CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Lily was pleasantly surprised when a few days after she and Evan had gone to the alley that he last saw James alive – and when she had spoken to Farkas – the werewolf had indeed kept his word and had gone to the dragon reserve in order to discuss with Oakington and some of the other Dragonologists where the surveillance cameras should be placed. Farkas also permitted them to test out some models he had in order to see which one the Dragonologists like the best. She found out because the Lady Regent, who had been going through Barty's notes about James's journals again after receiving letters from Barty about wanting a meeting in order to perhaps find clues about this scarred mystery man, had spotted Farkas escorting Harry back to Mossbridge Hall at around three-thirty in the afternoon. Harry had come back only the previous evening but that hadn't stopped her headstrong son from visiting his dragons the very next morning.

Even from the window, Lily saw that Harry was borderline furious; perhaps not even borderline by the time he reached the door. She quietly braced herself for an outburst – he must have been told the truth about the second attack on the dragon reserve. Lily made her way downstairs just as Nipsy was heading to the door. The poor house elf did not even get to greet the young Lord when he entered the house because he immediately launched into an angry tirade.

"I can't believe them! They had the raw nerve not to tell me that Inyala and Metis's children were targeted again! All they didn't want to ruin my time with Rodolphus and his family – I mean, how many times do I have to tell them that I don't like it when information gets withheld from me?"

Lily let her son rant as he went, smiling softly. "They didn't want to cause you undue stress, sweetheart," she mediated gently. "You have been rather on edge and school has not even begun yet."

"I want to at least know if there are situations – I wouldn't have cut the trip short since it wasn't that long anyway," Harry huffed. "Besides, it is the same as someone not telling you that something has happened to me."

"Yes, I suppose you are right there," Lily agreed readily. "I was not happy when they confessed to me that they indeed had been withholding information. I made them promise that they would tell you as soon as you were back."

"That they even needed to be instructed by you is bloody ridiculous!" Harry grumbled.

"Would young Master like some of Nipsy's truffle to calm down?" the elf decided to intercede at this point.

Harry sighed with relief. "Yes please! I might also need some of your amazing iced tea while you're at it, Nips. I genuinely feel like I am liable to throw something, and that isn't good. I am going to write some important letters soon and I would prefer not to sound annoyed and thus blow the entire operation before I even get started."

"Oh?" Lily frowned. "What letters, darling?"

"I am writing to some important patrons and Potions Masters in order to try and find some funding and grant money for Rodolphus and his research," Harry answered with a grin. "I managed to get the names of some well-connected people in Wales but I decided not to say or do anything then in case I came over too strong. So, hence why I am now required to turn to letter writing. Fire-Calling is not appropriate just yet."

Lily found herself smiling as her son followed their house elf to the kitchens. She only remembered Farkas's presence there when the werewolf cleared his throat. The Lady Regent turned to look at him sharply, while he regarded her coolly, but not with as much hatred and disgust as she had expected him to have.

"Your boy has gotten bigger since the last time I saw him," Farkas commented. "Bloody loves those dragons too. He tore those Dragonologists a new one for not ensuring that all the reinforcements were done properly and for not telling him about the second attack. I think even those dragons felt sorry for some of those wizards," the werewolf smirked at that.

Lily smiled softly. "Yes, messing with something that Harry holds dear is not really a good idea," she agreed. "His temper does tend to get carried away though. One of the few traits I had hoped that he would not inherit from me."

Farkas harrumphed but didn't say anything on that matter. Lily could not help but fiddle with her Regent ring. "Would you like to come inside and have a cup of tea?" she asked uncertainly.

The werewolf considered for a moment. "Might just take you up on that," he decided, stepping over the threshold and closed the door behind him. Farkas began taking his surroundings in. "Hmm. This place really is weird. Less stuffy and formal than the Manor, which is good, though. Fits you and James better. The young Lord as well, from what I see."

"Well, it certainly brings most of our guests out of their pureblood shells," Lily answered with a chuckle as she walked into the parlour and started to prepare the tea pot herself. Farkas followed carefully. "We are hidden – there are only a few of those who know we live here – but for those who do know, they are less uptight here than they ever were at Potter Manor."

