Lupine let out a dark laugh, with sounded odd from a wolf muzzle.

"You've beaten me and Descendants not once, not twice but three times. Normally I'd be insulted, but I think I'll let it go now. Looks like there's more to you lot than just troublemakers."

I scowled in his direction, but didn't say anything, I'd almost forgotten about that. Anger rose within me, but I fought it back down, allowing it to settle into a cold lump in my stomach. That could wait.

Lupine lowered his head slightly and looked straight into my own eyes. "As annoying as it is to say, I don't think I can beat you, not while I'm like this."

I was about to say something about the deal when the ice tiger did something that blew my mind.

"We'd better go Jackie."

If I could I'd have staggered back in shock.

What the...?

"Is there really time for this? Yes, I'm the tiger, let's move on."

I'm insane. I decided. I've finally gone insane from the stress.

"You are not insane." Growled the tiger, letting out a real world growl at the same time.
"I am actually doing this. Can we move on?"

An ice tiger, that's telepathic and has an attitude. Wonderful.

The wolves surrounding Jamie parted and he got up, practically running over since I think we both knew that I'd have trouble.

"Jackie!" He cried in relief as he reached me. He looked like he was about to hug me, but given that wolf drool was sliding down my armour, he seemed to decide against it. Instead he shot me a relieved grin, which I returned.

Now he had reached me I lifted my hand up, palm down and quickly lowered it, releasing the frozen Descendants and Lupine. Neither groups attacked, aware that the fight was over.

"So. " Said Lupine as the three of us started to leave. "You'll keep up the deal."

"I'll talk to the Heads, but I can't promise anything."

Lupine growled, but seemed to accept that.

"Fine."

Jamie and I followed my frost back, clearly much slower than Jamie would like, but I was still injured. Now that the adrenaline from the fight had faded my injuries seemed to be more painful than before.

"What happened to you?" He asked from slightly behind me. The cavern wasn't large enough for us to walk side by side. Yet he had stayed as close to me as he could.

"Lupine's Descendants fought me a couple of days ago. I haven't healed from it yet."

"What's with the tiger?"

"I have no idea."

"You haven't even asked my name." Said the tiger who was taking up the rear.

Playing along I sighed and said.

"What's your name?"

"...I don't actually have one."

"That's useful."

"Are you talking to yourself Jackie?" Asked Jamie.

"No, I'm talking to the tiger. You mean you can't hear it?"

"Nope" said Jamie as the tiger said.

"I'm female, not an it."

"Sorry, her."

"We've plenty of time to think of a name as we walk."

Coming up with names is not something that's high on the agenda right now.

"It should be!"

If I wasn't Descended from a Guardian, then I'd have written off the entire conversation as me going mad, Jamie seemed to think so looking at him. Sadly, this wasn't the case. I had plenty of reason to think I'd gone bonkers, but I don't think I'd quite hit insanity at this point.

How's, Taboo? I said, not really thinking.

"Taboo sounds good to me."

We exited the cave and I got Jamie and Taboo onto an ice bridge, pulling up and away from the entrance to the cavern.

Almost immediately Jack appeared in front of us, looking worried and annoyed at the same time. He opened his mouth to say something when Taboo let out a snarl and leapt towards him.

"TABOO! STOP!" I yelled as Jack cried out in shock and backpedalled in mid air.

Taboo didn't seem to hear me as she landed on the hill below, her ice claws leaving groves in the earth. She leapt off the ground towards Jack, her mouth open and snarling.

I formed a rope of ice and flung it forward, wrapping it around her neck and pulling her back.

Her paused mid snarl and landed heavily back on the ice bridge behind me. Her ice body was undamaged and she got to her feet, now glaring at me.

"Don't." I said, to which Taboo growled, but seemed to accept my authority and settled on the ice.

I turned back to Jack, who in his curiosity had drifted closer.

"Sorry, don't really know what that was about."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Asked Jack, looking a little, no, a lot hurt. "You're in control of it, right?"

"Er, no."

