"Something else." Those are the words for it....

Fred and the elves are about to retreat to the island of the were-foxes when a "whoosh" and a thud denotes a heavy landing behind them. Alicia, Fred and the others turn to see a dragon behind them furling his wings.

"YOU!" Fred shouts in rage, slapping his thigh as if reaching for his sword. "What in the devil are YOU doing here, of all times!"

"Oh good grief," Alicia whispers, aghast at the potential mayhem the dragon could have on this retreat!

"You've come, by Thaisis!" Grailing shouts, overjoyed!

"You CALLED him?!" Alicia and Fred shout, fur standing up on end in shock and anger.

"And there is some reason why these ELVES shoudn't call me?!" Minestus rumbles, glaring down at the were-foxes. "Decades after decades I've watched, warned, out and out PLEADED with the local kingdoms to stop encroaching on the wilderness! They've begun to cut into the woods that are the life blood of the mystical races....such as the elves."

Fred's furry faces suddenly grows slack in shock as he sees Grailing nodding sadly.

"I lost my love just the last turn of the seasons, mortal....." the elf whispers sadly. "All because some damn woodsman wanted to not have to walk 50 yards for the grove of trees we'd set aside for him.....all for a set of chairs....."

Minestus glares down at the were-foxes.

"Some humans I've changed into full animals, 'tis true," the wyrm states simply. "But unlike the....cover story of Vellus.....I grant them the mercy of not forcing them to live there remaining time as humans in the body of animals......"

"They....became animals in truth," Alicia whispers, horrified.

"Better than they deserve," Grailing says darlky. "The dragon only did it to the woodsman....the yeoman....the hunter.....the ones who drain the Forrest of Her life. Not only does it end their parasitic life, it replaces what they've taken away from Her!"

"As for you.....Dragonslayer," Minestus says, spitting out the last part as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. "I've been lenient with thee! Only a few days out of the month, and at night at that, are the were-animals merely animals through and through! On those nights.....nature can take it's course......and You do penance for your former races crimes!"

"Now, I'd love to stay and talk," the wyrm says. "However, there is a certain party of would be genocidal humans that need to be taught a most PERMANENT lesson!"

1. The were-foxes are nearly flattened by the downdraft of mighty wings as Minestus takes flight!

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