I don't own American Dragon, just the characters you don't recognise from tv.

XxXxX

It didn't take us long to walk down off the cliffs and then up out of the bay. The local park wasn't far and it didn't take us long but Lao Shi was already waiting. I walked over, nervously. Lao Shi looked up at me and I realised I felt far differently about this old man than when I'd first met him. I knew I should respect him but I also felt slight resentment towards him. If he'd waited to speak to me personally, none of this needed to happen.

'Lao Shi' I said lowly

He looked up at me and his eyes wiped any negative feelings away. He was clearly tired and under a great amount of stress. I sat next to him and put my hand on his arm.

'I will do everything I can to help you find him' I said softly

Lao Shi nodded 'I know it is a great risk for you to be out of the Werewolves protection but I needed every detail I could get from you'

I nodded and he looked down at Fu Dog 'Great to see you doll face, but I must say, you look a bit thin'

'I spent two weeks worrying about everyone with no word' I replied simply

'For that I apologise, I asked them not to reveal anything because you would come out of hiding but now it is necessary' Lao Shi told me 'What do you know about this bounty hunter yourself'

'Only what Jake told me and he told me the bounty hunter was notorious for getting his catch and that he appeared to be working for a Warlock' I replied

'Is that all' Fu Dog asked

'That and my father, Wheylyn, said that he knew the Warlock, said his name was Bayard. He also said that he likely wasn't after me, that he was after Wheylyn. He also sent two untagged Lycanthropics to keep an eye out for Emily and Nicky but seeing as the full moon is drawing near he'll likely be calling them back' I told them

'Why is he after your father?' Lao Shi asked

I didn't want to be revealing information to a member of the dragon council about the sanctuary but I realised at this point I had no choice.

'I don't impart this lightly so please keep this between us' I told him 'Wheylyn set up the first Lycanthropic sanctuary. It is a vast cave system and it is force field protected, it seems to stop your tags finding the Lycanthropics they are attached to'

'We were aware of some black hole in this area that seemed to swallow up Lycanthropics, we never thought of magic enchantments' Lao Shi said

'I'm not exactly sure what happened but once it was established and Lycanthropics began to turn up Bayard turned on Wheylyn and he kicked him out. Bayard knows of the area but I think even he cannot find the sanctuary' I said, thoughtfully.

'So you think Bayard is after revenge on Wheylyn?' Lao Shi asked

'Even Wheylyn isn't sure but that's what we suspect. They targeted me but they were after my father. We're also not sure how Bayard knew about me, the sanctuary was set up before I was even around' I replied

'So the hunter has targeted Jake to get to you to get to your father?' Fu Dog asked 'Isn't that a bit extreme?'

'If the Warlock and the hunter are desperate enough they will use any means necessary' Lao Shi replied

I was busy now trying to formulate a plan 'Does the hunter know I've managed to get to the sanctuary?'

'We're not sure but we can assume yes because he went for Jake and Jake obviously wasn't with you' Fu Dog replied

Shai nudged me and I looked at him.

'What if we let him capture you?'

I stared at him, it appeared he'd also conveyed the message to Lao Shi and Fu Dog.

'Are you mental?' I asked loudly

'No, we need a collaboration between the Dragons and the Lycanthropics and we need to pull it off before the full moon' Shai told us

'What are you thinking?' I asked

'We get the dragons to tag you and then wherever the bounty hunter takes you we can follow you. You also might be able to learn why things went so wrong with Wheylyn and Bayard' Shai suggested

'It's a good plan but what if he sets up magic wards and we can't follow the tag' Fu Dog asked

'Is there some kind of enchantment you can put on me or the tag to get rid of a shield?' I asked

'There may be something' Lao Shi answered

'You do realise kid that if they decide to leave that in you, you won't be able to go back to your father' Fu Dog pointed out

I looked at Shai and he looked at me sadly 'It's a risk I'm willing to take for Jake. Set up a meeting with your council members and I will set up one with my father. But I will only bring him on the condition that he is allowed to walk away and go back to the sanctuary unchallenged and unfollowed. The same goes for anyone he would bring with him' I said sternly

Lao Shi nodded 'I will do my best. I will be in touch within the next few days'

'Remember, it's the full moon next week. We need this done before then' I reminded him.

