With new determination, I scan the crowd of wolves more intently, ignoring everything but two black wolves. At first, I figure they're Kiera and Bryce, but after more thought, I hold back. Two packs here means two alphas here. Alphas were always black-pelted wolves. I remember learning this in history class at the pack's school.

Now, I study the two midnight wolves separately. If the fighting techniques alone didn't tell me which was Bryce, the overwhelming pull from my dragon did, directing my wingbeat towards him.

He's secluded, and doesn't seem too injured. The wolf is licking at a spot on his flank — a sign of a wounded spot — but I can't see any visible blood. When the wind from my wings rustles the tree leaves and tilts the tough grass he sits on, he springs to his paws and curls his lip. Shifting a few feet from the ground, I land with a thump and stumble, placing a hand on the ground to steady myself.

Instantly, his entire demeanor changes. As I stand and meet his eyes, his lip drops, his posture straightens, and his tail lifts in a happy wag. I notice the beginnings of a shift.

"Wait!" I hold my hand up in an effort to prevent the shift. "Stay in wolf form, I'm just here to tell you what's going on." His jowls slacken as if trying to argue with me. "And that I'm okay," I add, knowing his wolf ought to be beside himself with worry. I've lost count how long I've been gone, but long enough for the link between us to send the both of us — him especially — into a tailspin.

"I promise, I'm okay. But my sister is, is -" I can't think of the English word- "psychotici. She's basically holding me prisoner to use me for some of my abnormally enhanced abilities... against wolves."

His lips lift back into a snarl.

"I know I know. But I don't think it's about your pack. I think it's the pack that attacked us on our picnic; remember that?" His eyes shift to the side and I confirm what I'm already pretty sure about, "this is more than just your pack of wolves isn't it? These wolves are the Altai Peaks Pack, yeah? The ones that attacked in the woods? The ones that killed my parents?" A slight tinge of vengeance hits me when I say that, but I can't focus on that now. The wolves are not the enemy here right now. Aislee is.

He nods and his tail droops. So there, I was right. The extra on-slew of wolves aren't his.

"Okay. We need to get that pack on our side. But you won't survive against the dragons' magic. So I will take care of getting most of them to fight with us, not against. Our only target is Aislee, okay?" I stare him down in the eyes for this part. "If we can help it, no innocent dragon is to be injured or killed in the midst of this. And I would prefer my sister not die. She may be crazy and a sudden tyrant but she's still my sister."

I shift my stance so I can see the battlefield, praying no one is sneaking up on us while I fill him in. Everyone seems pretty occupied, but they won't switch sides and do what I hope without some encouragement. "Jupiter is hiding in the trees beyond that rise," I jab my thumb in the general direction, "I told him I would come get him when this is over, but I'm sure he'll be just as happy if Jasmin does." He nods, taking this all in. I'm not sure if I've ever said this many words to him before.

"Go find Jasmin, I'm not sure what her wolf looks like, and I'll go talk to the Altai Peaks Alpha."

Worry crosses his wolfy face and I reassure him. "It's okay, I can handle myself if he's a jerk. Go, and let's turn this around before too many are hurt or lost!"

He barks, sticking his snout forward to lick my cheek and I giggle, gently swatting him away. "Go he bounds off into the trees, away from the fight, his tail high and flying as he goes.

Shifting, I turn and launch myself back to the sky. This time it doesn't take long to find the other alpha, his black pelt the only one in a sea of grey and reds. I dive for him, peeling him off of another wolf at the same time as blocking the blow of a Fire from the air. He tumbles across the hard dirt, rolling a few times before he finds his footing. With a snarl, he pounces at me but I merely swat him back down. My full size way too much for him to conquer.

I hold him under my taloned paw until he stops struggling. When he finally relaxes, I shift back and hurry to speak before he takes advantage of my human form.

"Listen! I'm not the enemy! Neither are these wolves!"

The black wolf transforms into a man, and I suck in a breath and dart my gaze to a cloud floating in the sky. Wolves shift back naked; no thank you.

"You're a dragon, and I've been enemies with the Irtish Waters Pack for generations!"