"Yeah well," Farkas stated gruffly, "you can't stop a toff from being a toff." He regarded her with a look that Lily couldn't read properly, which just made her even more nervous. "Dealing with people like that has never been your talent, nor James's. Both of you were too open and honest for that."

"Yes, but we had to learn. We didn't have a choice in the matter," Lily pointed out. "James had to take over as Lord Potter at eighteen and I soon found myself widowed, with a baby son who was the new Lord and left to rule until he comes off age. I had to learn because otherwise the Potter seat on the Wizengamot would have been lost under my watch and that was something I was not going down in history for!"

"I remember all too well," Farkas reassured with a growl. "Doesn't mean you were made for this life, Lily."

"I don't think anyone is truly made for any kind of life inherently. One simply is forced to adapt," Lily answered frankly. "You were not made for a business life, you thought. You were a rising star in the Department of Mysteries – a liaison between them and the Muggle security services-"

"-and through a twist of fate, it was taken from me," Farkas finished with a mirthless laugh. "Much like you, in a way. Yes, I know, and James vouched for me all the way. Think that was the only reason your lot didn't put me to death for a crime I clearly didn't commit!"

"Probably," Lily whispered as the water in the tea pot started to warm up.

"You and James proved yourselves to be different from them," Farkas continued. "Even through Rhea's sickness … everything." He closed his eyes for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. Lily knew better than to say anything at this point. Rhea had been her friend, after all – losing her to an inherited heart condition before her time was still painful. "You helped with the business … the funeral … but you didn't help Fenrir when they came for him."

"Not that anyone would listen to me if I did," Lily scoffed. "The fact he was biting children – no matter the circumstance – no one would have given me the time of day. Not even Amelia Bones would have given me a minute to plead his case. I could have broken him out but that would make him a fugitive and me an accomplice. That would have helped no one!"

Farkas scowled at her but didn't say anything. He looked set to argue but he was clearly biting into his own cheek in order to stop himself from commenting. "I didn't think I was actually going to take the job this morning, despite saying I would. Vargas and Amarok changed my mind. Not only do we need the money, but they said that I … needed to talk to you. Your boy said the exact same thing when I accidentally told him about our past friendship. Face to face, even just to tell you how I feel." Farkas scoffed. "I hate that you sat back and let your wizard friends take my eldest. I know it put you in a difficult position but you were my closest friend! I … felt betrayed."

Lily swallowed and nodded.

"I chose to hate you; blame you for everything. I broke off contact despite the fact that I think both of us needed the other. I lost Rhea and Fenrir; you recently lost James and were still trying to balance being a mother and a Regent. I should have been there for you but I wasn't," Lily really didn't expect that much regret in the eyes of her werewolf friend. "I guess blaming you was easier than anything else."

"Farkas-" Lily began.

"Let me finish, damn it," Farkas chuckled softly, his expression warming. "I at least want a truce. I want to try and get some of our friendship back, if you will have me as a friend again? I am … asking you to forgive me."

Lily could not help the smile carving itself onto her countenance. "I do forgive you, Farkas. As long as you will eventually forgive me for not being able to help Fenrir – mentally, at least."

"Yes … you were not in the best of states. I can at least forgive you for that now," Farkas smirked wryly. "So, shall we have that tea?"

"Yes!" Lily beamed. "I do have something to admit that I have recently run out of Earl Grey, though."

"You have Lady Grey?" Farkas asked immediately.

"Always."

"Well thank fuck for that! I really don't like green teas, but don't tell Nipsy that. Elf still scares the fur off me!"

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"Harry! How are you, mate? How was Wales? How many Dragonologists are still nursing bruised egos after getting verbally torn apart?"

Marcus looked at his young friend in concern. "Greg, could you sound a little less sadistically happy, please?"

Gregory snorted. "Shut up, Marcus, you and Adrian have practically betted on whether or not a few of those idiots have ended up in St. Mungo's!"

"Greg, shut the fuck up!" Adrian huffed.