'Yes' Lao Shi said 'I wish to apologise for the way things have gone'

I looked at him carefully before answering 'I get it, you were only doing what was best for you and Jake'

Lao Shi nodded

XxXxX

'This is preposterous!' William shouted, smacking his hand on the table in front of him.

I twitched but didn't say anything. Wheylyn stood, a deep frown on his face.

'It's almost like you don't want progress William' He said

'I have to agree with William' Charles said 'If they capture Wheylyn, what are we to do?'

'We carry on. We had a period of time that Wheylyn wasn't with us, I remember it well' Elenor pointed out

'I wish to leave Bryce in charge when I go. We have no way of knowing how long Selena, Shai and I will be gone. I believe it is best if I elect a temporary leader now' Wheylyn said

'Are you sure you want to do this?' Charles asked 'I have nothing against Selena, but it is not her I distrust'

'Lao Shi apologised for his mistake, there was genuine guilt in his eyes' I said

'It doesn't matter if he was guilty or not. If the dragons decide to capture you all who is supposed to lead us, if not your father, you or Shai?' William asked

I pulled a face 'I wasn't aware Shai or I had a sudden responsibility to lead here'

'You do not unless something happens to me, which it won't' Wheylyn said loudly

'What if it does Wheylyn?' William snapped

'Fine, if you are so against Wheylyn going, then I will go with her' Bryce said

'You will do no such thing!' I shot back

'And why not?' Bryce asked

'Because we are expecting' Elenor said

'Our baby will probably be hybrid like Selena. What if Selena proves hybrids are safe? It won't have to hide like we do and it also won't have the trauma of transforming and being compelled to bite every month' Bryce replied

Elenor held her belly and looked at Bryce with a pained expression. I stood up and went to her and put my hand on her shoulder.

'I agree with Elenor' I said

'As do I. Fathers should be with their children' Wheylyn said, looking at me meaningfully

Charles sighed 'I believe that settles it, Wheylyn, Shai and Selena will go'

'I don't think Shai should go either' I said

'What?' Wheylyn asked

'What if they don't understand him? And they treat him like a dangerous dog? He has a family too, a pack' I pointed out

'But you are blood Selena' Shai said

'I know Shai, and I'd do it for you, but I'm not having them tag you. I think if I take two tagged Lycanthropics with me they won't be bothered about keeping them back' I replied 'I made a deal that whoever went with me would be allowed to walk away with no consequence but I don't know these other people and I don't know whether they'll double cross'

'I will go then' Charles said

'But I-' Shai started

'Selena is right Shai. They'll be more bothered about you than us' Wheylyn said

Shai looked at me one last time and around at everyone else before sighing in defeat and nodding.

'Alright, I will remain here'

XxXxX

The Sphinx hair net had been on Jake for so long now that he was feeling very lethargic and drowsy, feeling stupid for actually getting into someone else's vehicle and being trapped like this. The cell he was in had no windows and due to him spending hours dozing, he was unsure of how long he'd been there.

The cell doors suddenly burst open, waking him from his stupor and Jake could only roll his head to look over at the Warlock. It was the first time he'd actually seen him. He wasn't any Warlock he'd ever come across so he just rolled his eyes and looked away.

'If you're gonna kill me just do it. I know scales and hide go into your potions and spells' Jake said lazily

'Why would I kill you when I can lure out a Lycanthropic?'

His voice was smooth like silk and dangerous sounding. Jake's head flicked back to him.

'What do you want with Selena?' He asked, managing a menacing tone despite feeling anything but.