I shake my head, "that may be, but right now, in this particular situation, we need each other. I'm on Alpha Addams side, not the dragons. I'm being held here more or less against my will. Bryce's pack needs your pack to fight the dragons. Specifically one dragon: Aislee. She's a Water, so in dragon form she's shades of blue. I'm going to take care of getting the innocent dragons on the wolf side, I need you to stop fighting the other wolves and to focus on taking down one dragon."

He snorts, "who are you to boss me around? I could kill you with one bite to the throat!"

I finally meet his eye, "and I could burn you down to ashes with a single puff of air. I don't think you want to try me." To make a point, I summon a ball of fire and dance it across my fingertips. Slowly it grows larger and larger and I'm this close to just saying "screw it" and chucking it at his arrogant head anyway.

He holds up a hand. "Okay okay, fine! I won't attack Addam's pack. But any dragon that isn't actively fighting with us will feel these teeth."

The fire hisses out and I stick my palm out. "Fair enough. Thank you for your cooperation." When he shakes my hand, I heat it up a little until he jerks away; a final warning before I shift into my scaly form and fly off.

It doesn't take long for the atmosphere of the fight to change dramatically. The wolves soon follow their alphas' leads and stop tussling with each other. Like I'd hoped, a few select dragons follow my lead and start handing out blows against their Cavemates. As the fight continues, more and more switch. It's soon left with just Aislee, her mate, and a handful of guards and warriors fighting for her.

With a screech, I lunge for her. She's larger than I am, and her scales are slippery due to her Water qualities. But, finally I'm able to grasp her shoulders with my talons. I push against her beating wings, forcing her towards the ground as best as I can manage. The flap of her wings narrowly miss smacking me in the muzzle.

Growling, she uses her hind feet to claw at my underbelly. Howling in pain, I let go and shift, hitting the ground with a thud. I can feel scattered pebbles pierce the exposed skin of my arms. I'm winded for a moment and by the time I'm able to get to my feet, Aislee has reached the ground and is also standing in her human form. She pants to catch her breath and I do the same, fighting to stay upright.

"Aislee, stop this!" I plead when I can breathe enough again. "You've turned the Caves into madness. Since you brought me back, I haven't seen a single dragon truly happy. Even yourself."

Her mouth pops as she goes to correct me but I take over before she can.

"It's true. All you've thought about is revenge over what happened five years ago. You take it out on me, on Jupiter, on the Darkness dragons, and even on the innocent. There was no reason for you to exile that group of kids. Your way of rule goes against everything Mama and Papa stood for, taught us to be. And for what? To murder a pack of wolves?"

I notice no one is in the air any longer. No one is fighting. They're all silently waiting for one of us to signal more attacks.

I gesture to everyone that had been on the wolves' side, "look at what you've done. Most of the Caves has turned its back on you. The only ones left are Darkness, and their trained to be loyal to the Cave Leader no matter the cost. Doesn't that tell you something?"

Finally, I take a deep breath and I let her speak.

"You were supposed to be on my side!" She argues, but her voice doesn't hold as much fire as I thought it would. "I brought you back because I thought you would want to avenge that dreadful night. I thought you'd be happy to be home."

"I was," I said softly. "But you are not the same sister that got me and our brother to safety that night. You only wanted me to help you fight. And you have shown me this is not my home any longer." I look to the left, finding Bryce's piercing green eyes standing out against his dark fur. "My home is with the pack now. I have found love, and a family, and a new life; and I'm okay with that. I will always be a dragon, and my origin will always be the Caves. But I don't think that's where I belong anymore."

She looks completely stricken, and I understand. I just don't want her to be rash about it. "I need you to understand, Aislee, and for you to leave me, Bryce's pack, and even the Altai Peaks pack alone. I don't want for you to have to die for those things to happen."

She finally meets my eye, and they hold tears. She doesn't want to lose me, and I don't want to lose her. But things are different now. We're not children, and our lives have gone in completely different directions. After several long, breath-holding moments, she gives me a solemn nod, agreeing to what I ask of her.