Harry chuckled at his friends' antics. He, Draco and Blaise had just come through the doors of The Leaky Cauldron, followed by the Malfoys and Madam Zabini, and as soon as the three of them were spotted by their friends, the usual banter commenced without paying the adults around them any mind whatsoever. Harry had missed this more than he cared to admit.

"No one is in St. Mungo's," he regretted to inform them, "but their egos are rather nicely bruised if I do say so myself!"

"We didn't expect anything less," Daphne grinned, Astoria giggling.

"We would be rather concerned if they were left unscathed," Theo agreed with a smirk. "So, they used your holiday with Rodolphus and his family as an excuse not to tell you, didn't they?"

"Of course they did, Theo," Harry rolled his eyes. "I told them never to do that again on pain of pranks."

"Ouch," Marcus chuckled. "Well, let us know if we can ever help with that!"

"I doubt that Mr. Diabolical needs any help from us, Marcus," Blaise stated dramatically. "His pranks leave people trembling at his very name!"

"Oh, Blaise!" his mother sighed in exasperation.

"They do, Mother!" Blaise insisted as a hearty chuckle went around the group.

"Yes, yes, I am utterly terrifying," Harry stated in a tone dripping with sarcasm.

Draco smirked at this point. "Well, you are but not because of your pranks when you get really annoyed." He then started listing. "Your hair, for one, the fact you have no natural fashion sense for the other – Hey! Harry, you just zapped me!"

"Correct!"

"You zapped me for telling the truth?"

"No, I zapped you because you're being an arse!"

"Then he needs way more lightning than that, Harry!" Vincent laughed.

Draco scowled at him. "Vince, stay the fuck out of this!"

"Draco, language!" Narcissa scolded lightly.

"But, Mother-"

"No buts, Draco! You do not need to use such language. Just because Adrian and Marcus are juvenile enough to use poor language, doesn't mean that you have leave to do the same!"

Draco began grumbling incoherently while his friends chuckled a little at his expense.

"So, children, where are we off to first?" Lord Greengrass decided to take the lead in creating the shopping plan for once.

"Well, considering all the boys want to go to the Quidditch shop, I personally think we should get the book shopping over and done with since Flourish and Blotts' is quite close to said tedious broom shop," Daphne answered.

"Daphne!" the boys predictably began protesting. "Quidditch isn't tedious!"

"And we may even see Hermione at the book store – she can help keep us sane," Astoria added.

The adults exchanged a look but didn't say anything; their children barely noticed.

"Do we even know if she is back from France yet?" Adrian asked.

"I got a letter from her yesterday that she is back," Theo answered, turning ever so slightly pink in the face.

This made his friends smirk.

"Been exchanging letters with Granger, Theo?" Blaise teased. "Since when?"

"None of your business," Theo stated firmly.

"Oh no, no, no, Heir Nott, that will not do," Daphne stated primly. "You will answer the question."

"I do not have to do anything of the sort. You'll have to Imperio it out of me," Theo replied crisply.

"Or we could just tickle it out of you," Harry pointed out with a malicious gleam in his eyes.

"Why? You exchange letters with Granger as well!" Theo pointed out.

"Yes but Harry is clearly like a brother to Granger, and we all know that you have a very poorly concealed crush on her," Vincent responded bluntly.

Theo spluttered indignantly, causing the adults to start chuckling again.

"Since when, Theo?" Lady Nott could not help but begin to tease her son.

"Mother!" Theo protested. "Do not listen to what they are saying. They are trying to embarrass me. I do not have a crush on Hermione Granger!"

"I would advise you to keep your voice down, son, unless you wish the whole of Diagon Alley to know," Lord Nott chuckled, eyes shining with mischief.

Theo grumbled incoherently, face now redder than a Gryffindor tie with adults and friends alike chuckling away heartily.

Fortunately, the group soon arrived at Flourish and Blotts, and the hunt for the new schoolbooks and extra reading material began. Daphne and her father went to hunt for text books while Astoria and Lady Greengrass went searching for some fun reading material as well. Harry, Draco and Blaise went immediately to get a copy of the new book on duelling that recently came out while Lucius, Narcissa and Madam Zabini went to gather the school books. Theo, Vincent, Gregory, Marcus and Adrian too went to see if they could find some more interesting books to read besides their textbooks for that year while their parents dealt with the mandatory reading material.