XxXxX

Lao Shi arranged for us to meet in the local park again and then I had to wait another two days. It was likely I would be taken in there and then so it was difficult saying good bye. I'd been given word that Wheylyn and Charles would go free as long as I handed myself in. It was a tricky negotiation but I knew that these events wouldn't have made things easy. Shai had told me he hadn't foreseen Jake going missing or else he would've done something to stop it.

As we made our way back to the park my stomach burned with nerves. Wheylyn had his hand on my shoulder as we approached the three figures. When the light adjusted and I could see better there was a teenager there I didn't expect to see.

'Hayley?' I asked

She didn't reply and her lip wobbled slightly but her eyes said it all. I didn't think she blamed me or was angry with me in any way. She was just highly stressed and upset.

The man with them had dark blue robes and white hair; he was elderly but not as old as Lao Shi. I didn't know what to expect so I simply nodded to him. Lao Shi stepped forwards and shook my hand before turning to Wheylyn.

'I should have realised it was you' Lao Shi said quietly

Wheylyn looked at him confused before his eyes widened 'Chinese Dragon!'

'You know each other?' I asked

'I was the one who was meant to apprehend your father before he fled back to America. I should have seen the resemblance' Lao Shi said

'Wheylyn the uncatchable' The man with Lao Shi said with a shake of his head 'Many years you've eluded us, and Charles'

Charles stiffened on my other side but didn't say anything himself. I stepped forwards.

'I want to know what you have planned. We gave you the initial idea, but what's the actual plan?' I asked

Lao Shi had a nervous look on his face, Hayley looked frightened but the council member looked calm.

'We will implant a tag and we intend to propose a swap. You for Jake Long but we doubt that they will give Jake up when they know Jake being there will probably keep you from fighting if they threaten him. The tag should lead us straight to you both and we have our best spell casters working on enchanting the tag to render wards useless'

Wheylyn stepped forwards 'Are we to step aside and trust only you to rescue my daughter? Or are we allowed to be involved?'

The council member looked hard at Wheylyn 'If you can be trusted'

'As long as this isn't implemented on the full moon, any lycanthropic should be okay to go' I said quickly

'We shall see' The council member said

I turned to Wheylyn and he hugged me hard, pressing a kiss to my temple before letting me go. It was hard, to walk away from them and trust that they wouldn't be followed. I'd dressed myself in my Lycanthropic clothes to make it clear who I stood with.

'No Wolfsbane, she's severely allergic to something in it' Wheylyn said

'We do not intend to drug her or deceive her' Lao Shi said

Wheylyn nodded and then he and Charles left. Wheylyn turned before he went out of sight to wave. Once he was gone I turned to face the dragons.

'What now?' I asked

XxXxX

We ended up flying back, Lao Shi carried me. Once we arrived I was led to a small room. There was a couch in there and a table with a jug of water and a glass set out on it. I sat on the couch and ignored the water. Not long after Lao Shi came into the room, followed by the same man who had escorted me back and a dark skinned man wearing ethnic looking clothing. I stood up and eyed them all. Lao Shi and the white haired man hung back but the dark skinned man raised his hands in a non-threatening gesture.

'Miss Tyler?' He asked, he'd made his voice soothing but I didn't trust it.

'Yes?' I asked sharply

'My name is Andam, we wish to speak with you about recent events' He explained

'Which ones? The ones where I felt forced to flee or the ones concerning Jake' I snapped

'Please, we mean you no harm. Our main concern is Jake' He replied patiently

'As is mine, but what happens when he is no longer a main concern?' I asked shortly

'Then our concern is the appeal launched by Luong Lao Shi and his Animal Guardian. Please be assured when matters turn to that there will be a fair case and we want to hear everyone's sides to things but right now all we wish is to locate Jake Long and then capture Vexus Bayard' He told me

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion.

'Perhaps you would like your sister present?' He asked

My eyes widened 'Emily is here?'

He nodded and the door opened. Emily crashed through it she looked around briefly before charging at me. We met in the middle with a crash and embraced fiercly. She was also crying hysterically.

'Oh my god Selena!' She said into my hair

She held me at arm's length and brushed my hair out of my face and cupped my face in both her hands.

