Twenty two people stand and sit around the large conference table. Elders mingle, talking to others they haven't seen in person for a long time. Two elders represent most races. Some, like Wendigos, are represented by others who share their interests, otherwise there would be too many elders to ever meet at once.
Only one of us, Stata, the other dragon elder is absent. Vulcan explained that she was in the process of evacuating all of the young dragons. Approximately fifty percent of their population is integrated with humans, so that is a large task.
Hestia and Remus stick together, mumbling to each other, neither is much for socializing. Loki, on the other hand, is moving from group to group, entirely in his element. He will make the perfect replacement.
After twenty minutes of mingling, it is unfortunately time to get to business. I stand from making my list, "If we could come to order, there is a lot to cover and very little time to react to the threats bearing down on us."
As everyone is taking a chair and sitting down, a werewolf elder, Zeev, says "Yes, our people have retreated further into the forests, but there is only so much we can do to protect ourselves from the threat. We must deal with this permanently and swiftly."
"Neither the forests, nor the seas are safe," Poseidon agrees. Murmurs of agreement ripple through the elders at the table.
"Before we get to that point, I would like an update on our rescued people who are still in recovery," I say, turning to Elder Sumara.
"Everyone who came off the ship alive is still alive, though three of our members are still needing intensive care. One female werewolf in particular is having difficulties holding her pregnancy. Elder Isis, if you would stop by whenever you have a moment to continue to help stabilize her? It may be the only way both of them survive the next couple of days." Samara, the witch elder who has coordinated our healers answers.
"I will spend every moment I can with her until the babe can be born. Children are always my priority," I respond, writing a reminder in the margin of my notes.
"The other two in critical condition are a young witch, and a phoenix. I have my best working on the witch, I am optimistic she will survive. Elder Belenus just helped the phoenix safely go into a a premature burning phase, so they should be back to themselves in no time. Though a premature burning phase may cause some of the injuries to become permanent, so we will be watching them closely."
"I was able to heal them well enough that they should get full function of their wings back, but there will be quite a bit of scarring." Belenus adds.
Samara nods, "Scarring in phoenixes can cause dysphoria in phoenixes, so we will continue watching them. Everyone else should be fully functional by the end of the week at the latest. More pressing is finding space for all of them. Understandably, Many did not feel comfortable returning home. Those who did have bolt holds, like New Eden or Atlantis. I have a team working on finding each person a safe place to stay."
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"They are welcome to stay here until they find a place they are more comfortable, though those that need an oxygen environment will need to remain in these two corridors, which may feel confining after a time," I offer.
"The wolves will need to come with us. Too long without running with a pack is damaging to our mental and physical health," Zeev points out.
Many heads around the table nod in agreement.
"That will not be necessary. I brought all those ready to travel to the deep Amazon pack this morning," Belenus says.
"Thank you. That is our safest pack," Minsi, the other werewolf elder says.
"I have also set a pheonix to fly alongside them, just in case they are discovered," Surya, the other pheonix elder offers. "I would be happy to disperse our flock to those most at risk."
"Before we do that, I feel it would be prudent to learn what was discovered in the ship's data." Luci, the demon elder says.
"Unfortunately, the data from the ships systems were not positive. They had lists of our people they had already identified and a timetable for bringing them in. Fortunately, Loki and Hestia found those lists with enough time for me to organize a number of teams to retrieve those at risk," Remus leans his elbows on the table and folds his hands, "as of the start of this meeting, we have retrieved all but four who were targeted. I have teams going after those four, and they are to alert me if the mission fails or if a team fails to check in on time. As long as no one comes running in here panicked, we can assume everyone has been safely retrieved."
"Fortunate they found that list, I'm glad everyone is safe," Elder Vulcan adds.
"Are you?" Loki mutters, just loud enough to be heard.
"Excuse me?"
"We have evidence that Elder Vulcan betrayed us to the humans," Hestia opens a computer, brings up a video, and turns the computer so everyone can see it. The video is of a negotiation with Elder Vulcan. He is bartering our lives for the lives of the dragons.
The longer the video plays, the angrier his fellow elders get. When he starts naming names and giving locations of magical people, the anger boils over.
Oberon stands, "I move Elder Vulcan be stripped of his rank and held for interrogation!" A chorus of sconds follows. So many, we don't need a formal vote to know the verdict.
Vulcan moves to stand and sneak out of the room, but Remus is faster. He has Vulcan restrained against the wall before anyone else can react. "You don't understand! They had found one of our children! It was the only way to get them back safe!"
"You could have come to us! We could have helped you! Any of us could have helped you!" Inari of the elves cried, uncharacteristically losing her composure.
"There wasn't time, they were ready to dissect her," Vulcan sounds defeated.
"I had to deal with sixteen body bags because you didn't ask for help," Loki says evenly. Tone belying the rage in his eyes. "Even if that was the deal you had to make, you could have told us so we could protect our people."
"You have broken your vows to protect all of our people. Did Stata have anything to do with this?" I ask.
Vulcan sighs, defeated. "I knew this would come out, that's the real reason she isn't here. She doesn't know. If she did, you would have. Remus, I won't run, can you lighten up?"
"Sixteen bodies says no," Remus spits, pushing Vulcan harder into the wall.
"Belenus, Remus, would you mind throwing Vulcan in a cell. Preferably one with little to no oxygen," I suggest.
Belenus rounds the table, placing one hand on each of their shoulders. In a flash of fire they are gone, and the room devolves into chaos. If we can't trust our own, who can we trust?