Inevitably, the group soon crossed paths with some of their other friends, also shopping for their books first.

Harry, Draco and Blaise met up with Neville, who was also at the stand.

"Longbottom!" Blaise was the first to recognise him. "How has your summer been, mate?"

"Good. I went to Denmark with my parents for a couple of weeks in order to study some of the Old Futhark runes up close in preparation for the exams," Neville grinned. "We then went to Sweden and Norway so we didn't get to tour the whole of Scandinavia, which I am still a little disappointed about but Finland is definitely on the list for our next trip."

"Nice! I think we will be the ones copying of you this term," Draco joked.

Neville flushed but looked rather pleased. "Doubt it. By the way, have you guys given any thought to which magical school you guys want to exchange to next year? I was thinking perhaps the one in Southern America."

"Oooo gutsy," Blaise whistled. "I was thinking of going to Beauxbatons to practise my French."

"Err no, you want to see if you can catch yourself a nice Veela girl," Harry rolled his eyes.

"I was thinking Durmstrang; they have some interesting courses, including Alchemy," Draco replied.

"Yeah for me it is a toss-up between Durmstrang and Japan," Harry admitted.

"Japan?" Blaise's eyes bugged out of his sockets. "I didn't think you would give yourself up for the exchange programme given how attached you are to your dragons."

"That is why Durmstrang is my go-to at the moment, but I have had a closer look at the curriculum at the Japanese school, and despite it being rather rigorous, I think it could be good," Harry answered. "But I don't like the long distance and the time difference all too much, you're right."

"Ooooo are you boys talking about the exchange programme for next year?" Predictably perhaps, the conversation magically summoned one Hermione Granger to join them, grinning from ear to ear. "I am thinking about going to Beauxbatons – they have such an interesting array of courses. I especially like the European History of Magic curriculum!"

"Surprising no one," Harry grinned as he embraced her warmly. "How was the rest of your summer, Hermione?"

"Oh wonderful! I cannot wait to show you all of my photos," Hermione's eyes shone happily. "And of course I hope you like your present. I haven't got it with me but I will make sure to pack it."

"Pfft. Don't worry too much about it," Harry reassured with a grin.

"So tell me, how was your holiday to Wales with one of your suitors? Theo didn't tell me much," Hermione grinned.

Blaise smirked at this. "Theo has been keeping you updated?"

"On quite a lot, yes," Hermione confirmed happily. She turned back to Harry eagerly. "So come on! Tell me! Is Healer Lestrange really as intimidating as he looks or is he a sweet heart behind closed doors?"

Draco and Blaise chuckled at this. Harry flushed a little. "He is a little distant, but that is a defence mechanism. He is thoughtful and generous – cares a lot about his research and his patients. But he is guarded with his emotions."

"Like most of us," Draco pointed out.

"Hmmm. Well, hopefully Harry will break through that shell quickly enough," Hermione stated happily.

"Oh, I think he already is," Blaise was only too happy to supply his input. "Our Harry has all three of those terrifying wizards wrapped around his little pinkie finger!"

Neville grinned at that. "That doesn't surprise me in the slightest."

Harry snorted. "Blaise is overexaggerating, as usual."

"What is Blaise overexaggerating this time?" Theo wanted to know as he and the rest of the group rejoined with Harry, Draco and Blaise. The Nott heir lit up visibly when he spotted Hermione. "Hello, Granger!" he composed himself a little. "How are you?"

"I am very well, Theo," Hermione beamed, utterly oblivious to the smirks around her. She then looked about her. "It seems that apart from Pansy and a few others, we have the band all together!"

"Indeed," Daphne grinned. "The boys wish to go to the Quidditch shop next so brace yourself!"

Hermione rolled her eyes but grinned. "I would be rather concerned if they didn't."

"Well, let's go pay for our stuff, gather our parents and let's get going," Adrian stated excitedly. "Before all the good cleaning stuff gets sold out again and I have to wait for next month's shipment like last time!"