'You have no idea how worried sick I was' She said tearfully

I reached up and brushed the tears away.

'I'm fine Em, I'm fine' I replied, my own eyes overspilling

She embraced me again and pressed a kiss to my head before turning to the dragons still in the room.

'What happens now?' She asked, her voice was also sharp.

'We have a plan to not only locate and rescue Jake Long but also capture Bayard and any accomplices' The white haired man replied

'And then?' Emily asked

'We wish to hear the appeal fairly and quickly' Andam told her.

'Emily, I agreed to this' I said

'Yes she did. I have no idea why you are putting up an argument Miss Tyler' The white haired man said, his voice as sharp as mine.

I managed to keep check of my temper but I couldn't keep venom out of my voice 'Forgive me but I find it hard to trust people who are the reason why my parents had to separate, why I grew up without a proper father in my life and who also caused us to move to almost the other side of the world! You have no idea the damage you inflict on people affected by Lycanthropy'

'Lycanthropics are dangerous!' He boomed

'Not by any reason they can control! Do you think they enjoy it? Feeling compulsion to bite humans or being forced to transform! You have no clue! Did you ever stop to ask one how they felt?' I asked

I was met with silence but I continued.

'I've been privileged enough to meet a few and I can tell you, they did not choose it and they wish they weren't afflicted. Did you know that nearly half who are bitten don't even survive their first transformation?' I paused to step forwards 'Do you know of the pain their families feel? Or do you even care?'

'That's enough!' Andam said firmly

My eyes flicked to him and I scowled. I allowed Emily to grip my arm and she pulled me back.

'The anger between Dragons and Lycanthropics must end. We are hoping that this rescue can allow us to draw up treaties and contracts between our species' Andam told me

'We will see' I replied

Emily and I were led to another room; it was like a conference room with just a table and chairs around it inside. We sat around and drew up a plan. We decided to be really brazen and that I would go home but school had broken up for the summer now so I would be left home alone. The extra dragon guards would be lifted but the dragon council wanted at least one dragon with me at all times. The bounty hunter could probably take down one dragon and certainly would try to get to me.

'About the Tag' Andam said sensitively

I looked up and swallowed 'I'm willing to do it, and I'd rather it be removed after we're done'

'By all means, we can agree to those terms' Andam agreed easily 'We normally implant tags under the arm but this is where Bayard will search for one. We want to implant it into another fleshy area such as the inside of your leg or your belly'

I agreed to have the tag implanted into the inside of my leg, we decided it was the most secretive place and I was to tell no one where it was. I was led into a medical area; Emily went with me to keep an eye on things. She held my hand as a female dragon made a very small incision into my skin and then placed a small round metal object into the hole before putting two stitches into the incision and then placing a gauze pad over it.

'Keep it clean; don't get it wet until two days at least. The stitches should dissolve on their own and won't need removing' She instructed me

I nodded and an Indian woman met us outside the medical room. She gave a nod and a smile to Emily before looking at me. I got the impression Emily already knew who this was so I didn't say anything.

'Selena, this is Sun Parker. She's Hayley's dragon master and she's been involved in the search for Jake' Emily said

Sun stuck out her hand and gave me a friendly smile. I took her hand and shook it. Hayley and Lao Shi walked to us followed by Andam. Andam and Lao Shi stood back from us but Hayley walked over and stood with Sun. I tried not to look at her, in the light the young teenager's face looked tired and stressed, her eyes had black circles underneath and her skin looked dull.

I knew it wasn't wholly my fault but I felt like I should've just given myself in to the dragon council in the first place. I wouldn't have met Wheylyn or Shai but at least Jake would've been safe and his family wouldn't be so worried. Hayley suddenly reached out and took my hand. I jumped at the contact and looked at her.

