One is Come

  * * *

  Sheela scampered down the road, then, making sure no one was around, crossed over to the other side and took a narrow path into the woods. She wasn’t walking long before she heard a noise behind her. Spinning, she saw the mountain lion standing there, a fierce look on its face. Sheela’s face fell, but in a second she broke out laughing.

  “You should have heard the noises coming out of you!” she gasped.

  The mountain lion stood on its back legs and started changing shape. Its yellowish fur melted everywhere except for its head, where it grew long and lighter, its paws turning into hands and feet. The tail was the last to go.

  Solbright smoothed her hair, and straightened her clothes. “Well, it hurt. My tail is still on fire and I landed right in a thorn bush.” She calmly stared at Sheela for a moment, waiting for the laughter to die down. When it didn't, Solbright flicked a finger at Sheela, and bright needles shot out to arc into Sheela's stomach and legs. Sheela's laughter turned into howls of pain.

  “Did it sound something like that?” Solbright asked. Sheela glared into Solbright's calm face. “So, little miss laughter, I assume it went well?”

  “What do you mean?” Sheela said.

  “You almost ruined the plan, not to mention getting me injured!”

  “How would I know that he would be too stupid to run when I told him to?” Sheela shot back.

  “You fool, he's not stupid, he's deaf!” Solbright glared and sputtered. “We set this up, I made you learn sign language, because he can't hear!”

  Sheela looked confused for a moment, then blushed. “Oh, right. I'm sorry. Really sorry. But it all worked out, right?”

  “Thanks to those damned trees giving the boy power, yes,” Solbright grumped but then snapped back. “And I assume it went well afterward?”

  “Yes,” Sheela said. “I got an invitation.”

  “A real one, or just a non-committal, it would be nice to see you again?” Solbright pressed.

  “I know how the Dragonway works!” Sheela snapped. “It was a real invitation. I got mine, are you going to be able to get yours?”

  Solbright looked into the distance. “I've been able to maintain the connection in his dreams, but it is fading fast since he is in the Dragonway. I can still... yes, he'll be out right after their fighting games.” She smiled. “I'll get my invitation too.”

  Sheela was still grumping. “I have no idea how you knew they would end up here. More importantly, I don't see why we went through all of this trouble to drive them here, if the plan is just to snatch them out. Now we have to go through more hassle just to get invitations in! Why not just coax whoever you want a bit further out and snatch them then?”

  Solbright sighed. “I'm not sure which one is the right one. We need them both. If we tried to take them one at a time, they would be alerted and we would never get them before the Conclave got to them. Not to mention if we used magic to take them, the Conclave would feel the magic and find us. If they get suspicious too soon, all my planning would be ruined. Not to mention, once we take them, the Dragonway will be finally ours once again!”

  Sheela shrugged. “Ok, whatever, but it will take forever to convince them all to leave if we can't use magic.”

  “Oh, we'll be able to use magic,” Solbright smiled. “Just like for entry, if you are invited to use magic in the Dragonway, then you can. They will be trapped and, since the Dragonway hides magic, the Council will never know. It will work perfectly.”

  Sheela's eye widened. “We'll be able to use magic? Not just wimpy little bits, but all of our magic?”

  Solbright nodded.

  Sheela looked at her hands. “Oh, you never told me that. But how do we get them to invite us to use magic?”

  “I have a plan.” Sheela rolled her eyes, so Solbright explained. “We just have to get them to attack us with magic, and then we can defend ourselves. If they use magic first, to attack, it's an invitation, you see?”

  Sheela licked her lips and grinned. “Their puny magic against ours? Yes, using magic on us will be the biggest mistake they ever make.”

  Solbright cut her off. “No, we can't hurt them, got it? We have to wipe their memories afterward, just to be safe. We can't risk any trauma that would make the memory erase not take. Ok?”

  Sheela immediately pouted. “What about the other humans? I watch them all the time, it's torture.”

  Solbright sighed again. “Listen, we just have to wait a bit more. Once the world is remade, it will be much better for us and them. Once things are back as they were, even our stone-stubborn Head will see it. And the humans will be much happier too. Living as they were meant to live, according to the laws of nature. Look at what they have done to the earth and themselves when allowed to free-range! Once they are penned in nice secure caves, living their short lives in controlled conditions, fulfilling their role as food for us,” she smiled at Sheela, “and for our young. You'll see, they taste so much better when they are raised right.”

  Sheela walked over and put her head on Solbright's shoulder, “Aw, please? Just the one, he was so delicious.”

  Solbright looked down for a moment, then sighed. “Oh, all right, you can eat the one human.” Solbright patted Sheela's head. “I have such a weak spot for my daughter. But you have to wait until after I've gotten the ones I want away, and you have to clean up any mess. I don't want any of them to have even the slightest suspicion, got it?”

  Sheela nodded vigorously, and licked her lips again.