The girls rolled their eyes but didn't argue. The Slytherins and Gryffindors rounded up their parents – Harry was very surprised to find the Greengrasses, Notts and Narcissa conversing with Hermione's parents – and as soon as the books were paid for, headed straight for the Quidditch shop. On the way Theo, Daphne and Hermione explained that apparently both Dr. Grangers had written to Daphne and Theo's parents on Hermione's behest because they wanted to know more about wizarding culture and adapt to it when visiting, such as the trips to Diagon Alley.

"My mother was rather surprised by the letter but of course, she can't resist dishing fashion advice, even if it is to a Muggle," Daphne had chuckled.

"Besides, they want to learn our customs. We'd be foolish not to take advantage of that," Astoria added primly.

At Quality Quidditch Supplies, the boys split up again. Harry actually joined the girls in the book section for once since all of his supplies were still in good condition, and he rather enjoyed to take a moment to simply observe his friends in action. Vincent and Gregory had once again been chased away from the spiked Bludgers by their mothers with their fathers chuckling away. Marcus and Adrian were perusing servicing kits, arguing price versus quality of the products. Draco, Blaise and Theo were absorbed with the brooms again; the purebloods were teaching Hermione's parents about Quidditch armour.

After what seemed like two hours, the group finally hauled themselves out of there and to Fortescue's ice cream parlour. The adults had a table to themselves and the kids sat at the other, which was just fine by Harry. It gave him the opportunity to update Neville and Hermione about what had really been going on at the dragon reserve and the fact that Inyala and Metis's children had once again been threatened.

As predicted, Hermione was soon red with righteous anger. "Utterly barbaric! Stealing dragon babies from their mother and trying to sell them on the black market. Whoever participates in such practises ought well be put into Azkaban!"

Neville patted her arm soothingly. "Hey, at least the surveillance cameras are up and those wards are now reinforced."

"As if that will deter them," Hermione huffed. "I am willing to bet sweets from Honeyduke's that it won't."

"Yeah, you win that bet easily, Granger," Gregory stated grimly. "These fellows aren't too bright. They will try again."

"And that name is nothing to go on. Dung!" Hermione continued fuming. "I mean, it has to be a pseudonym of some sort. No one in their right mind would call their child that!"

"Or it could just be a nickname," Blaise pointed out. "A ridiculous one, but still."

"Far more likely," Marcus agreed easily.

"Either way, there is something definitely fishy going on," Theo stated. "The fact that there was a second attack right after the Aurors supposedly fortified the wards, just feels wrong. There either is a traitor amongst the Dragonologists, or there is one amongst the Aurors."

"Or both," Neville supplied.

"Which means even more of a headache," Adrian huffed, already massaging his temples.

"Feels like the only way we are going to unravel this mystery if there is a well-laid trap," Daphne mused. "But it has to go undetected by anyone in the two places in question, which is the difficult bit."

The kids all frowned in unison at this point, pondering on how to tackle this particular problem.

"Shouldn't we ask Father to get some of his contacts on the case?" Astoria suggested.

"No, it's too risky," Daphne disagreed.

"But," Draco then lit up, "what if we only made it seem as though the message came from your father?"

Daphne's eyes widened; Astoria's practically bugged out of their sockets. "Impersonate Father?" Daphne hissed. "We would never get away with it!"

"Well, maybe Harry could pull a few strings with one of his suitors?" Theo suggested with a smirk. "I hear Evan Rosier is very good at laying well-timed traps."

Harry flushed a little. "Evan is already helping Mama with something. Besides, Old Man Selwyn is right – sleuthing and courting to not mix!"

"Yeah, but it's your dragons at stake. He will want to win bonus points with you, and your dragons are a sure way of getting those," Vincent pointed out with a grin. "If he says no, just ask Barty or Rodolphus and watch the jealous mayhem unfold!"

"There is something seriously wrong with you."

"Have you only just figured that out?"

"Well, there is one other person we could also ask," Hermione supplied. "Augustus Rookwood. I hear that he is one of the best Unspeakables in the Department of Mysteries. That has to count for something, right? Maybe he would be willing to help. For the right price."

