Chapter 20 - Best of the Huntsclan

A nineteen year old Jake Long sighed heavily as he stared up at the roof of the five star hotel he and Daisy were staying in. It was late and he knew he should have been sleeping, but sleep hadn't come easy to him in the last four months since he had left Trixie and Jerry. Every time he closed his eyes, he could swear he could feel her beside him, smell her as if she were there. And it always hurt, just a little, to open his eyes only to realize his mind was playing tricks on him.

He turned over and faced towards the window as he tucked his arm underneath his pillow. He had tried calling her, a few weeks after he had left. It had been her birthday, and it had been a long day as a lead on Rose had left him emptied handed. He just needed Trixie's comforting words, but they were far from what he got. He had called Trixie's cell, and was not pleased when Gregory picked up the phone.

“I don't want you calling her,” Gregory told him.

Jake scoffed. “Excuse me? I think I'll call my wife whenever I damn well please,” he responded.

“Oh, so she's your wife now, huh?” Gregory began. “After you abandon her and your kid?”

“That's not what I did!” Jake said angry.

“Yeah, sure,” the other said sarcastically. “And I bet you're also going to tell me, you didn't try to rape her either.”

Jake froze a moment at the words. “What?”

“Yeah, she told me.” Gregory then thought over his words. “Look, I don't condone your behavior about that night, but I do understand-"

"Bullshoot!" Jake cut him off. "You have no idea how I feel. Trixie was not only my wife, but my best friend! Since grade school." He sighed softly, his voice breaking a little as he continued to speak. "I would have never done that to you."

"I'm sorry," Gregory said sincerely. "Look, I never meant to you, you're my blood," he confessed. "You don't know the things I have done for you-"
“You mean to me,” Jake interrupted again.

“For you,” Gregory made clear. “It took a lot to make sure you weren't arrested by DOS, I put my job on the line for you! And then you go fled the country, for no apparent good reason. There's nothing I can do for you now. You're status as the American Dragon has been revoked. Haley has taken your place and has been given orders as well as with the rest of DOS, if you are seen on State soil. . .” he took a deep breath. “You are to be arrested without hesitation. ”

Jake found himself shaking his head from side to side, his own troubles on the back burner as it was overpowered by another thought, Haley isn't ready.

“So as your cousin, I'm telling you, you're better off staying where you are.”

“Don't you dare pretend you give a damn about me now. You already got what you wanted from me,” Jake pointed out.

Gregory frowned at the statement. “You're right I do,” his tone turned dark. “So putting the fact that you're my cousin aside – I'm telling you this once: Don't call here again. Trixie and Jerry are no longer your concern, so stay away from my family.”

“Your family?!” Jake was outraged, but before he could truly give Gregory a piece of his mind, all he heard was the dial tone. He had tried calling back after that on several occasions, but the number had been disconnected.

Jake stared at the 1st birthday card sitting on the nightstand. Jerry's birthday was next mouth in January. He didn't want to send it to Gregory's place in fear that Jerry would never receive it. He decided to send it to Haley, with no return address, with hopes that Trixie would see that he made attempt to say in touch.

Jake couldn't help but wonder if Trixie was still upset with him. He still couldn't get over how angry he had gotten that night, it was so unlike him, but he promised, as soon has he settled what he needed to with Rose, that he would make it up to her, or die trying. With that thought, Jake finally closed his eyes and fell into the land of dreams and nightmares.



Fred Nerk, the Australian Dragon, yawned as he flew over the city lights of his beloved home in Sidney. Being the first dragon to be assigned to protect his country, Fred took great pride in what he did and so took his job very seriously. A few months ago, he had gotten word from the World Dragon Council about a fugitive among the Magical World. He was surprised to find out that it was his American mate, Jake Long. There were rumors that he was in his part of the world, but Fred was sure that they were nothing more than just rumors. What did he need in Australia, right?

A few weeks after he received that message, he was surprised to find Jake trying to make contact with him, asking him if he could trust him. Fred reminded him that he once saved his life and so he had not only his friendship, but his loyalty, even if that meant going against the Dragon Council. Jake was relieved to hear his words.

Fred listen as Jake told him how he was going after someone in the Huntsclan, Fred immediately stopped him right there. “The Huntsclan?” Fred couldn't believe his ears. “Jake, no one has heard from the Huntsclan in over five years.”

“I know,” Jake made clear. “They were wiped out.” He shrugged as he added, “All but a handful that is.”

“How do you know?” Fred asked.

“Let's just say,” he sighed, “sometimes, wishes do come true.” Fred had no idea what the man before him was talking about, but he decided not to push the issue, as Jake didn't seem up to it anyway.

“So what you're really trying to tell me, is that there are Huntsclan members here in Australia?” Fred asked, humoring Jake.

“Members? I don't know,” he began. “But there's a girl, who was once known as Thorn. I'm looking for her and it's very important that I find her,” he said.

“What do you want me to do?” Fred wanted to know.

“Nothing more than you usually do. Just keep an eye out for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary,” he asked of him. “I can't be caught, so I'll be keeping a low profile, but this is your home, you probably know it better than anyone. I just need your help.”

Fred nodded at he listened to his friend. “Then you have it,” he said, causing Jake to smile, something Fred was sure he hadn't done in a good long while as he returned his smile. “So how's Trixie?” he asked innocently, realizing it may have been the wrong thing to say as Jake's expression change rapidly.

