The Evolution Chronicles

The two Patriarchs stared each other down before bursting into a fit of loud laughter.

"It's been a long time, Daven. How have you been?" Han approached the stronger dominant to exchange a hug.

"It's all been good and fine until a while ago. Thankfully, we pulled through and have gotten stronger than ever!" Daven exclaimed happily. Of course, the only hindrance that they had faced lately was the attack of the Henshaw Dynasty, and the newly acquired strength was in the form of Mian.

"What about your pack? Last I heard, you had gained enough strength to be classified as a medium sized pack." Daven eventually asked, but the response he got was not what he expected. A dark look immediately came over the faces of everyone, including Daniel. It was then that most of those who had come to welcome them noticed the Beastkin.

"What's wrong? Let us head inside and we can discuss this." Daven waved them in. The high ranking demi-humans that were part of the welcoming party were dismissed, but the rest of the council, along with those from the Belmun pack followed Daven as he led them to the main chamber where he held his important meetings.

"Hey," Dion tapped Mian on the shoulder after those who weren't required for the meeting had left. He had wanted to approach his friend earlier, but had held back out of respect for the two Patriarchs who were conversing.

"Hey, how are you?" Mian smiled as the larger dominant fell into step beside him.

"I'm doing okay. Who is that?" Dion jutted his jaw at Daniel who was walking just a step behind his father. The young dominant had a stern look over his face and paid utmost attention to his surroundings.

"That's Daniel, the son of the Belmun pack's Patriarch, and also a friend I made while I was away." Mian explained, making sure to keep his voice low. A tense atmosphere hung over the group, and he feared drawing unnecessary attention to himself.

"Oh?" Dion eyed Daniel with a bit more focus than before. "I hope he was treating you well."

Daniel's ears twitched at the front before he turned to shoot an annoyed look at the black furred dominant. Dion met Daniel's eyes with a blazing glare of his own, but the group reached the main chambers before it could turn into something more intense.

Daven led the crowd into the middle of the chamber before walking to his raised throne while the others sat down on some soft furs that were conveniently placed out for those who sought an audience with the Patriarch.

"First of all, before we begin, I must welcome our council member back from his travels. Welcome home, Mian." Daven nodded at the young council member while Kira smiled at him from her seat on the arm of his throne.

After welcoming Mian, Daven turned to face his old friend with a concerned look.

"Tell me, Han. What is it that weighs on your mind so much?" He leaned forward and let his gaze roam over those from the Belmun pack. Han exchanged a look with his son before nodding.

"We have an issue that will determine the fate of the entire demi-human society of Topor. That is why we have come all this way - to seek your help." Han began his explanation.

"The entire demi-human society? What is the nature of this... issue?" Daven sounded skeptical. For Han to declare that this issue could threaten all the demi-humans in the world, then that either meant he was delusional, or that the matter was that bad.

"I believe you have dealt with the Henshaw Dynasty in the past..." Upon hearing the name of the Dynasty that had caused huge losses for the Zelan pack, Daven's mood immediately soured. They had lost a lot of good men and women during the short but decisive war that the Henshaw Dynasty had forced upon them, and it still pained him till this day.

"What about those despicable humans?" Daven couldn't help but let the contempt he felt for them slip into his tone. While he could barely tolerate humans before, it was even worse now. "Don't tell me they attacked you too?"

"Well, in a way, yes, they did." Han admitted.

"In a way?" Daven leaned forward. His interest had reached its peak and was about to burst.

"Yes, they have been working on a strange drug that can subvert the minds of demi-humans and make them do their biding."

Han began to describe the properties of the drug and what it had done to his pack. As he spoke, the expressions of the members of the Zelan pack twisted more and more. They could barely believe that the humans had been able to plant such a drug that was nearly impossible to detect.

"I can't believe this! How did you find out about this drug?!" Rakon exclaimed. As one of the members of the pack with the most sensitive senses, he wanted to find out the signs that would allow him to know if the pack was already under such an influence.

"Truth be told, so far, I only know of two people who can detect the presence of this drug. My son," Han motioned to Daniel, "And your own council member, Mian."

Everyone's eyes turned to Mian at that point. Even Dion looked at him with a surprised look. The boy in question gave thought to a few things before deciding to be honest with everyone.

"As most people here already know, I am in possession of the Gift from the latest Skyfall. It is because of this Gift that I am able to perceive the influence of this drug. The one with the more natural ability to find this drug is Daniel." Mian explained and they all listened attentively.

"The ability to sense negative status effects if an innate ability of the Beastkin. They know when someone is poisoned, sick, or under the control of a drug.. Daniel had been working on a way to handle the drug when I came along, so most of the credit of this goes to him."