"Now she's thinking like a Snake," Blaise smirked. "We have been bad influences on you, Granger!"

Hermione rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling at that. "I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad influence. Certainly an unexpected one." She then turned to Harry with a smirk. "So, what is this that I have been hearing about you trying to gather grant money?"

Harry flushed. "It isn't for me, it is for Rodolphus-"

"His favourite," chorused a few of the boys.

"I don't have a favourite!"

"Stop lying, Harry, or we will tell Lord Slytherin!"

"Then I will tell him you were the one who put the itching powder in his shirts, Adrian!"

"You wouldn't betray me like this!"

"Watch me."

It was safe to say that the adults were a mixture of concerned and amused by the banter.

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Arca found herself annoyed for the first time possibly in her draconic life. She had wanted to try and track down Chocolate-Rob and Pendragon dung-Leo and see if she could put faces to scents, but the entire day the reserve had been invaded by strange humans and humans that smelled like wet dog hanging up cameras in some of the obscure areas of the reserve and putting Glamours up on them.

The young Welsh Green had been more than tempted to try and scare them out of the reserve, but knew that it would perhaps alert the Dragonologists that something was wrong. After all, Arca was scared – and was still scared – to leave her lair at the best of times. If she suddenly started acting aggressive for no good reason, the humans would become suspicious.

And both of her human targets could catch wind of that. That was not what Arca wanted.

So, she bided her time and waited for these humans and wet-dog-scent humans to finish with their work and then waited for the opportune moment to begin investigating again. That was handed to her by a very unlikely source.

Her own sister Marsha. Because for whatever reason, Marsha decided to try and pick a fight with Arca over dinner.

*Perhaps I should ask Inyala to toughen you up. How will you be able to help protect our sister's eggs if you keep hiding away from everything and anything that scares you?* Marsha had snapped. *We need you to actually be useful, not a hinderance!*

*Marsha!* both Owain and Guendolin had protested.

*No! Arca is supposed to be a nest mother – a nest guardian too! But all she does is hide. Hide from the wind, the water,* Marsha puffed out smoke in irritation. *It is time that she grew up and grew a spine!*

For the first time in her life, though Arca wanted to cry, she found herself scowl at her big sister. *I am braver than you think!* she found herself retorting, much to the surprise of all three members of her family. *Just because I am different from you doesn't mean that I can't be brave or won't do what I need to protect Gwen's eggs! Those humans can try and take them from me. They won't survive!*

Marsha recovered quickly from her shock, and scoffed. *You are not a fighter. You never were! You will always be the scared little hatchling!*

Arca growled in response to this. *We will see about that, sister.*

With that, Arca marched out of the lair, scowling to herself, ignoring the calls from Owain and Guendolin to come back. Marsha's words hurt, and Arca did not want them to see just how much. It was why she wanted to be the one to see the Pendragon dung-Leo; to prove to everyone that she wasn't just scared little Arca.

To prove to Marsha she could protect in her own way, and to prove to Owain that she wasn't an undesirable nest mother. Arca wanted her eggs, and she was growing to really like Owain; she wanted a chance to be the second nest mother. And if brute strength or good looks were not going to win him over, perhaps a cunning mind would?

But the question the Welsh Green kept mulling over was, where should she start with finding this Leo? Perhaps with the last place she smelled his scent, near the lake? There was a chance that there was more than one scent but it was a good a place to start as any. Arca set off towards the lake she played in with a determined step.

Once she reached the lake area, Arca began flicking her tongue out quite rapidly, trying to catch the scents.

Mint.

Lila.

Lavender.

Anya.

Passion fruit.

Hallow.

Ginger.

Unregistered. Arca had no idea who this scent belonged to. Arca flicked out her tongue a few more times.

Wet dog.

Strange human.

Chocolate.

Rob.

Pendragon dung.

Leo.

Arca stopped. The scents were there, stronger than she expected, which meant that they had been back here since the last time she accidentally eavesdropped on them. It had to be, because otherwise they would never have been registered on her taste buds at all. Not as strongly anyway.

