to see them, but it passed quickly. “Shorak finally agreed?” he asked.

Daniel nodded. “It wasn’t easy, but yeah.” He turned to Claire. “We’re getting you to a hospital.” She smiled faintly, but didn’t say anything. Jack knelt down and gently lifted her in his arms.

The trip out of the Camp was slow, but Daniel’s spirits were on high the entire trip. The elation, sadly, didn’t last.

They were well outside the Camp and nearly to Jack’s car when suddenly Jack stopped dead in his tracks. Daniel turned to him, annoyed by the delay. “What is it?”

Claire was hanging limply in Jack’s arms. He had 2 fingers against her neck, checking for a pulse. Daniel’s breath caught as realization struck. The man looked up at him, his expression grave. “We need to get to a hospital. NOW. She’s stopped breathing.”

Daniel was pacing, muttering incoherently under his breath. He wanted to be there with Claire, or at the very least out in the hallway, but he would’ve only gotten in the way. Thus, he and Alex were forced to wait outside the hospital. She’d been rushed into the Emergency Room the second they arrived.

Alex’s emotions were torn. He was scared for Claire, there was no doubt of that, but he couldn’t stop thinking about Ben. Ben was still a hostage, and after what Jack said to him the night before...he had to do SOMETHING.

He squawked at Daniel, basically telling him to calm down.

“I CAN’T calm down,” the teenager snapped back. “I can’t just sit here and do NOTHING!”

Alex felt the same way, but this situation was out of their hands now. Ben, however…

He stood up and spread his wings.

“Where’re you going?”

Alex shook his head, saying nothing. There was something he HAD to do, and hang the consequences. He’d be stabbing Jack in the back by doing this, but he didn’t care anymore.

The flight was short. He ran through his mind EXACTLY what he’d say to the man when he got there. He had the entire argument figured out and still he wasn’t sure the man would listen to reason. He hadn’t up to this point. He landed on the roof of a building near the center of the complex. He could see his goal nearby.

Shorak looked up as Alex landed near the edge of the clearing. His eyes narrowed. “I told you, I’m done negotiating.”

Alex shook his head and removed his backpack. Once he’d changed and gotten dressed, he said, “I’m not here on Jack’s orders. In fact, he’s gonna be pissed when he finds out I’m here.”

Shorak’s expression softened. “Then, why ARE you here?”

“I’m here for Ben.”

“You can talk with him, but he’s staying here until you’ve fulfilled your end of the deal.”

Alex took a deep breath. “I want...I want to make you another offer, just between you and I. A trade, if you will. Ben is one of my closest friends. He’s barely 12 and I know he’s scared right now, even if he doesn’t show it.”

Shorak looked away for a moment, thinking. “He never mentioned that. I doubt it’ll change my mind, but for old times’ sake, I’ll hear you out. What exactly are you offering in trade?”

Alex closed his eyes and started to plead his case. And, at the same time, he sealed his fate.

It’d been almost 3 hours since Alex’s departure when Jack finally walked out of the hospital. His expression was grim. Daniel was back on his feet in an instant.

“How is she?”

“Sick. VERY sick, as a matter of fact. They were able to get her breathing again, but…” Jack sighed. “I don’t think it’ll be enough, Daniel. Those blood cleansers are very powerful and aggressive potions. They’re meant for much, MUCH earlier stages of the infection. In her current state, they could kill rather than save her. They might no longer be an option.”

Daniel remained silent, looking away.

“Where’s Alex?” the man suddenly asked. “And, come to think of it, where’s Phillip? He was supposed to return this morning, but he hasn’t come back yet.”

Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know. Alex left without explanation a few hours ago.” He pointedly side-stepped the question of Phillip’s whereabouts.

Jack nodded, but before he could respond, they heard leathery wings flapping. Daniel turned to see a large Green Dragon land nearby, carrying in his paws under him…

“Ben?” Jack said before Daniel could. “What…?”

“Shorak decided to accept your new offer,” the Green Dragon said, stepping back. Ben remained silent, looking down at his forepaws. “I was surprised by his change of heart. He was reluctant at first, but that Peregryphon of yours talked him into it.”

“Peregryphon…?” Daniel paused. “You mean Alex?”

“WE didn’t offer you anything,” Jack said, pushing past Daniel to face the Green Dragon. “What exactly did that insubordinate Gryphon offer you?”

“In exchange for Ben’s freedom, Alex volunteered to take his place until the deal is fulfilled."