'I can see what you're thinking, and you're wrong. This isn't your fault' She told me sternly

'Why couldn't I have guessed that the bounty hunter might have targeted Jake because he couldn't get to my family?' I replied

'Because of the reason the rest of us wouldn't have guessed. Jake can take care of himself which is why we're all confused. He must've been tricked somehow' Hayley told me 'It doesn't matter what happened though, it wasn't your fault'

I blinked quickly, to keep my eyes from watering as Lao Shi and Andam walked over.

'Councillor Andam has been kind enough to give us a transport spell' Lao Shi told us

He stood watching as Lao Shi threw purple powder to the floor and with a poof of matching light, we were inside the Long's house. Susan Long greeted Hayley with a huge hug before she turned to me. I tensed but Emily had hold of my shoulder and she squeezed as reassuringly as she could.

'Selena, are you alright?' Susan asked, concern in her voice.

I frowned and glanced Emily who gave me a small nod and I looked around at Susan again.

'I'm alright, I just want to get Jake found' I replied

She gave a nod and Jonathan walked in 'Well hello Selena'

'Hi' I replied hesitantly

'Don't you worry about things. None of us blame you, I'm sure you would've done what you could to stop things happening' Jonathan smiled

I found myself feeling overwhelmed and I sat down on the sofa with my head bowed. I found I couldn't contain tears and they dripped slowly straight out of my eyes onto the carpet in the Long's home.

'I'd best get Selena home' I head Emily say quietly

My sister pulled me up and led me out slowly. I was in a complete daze, it felt like everything had been so fast moving that finally there was time for the situation to properly sink in. About halfway up the front path I heard Snow's thoughts for the first time. She was frantic but joyful. I broke away from Emily to rush the rest of the way up the path and pull the front door open.

Snow collided with my body and I sank to the floor, sitting down in a lazy kneel with my arms twined around her neck. She nuzzled in, small whimpers of both joy and excitement bubbled from her throat. I felt tears leaking from my eyes at the pure emotion of simply being back with her.

'She's been so quiet' Emily said

Snow had now pulled away from my hug and she'd laid on the floor, her head resting on my knees.

'Come on Snow, I need to get Selena to bed' Emily said

Snow got up but her shoulder was glued to my leg as Emily led me up the stairs. Once I was on my room, I immediately noticed the absence of Buck's cage. I went to the space where it usually was and looked down, putting it together in my head. I looked around at Emily to confirm it and she looked at me sadly from the doorway.

'I'm so sorry Selena. Within the first week you left he just got sick. I tried everything-I took him to the vet-they couldn't-I-I'm so sorry' She stammered, her voice wobbling.

I felt my lip wobble again and I just knelt to the floor, resting my hand on the patch of carpet where his cage had been. Snow was next to me, immediately trying to comfort me as tears dripped down my face and straight onto the carpet. I wasn't sure how long I was there or when Emily left but at some point I got up and managed to peel my clothes off. I found some thin and soft sweat pants and a vest and pulled them on. I simply raked my fingers through my hair and climbed into bed.

Snow refused to sleep on her cover and she squeezed herself onto my bed with me, her head resting across my stomach, my arm resting across her shoulders. Tears leaked out of the sides of my eyes into my hair right up until I fell asleep.

I was running along a corridor, being pulled by someone with me. I wasn't sure who it was at all all I knew was that if we stopped running we'd both be done for. A right turn, a left turn and then they shoved a door open to the bottom of a staircase. I could smell fresh air and I hesitated only a second before the person with me was pulling me up the stairs. I turned and I was unsure why but I got the sudden urge to shove who was with me down to the ground. A white hot pain shot into my back.

I woke up with a shriek of pain. I sat up sharply and scrabbled at my back but found nothing before I realised I must've been dreaming. Then I realised my eyes were really sore and glued almost shut with gunky stuff. I rubbed at them, trying to clear them of stuff so I could open them. Once I'd managed to clear my eyes I looked around, remembering with a pang what had happened and where I was.

Snow was gone and a warm and homely smell was drafting up from the kitchen. I laid back in my bed, not fancying the pancakes and bacon Emily was cooking downstairs. I zoned in and out for a bit until my door pushed open. I turned my head to see Emily in the doorway.