Arca frowned to herself. Which meant they were likely Keepers, instead of Dragonologists. The Keepers were responsible for the upkeep of the reserve, for the food, the bedding and even booking the wizard tooth hygienist for the dragons. Lila and Anya were unique in the fact that they did Keeper jobs as mothers to Bartok, Synok, Layna and Rocla.

If they are Keepers, that means they must have sleeping lairs here. All Keepers do, Arca thought to herself. Fortunately, she knew exactly where they were.

However, as Arca was about to head in the direction of the sleeping lairs belonging to the Keepers, she heard a twig snap behind her. The Welsh Green whirled around, her teeth already bared to strike – she even surprised herself with that reaction – but calmed down quickly when she saw none other than Layna standing behind her, looking utterly bewildered.

*Arca? Sorry, I did not mean to startle you.*

*Layna, what are you doing here?* Arca frowned.

*I could ask you the same question. Guendolin and Owain are frantically searching for you. Marsha said some mean things to you again and they are worried about you. They said you ran off. Rocla, Synok, Bartok and I offered to find you … what are you doing here?*

Again, for once Arca contemplated something that she had never done: lie. Arca wanted to find Pendragon dung on her own – but Layna and her siblings were fierce protectors of every dragon at the reserve. Arca knew she was older than them, but she also knew her place in hierarchy was below Layna's.

*I found Pendragon dung,* Arca found herself confessing. *It is one of the Keepers. Issue is, I have no idea which one.*

This made Layna's eyes bug out of her sockets. *But … but how?! How did you find him?*

*I snuck out for a dip once and I accidentally overheard him speak to a chocolate scented human called Rob. Pendragon dung tried to help kidnap Inyala's eggs the first time, but not the second,* Arca informed. *The word blackmail was mentioned. No idea what it is, but I do know it is bad.*

*Oh it is. It means a human is holding something over his head,* Layna answered with a frown. *He didn't do it the second time? So that means there is another bad human here apart from Pendragon dung!*

Arca nodded in agreement.

Layna cocked her head at the Welsh Green. *Why didn't you tell us, Arca? We could have helped-*

*I wanted to do this alone, to be the protector,* Arca confessed easily, kicking the ground. *To prove to everyone – especially Marsha and Owain – that I am not weak and not just a scared little hatchling.*

Layna gaped a little at this but soon recovered, a look of sympathy spreading onto her countenance. *You are not weak, Arca. You are just … different. Like we all are. That is why we need protecting. None of us could survive out there, not even Marsha. She likes to think so, but she couldn't. We reserve dragons are not made for the wild.*

*I am not a suitable nest mother or nest guardian, not unless I prove myself,* Arca insisted quietly. *I need to catch these humans myself.*

*But you can't do it alone,* Layna reasoned. *With my help, you have an extra set of senses and eyes. And if I tell the others your reasons, I am sure they will keep your secret and give you all the credit. I certainly will! You deserve it – you found him!*

Arca pondered for a moment. Layna was right – the Hebridean Blacks had amazing senses and they were trusted by the humans. They could go into the human canteen without anyone batting an eyelid! Having them on her side would ensure that these humans would be found soon enough.

*Very well,* Arca conceded quietly. Layna lit up. *But I am heading to the sleeping lairs right now so-*

*I will come along! You lead the way,* Layna stated happily.

Arca smiled softly and quietly wondered as the young Hebridean Black followed her like an excited hatchling if this is what it felt to be a mother.

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Hmmm it seems Barty might have found something. Wonder what it could be? And who is this man who James met? Could it have something to do with what Barty wants to discuss? Has it to do with this Dung person? Will Arca and Layna's endeavours bear fruit? Stay tuned to find out!

It has been a while for this story hasn't it? I do apologise to those who really like this story. This story is one that needs a lot of stewing for me, for some reason. But when the idea strikes, it strikes hard and it strikes fast so that is why it finally gets an update. I hope that you enjoyed it and I sincerely hope all of you have a blessed Yule, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I cannot wait to continue writing for all of you.

Kingmaker'sUmbreon