Civil Communication

Jack stared coolly at the figure before her, realizing there was little hope for the leader. "I am not here to debate political philosophy with you. I am here to give you the facts so that we can avoid unnecessary bloodshed. You are on the verge of forcing a war. And wars never bring more benefit than cost, not even to the victors. Furthermore, those before you have found that a war between werewolves and humans is far less beneficial for both than coexistence."

But he would be hearing none of it. "They will not give Khaat up, because there are fare too many people loyal to her, despite your claims that humans lack such sentiment. You can stalk a doe but you can't expect the stag to spare you its antlers. I'm not threatening you - I'm warning you, because I want to preserve the werewolf population. You will kill most of your pack with this endeavor." Her voice had raised, hopeful that any of his pack members may hear her. If any dissension ever occurred, she wanted them to know they could find someone to speak to.

She paused. "Regardless, I've brought you these resources in the hopes that compromises may be reached in the future. I will not give up on finding even ground for all of us. I'd like to negotiate such things as your use of underage wolves, means of recruitment, and citizen casualties. Obviously, we would like to minimize attacks on underage people, and would rather not get them trapped into a war they are not prepared for. I would very much hope that with your confidence in your pack, you will not be looking to recruit more. And I would hope for minimal citizen casualties. I recognize I will not get all of these, but I'd like to negotiate. I cannot give you Khaat Lupin, but surely there are other needs and other desires for your pack. Steady, safe lodging, perhaps."

"If it were easy, I wouldn't need to hunt her, would I?" he asked. "I do know you're not making a threat." James knew she was in no position to threaten, so he wasn't taking it that way. However, he wasn't able to give her up.

He couldn't get her out of his senses, and he wasn't sure he wanted to. He had her in his crosshairs, and it was only a matter of the right attack before he had her and the stone.

He listened on the night air to see if any of his pack were going to respond to her bait, but the night was still.

"Nice try," He shrugged. "Let me relieve your concerns about the 'underage' werewolves. We age our adults differently. There is no rite of passage for them to graduate or turn a mandatory 17 before they fit. They're adults when I say they are.

"I don't send my cubs out to battle. If one of my pack is fighting, then its because they're ready. You could spread the word for me, if you really want to do something.

"There are two options on the table. If the humans don't want to die, then they need to elevate themselves to life as a werewolf. Otherwise, they will be considered prey and disposed of. The choice of whether one of you will be a casualty is not up to me. Its up to you.

"I appreciate your offer for housing, but its not going to be very long before I can choose any place I want. Oh, and not to change the subject, but congratulate her for me, would you? Until I can do it myself, of course," he said. "Her scent has slightly changed. She's taking an herbal potion now. A combination of herbs that is very common as a prenatal formula. This blend is a bit heavier on the Echinacea."

She did not need a response from his pack now. It was out there. If they ever doubted his leadership, as she was certain one or two of the more independent ones would when they realized what life he was choosing for them all, they would know to go to her. That part of her mission, at least, was completed. Communication was open.

She looked harshly at him now, for the topic of children was something she would not budge on. "Twenty nine days a month you fall fully and squarely under magical law, and our underage children are protected by that law. I will prevent direct attacks on your life and the life of your pack if you can guarantee that children seventeen and under are not recruited. Stepping onto Hogwarts land is a warrant for any werewolf, whether or not they are in your pack. You may wish to spread that word. It is not necessarily my choosing that it be so, but it is."

Jack paused. It seemed their dialogue was coming to an end. She kept her voice raised, and it carried far and wide. "I will be here weekly to give any supplies and medical attention that is needed. If you become more willing to budge, please let me know. The people who love Khaat love her too dearly to give her up. Killing and destroying only damns your name more for when you face your crimes. Any wolf who wishes to renounce their crimes and escape this life may do so. There are many who live happily, without fear, and with full stomachs." Jack paused. "I believe that is all matters we had to discuss, unless you have anything else." Elliot was listening now, still sniffing in the brook, but getting ready to join his master when she chose to leave.

He listened to her attempting to set boundaries, reach out to the lesser members of his pack. It was noble. Foolish, but noble.

"Actually, yes. There is just one more thing. Just for clarification. We do not recognize your human laws. You can pigeon-hole us in your minds as much as you like but we don't recognize it. In my pack, the only law-is-mine," he said, emphasizing the last couple of words.

"As for the young people who joined my pack, I have no rules about making them stay. They don't believe they need to escape anything. They're not captives. They're free to come and go as they like, send owls, hold jobs, or anything else they choose to do.

"Yes, I turned them, as I will turn more humans. As I said, anyone who doesn't agree to be turned will die. Including you--when I choose to offer it to you.

"The four I turned were merely elevated to a higher form of life. That's all. At no time did I ever tell them they had to stay. I took them in, and we've provided well for them. They have every need met that they have, and they are all stronger and healthier than your kind helped them be. They make their own choices.

"The two females have decided to stay to join the honor of growing the pack, have been chosen by males, and appear to be expecting cubs. If any of them decide to return to the humans, they're free to make that choice, but they have wisely, so far, not chosen a death sentence. They choose life.

"I also understand very well that your kind prefers not to be hunted. Is that not a basic element of the hunt? For example, if I wanted to, I could come after you.

"You have three choices. Surrender, fight, or run. Two of those are mere resistance. You object. Understandable. If you run, for example, I chase you, I catch you, I kill you, I win. Its a fairly simple formula but its been working for a very, very long time for a lot of species. You don't have to like it. I don't expect you to.

"But don't delude yourself into thinking that its a foregone conclusion that humans will win this war simply because they always have. I will win, and I will take it all. I will take Khaat Lupin and crush her family. I will take the stone. And I will take the humans. All of you."

"Oh, bring one of those sweet young gullible things from the Prophet next time, won't you? Its about time the rest of your kind met me," he laughed, amused at the fear he could spread amongst them.

He opened the flasks and smelled the wolfsbane and wrinkled his nose. He had no use for that. He picked up the steaks instead. "You can have those," he gestured to the flasks. "We don't consider our kind to be a curse that we need to medicate ourselves for.

"Nice seeing you again, Ginger."

Jack would not argue with him if he did not want to hear reason. Jack would have no choice but to tell the others that James Blood could not be handled with in any sort of delicacy. She would, however, suggest they make sure to take him alive and punish him legally, like a human being. She had been working for years to provide equality for werewolves, and that meant equal treatment under the law. She thought that brand of justice would be suitable for the lead werewolf.

She would suggest more leniency with his pack, though she would like to meet with them as well. That would be her next step - finding the individual pack members and speaking with them.

She sighed. "I hope things do not get as bad as you speak of. I hope reason finds you before the law does. I'm leaving the Wolfsbane. Do what you will. Elliot." Her Grytrash bounded towards her and immediately fell into stride with her as she walked calmly out of the clearing, senses alert to her surroundings.