Jack hovered there with a slack expression of shock, then groaned and tilted his head back. "You've got to be kidding..."

"I'm not. Jack, Taboo. Taboo, Jack Frost."

Taboo didn't respond, just looked at her paws a little sulkily.

"I thought me and North-." Started Jack.

"I know, and I didn't listen. I'm sorry."

Jack shook his head and looked at Jamie, his expression turning to worried and he flew closer, almost examining Jamie. Jack always seemed to see Jamie almost like a little brother, so was naturally going to be worried.

"Jack, I'm fine." Said Jamie, a little exasperated, I expected that he just wanted to go home.

"Sorry." Jack looked a little sheepish. "I was really worried when Jackie said you'd gone missing."

He turned towards me and his expression hardened slightly.

"I thought we were going to find each other when we found something."

"I wasn't sure I'd be able to find the entrance a second time." I admitted. "I didn't want to risk anything."

I turned my head back to the entrance, which was just behind us. "We'd better go anyway."

I got Taboo to stand back up and we started skating back to Burgess, with Jack at the head and the wind pushing us along.

Jack had taken Jamie home, thankfully leaving me out of the process. Despite what I'd told Mrs Bennett, I really didn't want to deal with the police. Instead I headed down into the base to deal with the Heads.

They were still in the old base, and probably still in the Council Chamber. I stood in front of the double doors with Taboo on a very tight leash. The amount of scents must have driving her insane, from the amount of low snarls she was making.

I formed an ice shaft and shoved it hard into the earth floor, then fused the short leash to it.

"Do not move." I told Taboo, who growled in annoyance.

I was really starting to regret this, but I had a horrible feeling that there wasn't much I could do about it.

I turned away from Taboo and looked up at the doors. They were tall, standing at least twice my height. The break between the two doors made them look like a pair of rectangular eyes, judging my actions.

With I wanted to say clear in my mind I knocked on the doors.

In a rather intimidating manner the doors opened inward, revealing the long table with only three figures on it.

Alfred, Alexander and Claire were sitting at the furthest end of the table and they all turned to face me as I entered. There was an earth model in the centre of the table and various bits of paper, I'd probably interrupted something.

I felt an irrational bolt of fear in my stomach, but I didn't move, now it was time to lay it on thick.

I saluted and Alfred chuckled.

"What are ya after lass?"

Small flaw in my plan, Alfred knew that I hated saluting for no apparent reason.

"Come in Davies." Said Claire, calmer than Alfred, but now a little wary from what Alfred had said. There went my plan.

I hobbled in and tried to ignore Alexander wincing as the doors slammed behind me. I had to hold in a smart arse comment about the doors being successfully intimidating as I walked over to the three present Heads.

"There are more Descendants of Lupine." I started and before Alfred could interrupt me I kept going. "And they're not happy that Pete's pack is being held here."

Alfred frowned, being Head of the Descendants of Jack Frost meant that he knew exactly what had happened a few days ago, unlike the other Heads who only knew that I had been attacked. "Whaddya mean by 'not happy'?"

"I'm fine." I assured him, "They just want their fellow Descendants freed."

"They attacked you, a member of HOG." Said Claire, "And we've been looking for them for a month, we can't release them just yet."

Okay, looks like Alfred had passed on that information. I suppose I couldn't really blame him for that.

"I'm just passing on what they told me." I said, shrugging. "Now I've done that, I'll be going."

I made to leave when Alfred got up from his chair. He turned to the other two Heads.

"I'll be back in minute."

He walked over to me and gave me a look I couldn't quite read.

"Let's go outside."

I frowned and mentally cursed. He knew I hadn't told the whole truth, I forgot how perceptive he could be.

I followed him out slowly, where Taboo was still waiting, all curled up on the ground, sulking. She looked up and growled at Alfred, who jumped about a foot in the air as the doors fell shut behind us.

"What the hell!"

"Alfred, Taboo. Taboo, Alfred." I said, glaring at Taboo, "Be nice."