'You're awake' She stated, coming over, placing the food on my bedside table and sitting in the gap Snow had left.

'Yeah. Where's Nicky?' I asked

'Pete came home on leave. He's taken him to a motel to keep him safe. The council has told me to go there with them today to leave you home alone' She said

She looked down at her hands, her face creased up and I realised she must've been worried sick and what she must be feeling at the prospect of leaving me here to be captured on purpose. I sat up and put my hand over hers.

'Hey, don't worry Em. Everything's going to be alright. The Dragons, they seem to have everything under control' I tried to reassure her

'I'm an awful sister! Leaving you here for that-that-man!' She wailed suddenly, I jumped 'I promised Mum I'd take care of you and look at it! Everything's ruined, how is everything going to go back to normal?'

I sat up and threw my arms around her, she cried into my shoulder quite violently. Emily wasn't one for crying, it took a lot to set her off. Out of the two of us she was the strong one, preferring to hold it all in. I was the one who cried when things got tough. I knew she had just held too much in the past three weeks.

'You have did and have done everything you could' I told her

She nodded and wiped her eyes 'Why did he target Jake? Why not just try harder to get to me or Nicky?'

I furrowed my eyebrows 'Because...because I care for Jake. A lot, he must've been spying on us, must've been trying to get me alone and when I dipped off the radar he must've just gone for Jake instead to flush me out'

Emily was currently wiping her eyes 'You like him?'

I just nodded. Emily wiped her eyes and brushed her hair out of her face.

'I still don't like this idea' She said, sniffling

'You agreed to it as much as I did' I replied

'I know but you could really get hurt and what if they find that tag?' Emily asked

'Then me and Jake will think of something' I replied

It took me an hour or two to convince her but eventually I'd helped her get her things packed away and then she got in her car and drove away. I took a shower and dressed myself before heading onto the back garden. A stone over a mound of disturbed grass as well as a very slight smell of decay marked where Buck was. I stopped breathing through my nose; a highly strung sense of smell was awful sometimes. Snow came over and nosed me with a whine. I scrunched her ears, letting her soothing and comforting emotions run through my head.

Eventually I went back inside but as soon as the door was open there was the smell of someone I didn't know in the house. I shut the door in Snow's face and leaned against the door, sniffing deeply through my nose.

'Alright, I know you're in here' I called out

I walked forwards slowly, thanking the fact that I was barefoot so I made no noise. I passed the dining room and a blurred shape moved in the crack of the door. I transformed and turned only to be met with a sharp sting in the side of my neck. I changed back and felt up my neck in alarm and tried to pull the dart out but the pain it caused told me it must be barbed or something. I could feel the familiar effect of Wolfsbane pumping through my system. I felt my legs go wobbly and then buckle under me.

'You idiot!' I shouted out, I was aware my speech was slightly slurred 'I nearly died last time I had this stuff!'

A large man came out of the dining room, looking down at me where I laid on the floor. He had a smug smile on his face.

'You had two darts last time. Even I know not to give a wolf that amount of this, it's dangerous even for a wolf who isn't allergic to have a dose that big'

He had an odd accent, definitely not American. I had my eyes narrowed, wondering how he knew I'd had two doses the last time I'd been drugged with this stuff when there was a loud crash and Snow darted between his legs and crouched over me, growling low in her throat as I struggled to keep conscious. The bounty hunter simply laughed and I reached up and pushed her head away. She broke off her growling and gave me a small whimper.

'Back away Snow' I managed to mutter

She licked my cheek and laid down onto my back, nuzzling with her snout.

'Good girl, go in the kitchen' I told her

The bounty hunter went to the door and opened it for her. She got up off me and slunk past him, growling low as she did. The fur in her back and around her shoulder's all puffed up. As soon as she was through the door he slammed it shut behind her and advanced on me. I didn't have time to do anything as my vision went completely black.

XxXxX

Sorry about the long wait. Took me ages to muddle this through and I had about three different versions!

As always review please!