“She's fine,” he informed him. “She and Gregory are doing great from what I hear. Very happy,” he stressed. He then lowered his head and spoke softly. “One big happy family.” He twisted his wedding band around his finger.

“Jake?” Fred reached out for him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “What happened?” he asked.

“My grandfather was right,” Jake finally admitted. “I wasn't ready for marriage. I didn't understand the work that it required. I-” he felt his chest tighten. “I gave her everything she needed, and what she wanted was something I could have given, but wouldn't. And she left me for it.”

“For Gregory?” Jake nodded at the question.

“When we were kids, people always praised him, even when he wasn't very good. I used to wipe the skies with him and never got more than a 'Good job'. I could never understand it, but now I do.” Jake looked back up at Fred. “Things always came so easy to me, I didn't have to put a lot of effort into anything when it came to my abilities. But Greggy, he struggled. They praised him because he tried, because he gave it his all, even when it was hard. That's what made him better than me.” Jake finally saw what the rest of his mother's side of the family saw. “And when it came to marriage, to my wife. . . I dropped the ball, I dropped her, but he was able to pick up the pieces and put them back together, when I refused to try.”

Fred only listened as Jake poured out his heart about his cheating his wife and why it was his own fault. Fred wanted to tell him it was okay, but knew they were only words at this point. Fred sighed as he thought about the other's situation. He honestly didn't know what he would do, if he ever found his girl cheating on him, but lucky, that was something he didn't have to worry about.

He yawned again, finally concluding that it was late and that he should finally start to head home, but his wings were aching and thought it would be a good idea to rest them for a few minutes before starting the long trip in the opposite direction. He land right in the middle of the street, with no fear of being seen as he changed back into his human from. Even if someone did see him, they would probably just convince themselves that they were tired and that they just really needed some sleep.

Fred jogged on over to the sidewalk before sticking his thumbs in his pockets and walking towards home. December, the start of the summer, Fred couldn't help but love this time of the year. The city always seem to come more alive during the warm summer months.

Suddenly, as Fred was thinking about nothing in particular, he heard a strange sound behind him. He didn't think much of it, but he slightly turned his head anyway, when he didn't hear the sound again, he simply continued his walk. But now he felt uneasy as he now heard the sound of footsteps that didn't seem to be his own. He quickly turned around, but once again saw nothing.

“Okay, old boy, you're losing it,” he said softly to himself as he took a few more steps when he heard a trashcan fall over between an alleyway. His eyes quickly scanned the empty streets. He saw nothing but what was highlighted by the streetlights. “Show yourself!” he demanded loudly as he readied himself. He then saw a black cat jump from out of the alleyway. Fred chuckled to himself as he relaxed. He then went to turned around. He gasped as two figures appeared out of no where.

He had no time to react as he suddenly found himself on the ground. “Oh hell yeah!” one cried out joyfully.

Fred let out a feral growl before bright yellow and orange flames blasted in every direction as he turned from human to dragon. “Let me out!” he struggled with the net that he had been surprised with. He scratched and clawed at it, but it made no difference. He even tried extending his wings, but the netting only seem to become tighter.

“Fight all you want,” said the taller of the two figures dressed in matching outfits of red and black. “It only makes it easier for us when you wear yourself out.”

The shorter one than pulled out a small cylinder like object with a spear like end. He held it in front of him and each side extended turning it into fully functioning spear. “I vote we slit his throat.”

“That's not the plan,” the other reminded him. “Hey!” he yelled out, but was ignored as he watched his partner stab the trapped dragon in their capture. “Eighty-eight, stop! That's not cool!”

“I just wanted to see it bleed,” Eighty-eight face remained emotionless as he watched Fred take a hold of his arm, blood spilling from in between his claws.

Eighty-nine shivered, he hated when Eighty-eight went all psycho-like on him. He then walked over to him and stood next to him. “We have to take him back to the lair,” Eighty-nine said calmly. “We can't question him if he's dead,” he reasoned.

“Question me? For what?” Fred spoke.

Eighty-eight then spit in his face. “You filthy beast, don't speak to us.” He then brought the spear head to his face and licked the blood that resided there. The 'Eww' expression on Eighty-nine's face did not go unnoticed by Fred.

“You're right,” Eighty-eight replied to Eighty-nine's last statement. “We'll take him to the lair.” His eyes did not leave the wound he had made on the dragon in front of him.

“Who are you?” Fred demanded to know, anger clear in his eyes as he continued to struggle against the netting, as he wonder what it was made out of. It couldn't be sphinx hair, which rendered a dragon powerless, for he was in dragon form, but whatever it was it was strong and constricting with every movement.

“Fool, don't you know who we are?” Eighty-eight asked.

“Yeah, Dragon boy, you better recognize, and quickly, because we,” Eighty-nine pointed to himself and then his companion, “. . . are the best of the Huntsclan.”

To Be Continued. . .

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A/N: Best of the Huntsclan? Eighty-eight and Eighty-nine? Yes, I know that's a little hard to shallow, but trust me, I'll make it work.

Oh and for those who really didn't catch it as they were reading, Jake was born in June (but I think I only hinted that it was in the summer. Oh well!), Trixie in September, Jerry in January, and Spud was born in March. Just because I'm anal and I have to do my stories using a calender. :-(

--Insert Shameless Self Plug Here-- I got a new ADJL story out entitled, No Good Deed. It's a -wait for it- Trixie and Brad story. Now all I need is a Spud and Rose story (which is probably the only pairing I don't touch in this epic tale) and my madness will be complete. Mmwahaha!

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