"Fine" She said and it was my turn to jump, it was going to take me while to get used to that.

Alfred sighed, rubbing his eyes. For a moment he looked like something I never actually expected him to. Old.

"Jackie, what happened? Exactly."

Alfred had his arms folded as he looked at me, and I realised I couldn't lie to him. So I told him everything that had happened.

When I was done Alfred looked ready to explode.

"Lass, are you crazy?! Just because you took on Lupine before doesn't mean you can do it again! You could have gotten yourself killed, and no one would have known what had happened. If you'd have told us we could have gotten a squad together or something!"

I hadn't told him about what I'd found out from Pete, and it still hurt. To the point where I didn't want to address it. Not here, not now. There was also a chance that Alfred didn't know either.

"I know, I'm sorry. I was just so worried about Jamie that I didn't think."

"Obviously. I know ya care for the boy, but you should have come to us first. This needed a diplomatic approach. Not your 'guns blazing' tactics."

"They kidnapped a non Descendant! After attacking two other non Descendants!"

"I know, and they were all people close to you. I'm not blind to what's 'appening 'ere lass. But there's a lot of politics surrounding Descendants. What they're doing isn't right, but what you did wasn't either! You needed to at least tell us."

"And I didn't, and I'm not sorry." I bit back. "Who knows how long it would have taken for you lot to come to a decision, Jamie might have been dead by then!"

"We wouldn't have let that happen!" Cried Alfred, slowly losing control of his temper.
"However we would have talked it out rather than gone the violent route. Lass, violence doesn't solve everything."

"I know that."

At the point Alfred lost control of his temper.

"You just thought it was appropriate did ya? What if you'd failed? What if your friend got killed because you went violent? What if he had gotten caught in the crossfire? Did you think of that lass?!"

I leaned back from the yelling Scot's man and looked at my feet. "...No."

"I thought not."

Alfred sighed and rubbed his eyes, calming down. "Look lass. You didn't tell us because you were still annoyed about us not wanting to get involved when you went to help the rest of HOG. You didn't say it but I can see it."

I almost wanted to laugh with relief. He'd taken it completely the wrong way. Yes I was angry at them, but not for that anymore!

"I'm not goin' ta tell the other Heads exactly what you told me. I'll do that after we've got this sorted, but I suggest you keep a low profile for a bit. Okay lass?"

I nodded. "I can try."

Alfred sighed, seeing that at this rate, that was best I can offer.

"Unfortunately, I can't let yer actions tonight slide lass."

"What do you mean?"

Alfred looked directly at me, his dark brown eyes solemn.

"Lass, while what you did may have just saved that kid, it may have ruined any chance of co-operation or at least compromise with the Descendants of Lupine."

Alfred paused, his gaze having not left me. "You are not to attend the Workshops this summer."

I spluttered in shock. "What?! That's-!"

"I wouldn't say it was unfair. Actions have repercussions Jackie, you are part of a whole, not a single person, and sometimes I think ye forget that. It may not seem that way, but we do have to be careful when it comes to other Descendants that we don't normally deal with. And ya blew tha' outta the water."

I had nothing to say. I didn't really agree, but I could see where he was coming from.
Alfred sighed again, more out of weariness this time. "Alright, you'd best head home for now. See ya lass."

Alfred went back into the Council Chamber to talk things over with the Heads and I stood there for a bit, trying to make sure everything he said had sunk in. I was angry at the Heads, so I assume that was partially why I went ahead with Jack to rescue Jamie, but he was my friend, you can't blame me for that!

And no attending Workshops next summer; that was harsh. Workshops were the only thing that made that season bearable. We usually went somewhere cold to practice with the surrounding snow.

Taboo growled and shifted her position.

"So, you're going to be pushed around by him?"

I shot her a look. He's the Head, I can't argue with him.

"Whatever." Yawned Taboo and I undid the ice leash irritably.

We're going. Now.

So I went home with Taboo in tow, carefully telling her who and who not to attack on sight as I tried to keep calm. This was going to be a long night.