He softened, “Hey, that’s not what I meant.” UGH! Talking out loud when I meant to be in my head was a problem. Ignoring Alpha bloods was actually new for me, and it really hurt…I wasjust right here… so… that had to count for something even if my very blood felt like I was aching for doing it.
Caine sighed, “I wanted to try linking you. It’s why I came back.” I reasoned, “I’m not in your pack.” He argued, “But my dad made Ashley join. He made Paige join while you were in Russia.” What? Why? She could’ve cursed him and said no so she must have wanted to be able to link the group.
I replied, “But I’m Melanie and…” He waved, “Let’s just try.” I nodded pretty certain it wasn’t going to work. He linked, “Can you hear me?” I jolted and tears filled my eyes. I hadn’t heard a link in a while, and it hit me how much I’d missed it.
A sob bubbled up inside me and I let it go. He quickly grabbed me and whispered, “I’m so sorry. We could’ve been in your head all this time. I imagine it was so quiet.” It was. Alpha Peter’s command was hard to stick to when all I wanted was to talk to them. To hear them again.
Caine had given that back to me. I could hear them in my head, and it meant the world to me. I’d come to see him like my brother, and I knew he saw me as a sister. I’d never say it out loud because I’d gotten my oldest brother killed and I couldn’t let anything happen to Caine.
Weeks passed and I met with Anastasia again. Paige had set up a holoport for me. So, I found myself in Russia in our Resistance gear. Anastasia admitted, “Wearing this black mask is fun, yeah?” I admitted, “I mean… it … well… yes. Because…”
She laughed, “I don’t need a reason. This feels like a very tangible thing to do to help that I’m doing. I was in the shadows helping and doing what I could, but with you and yourorganization it’s actually helping my people and others. I cannot thank you enough for it.”
I nodded, “Sure… and OH MY GOD!” I saw a deer-like creature with a horse’s head, a unicorn horn, feathers, and deer legs, with Rhino-like snout. I squeaked, “It’s an Indrik. INDRIK’S ARE REAL!” Anastasia laughed, “I would question how you know our lore, but you are you.” I whispered, “They are considered to be the King of all animals!” She teased, “Again with you knowing our lore.”
I heard someone order, “Kill it.” I gasped and quickly shot the group that came in. The Indrik turned to us. Anastasia offered, “By the way, their hearing is great.” I admitted, “I did know that… because I read about them… but like… it’s an Indrik. That deserves to be shouted about. Do you think they want to be on my list for… like… those that no one knows about?”
She told me, “I would like a peek at that list.” I admitted, “Well… it’s kind of only for other races that are hidden… which the Hunters purpose is hidden… but like… I’m trying to get the hidden groups in touch with each other… and form their communities…” She nudged me.
I continued, “It’s just that all of us are meant to be connected and…” A Female voice asked, “Are we now?” I turned to see a woman standing there. I took out my phone and noted that Female and male Indrik’s have antlers. Interesting. I would’ve guessed only males did.
I looked back up and realized both the Indrik and Anastasia were looking at me. I squeaked, “Umm… yes… we are all creatures of… well… some animals want solitude... but like not really… they need their groups… so by uniting the groups that no one knows about… they stay secret, but they feel connected… being isolated is dangerous….” Anastasia giggled.
I asked, “What? It is. She would’ve died and no one would’ve known who did it. We came because we heard rumblings ofa threat in this area… it’s to them… obviously… but others would’ve come to help if they weren’t so… secretive.”
The woman ordered, “Come with me.” I got up and put my sniper rifle on my back. Anastasia grabbed my arm. She said, “I can’t go with them.” I asked, “Why not? They probably have some cool Shroud type deal they live in… and you should totally…” The woman interrupted, “Because she is a Huntress and they have been hunting us.”
I pointed out, “Umm she isn’t hunting you… obviously since she’s here with me… and we totally saved you.” She agreed, “That you did. You are welcome to come with us, Huntress. No one will harm you.” Anastasia took a deep breath then agreed, “??, I’ll come (Yes).”
I grinned, “It will be fun… well it usually is… it’s fairly standard that I’m given food.” The woman asked, “You do this often then?” I answered, “Pretty much… it’s kind of our thing.” She hummed, “Yes, the group in black.”
I sighed, “The Resistance… we are the Ring Resistance. How is that not obvious? We draw rings with lines through them.” The woman chuckled, “We thought it was a circle.” I clapped, “Semantics! I need to study why no one guesses our name… it’s weird…. Because… it’s obvious.”
She agreed, “Now that you say it, it is.” Anastasia asked, “What’s your name?” She answered, “Queen Tatiana Petrov.” I pulled out a notebook and wrote that down. I asked, “Do you run your area?” She answered, “I do with my husband, but I am the ruling line. Which I feel was your question.”
I agreed, “It was… the question is did the Hunters coming out here to try and kill you know that… or are they just killing you off as they can? Is this a common occurrence? Are your numbers dwindling?” Queen Tatiana laughed, “You ask many questions.”
I agreed, “I do… it’s kind of my thing.” She grinned at me and led us further into the wooded areas. This was going to be fun. Iwas right, it was fun and there was food. I added them to my list and got them in touch with other people.
More time went by and I continued my work. Currently, I was monitoring a group of Hunters going after my Xander. They had a literal death wish and it needed to be studied. Sierra offered, “I’ll go track them with you.” I snorted, “I didn’t say I was going…” She gave me a look.
I continued, “The group said no.” She stared at me I grumbled, “Fine. I already know where they are. It’s a secluded area but you’re on the dinner shift. I got this. They will totally pay for thinking they can go after my Xander.”
She snorted, “That I know, but first they were getting information on him.” Which was also not allowed in my mind. Because he was MINE and I was the one allowed to gather information about him because….he was mine and that was fair….Plus, I did it to keep him safe and they were trying to hurt him. There were clear differences.
She left, and I got all my gear on and went through a holoport. I easily found them. Heck, a pup could’ve. Which technically I still was, but I felt like a grown up. I’d had to shed the pup mentality quickly down here and that’s really all there was to it.
I knew something else was out here. Something calling to me. Which was silly… neither things nor people called to me… they kind of did though. It’s how I kept finding other secret Supernatural groups. Well, some were accidental.
I set up my scope to scout the area and see if I could spot a new one and nearly screamed. There was DRAGON! A real Dragon. A purple one. I was fine. Normal even. Caine linked,“Are you all good? I know you hate it when the group disagrees with you.”
I squeaked, “Me? What? I’m so good. Normal and…” He groaned, “God, what did you do?” I answered, “Nothing yet.” He snorted, “Do not tell me you went where I think you did.” Well, he said not to tell him, so I didn’t reply.
One of the bounty Hunters yelled, “A Dragon?! Are you fucking kidding me?! There are Dragons!” Good plan, draw the Dragon’s attention to you by shouting. Darwinism at its finest. Dragon’s breathed FIRE. People were so dumb it hurt my brain.
One said, “Let’s skin it.” The other retorted, “Are you insane? It’s a dragon! We should keep it!” He had me thinking he was the smart one for a second with his first comment then he ruined it. KEEP A DRAGON?! Just casually. They did realize that was technically a WereDragon? Because I did. A royal one even.
The dumb one replied, “We can’t keep it! Look how big it is.” The less dumb one snorted, “Oh, but you think we can kill it.” He had a point, but it was moot since they were both going to die. Then I’d have to make sure I didn’t upset the WereDragon like they had.
