Ylva turned out to be a real werewolf, transforming all the way to her wolf form, convincing Amber, who was becoming increasingly cautious when it came to identity. She led them through the land, quicker than Dani could though was possible. "We're been expecting you for a while. I don't know why," She added, seeing the look on Amber's face. "But we have been. You don't need to worry about being betrayed. We hate the King."

"For an oppressed group of Silver Mages, that doesn't sound right." Dani commented. Ylva snorted in disgust.

"We haven't been on good terms with the Dawon since there was a fight between the pack leader's daughter and a Dawon." Ylva said, her coal black eyes glinting in anger. "And it was our Alpha who said not to hurt you."

"How long have you been having problems with Shapeshifters, Ylva?" Dani questioned, trying to change the subject before Amber did something they would both regret.

"Not very long. They don't survive very long up here, believe it or not." Ylva snickered. "It's been a long time since I've ever been outside these Silver Lands. I rather enjoy it here though. It's peaceful." She paused and looked over the horizon. "Oh."

"What?" Amber demanded, terror in her eyes. "What's happening?" Dani started to shift into his partial origin.

"Nothing now. Little snake, whatever you do, don't change into your partial origin." Ylva ordered. "You're a cold-blooded Silver Mages, and you will fall asleep instantly."

"Thanks for that." Dani said, forgetting that small fact about snakes. "I appreciate it."

"Is the village far? I don't remember it being this long of a journey." Amber commented, seeming a little miffed.

"Selkies are very good at making long distances seem short." Ylva responded. "They are masters at bending distance in large groups. However, we are a trio consisting of a werewolf, coatl and Selkie. It will not work."

"Then how long will it take until we are there?" Amber complained, and Ylva made a chuckling sound deep in her throat.

"Not long, little seal. Be patient." Ylva chastised.  "Be patient."

            ***

The home of the Northern Wolves was just like Amber had said. The buildings were ranches made of logs and shimmering with snow. Dani could see it from a distance, like the illusion wasn't enough for his mind. Amber squinted, and seemed to relax a little bit. Ylva had pushed them the last few miles, mostly because she said that if they stopped, they would freeze. Dani didn't want to test it.

"It's beautiful." Dani whispered under his breath. Many fires lit homes and by a central blaze, Dani could see movement, like a party. Raucous laughter and howling echoed around the surrounding cliffs.

"Thank you." Ylva seemed to glow in the light of her village. "The Matriarch Alpha will see you as soon as you arrive. I was told to bring you right to her once you arrived." She added, as Dani was trying to protest.

"We will be happy to see the Matriarch Alpha." Amber thanked Ylva, and the noirette smiled gently. 

"The Matriarch Alpha is very fond of your mother, Dani Coatl. You would do well to uphold the reputation that you have around here." Ylva cautioned him, her coal dark eyes sparking with distant fire.

"Thank you for the warning, Ylva." Dani replied stiffly. Ylva gave a sharp huff that Dani had discovered was laughter.

"Ylva!" A yip resonated from a young child, playing in the snow. She looked maybe six, with long red hair, glittering like a dying ember in the slight moonlight. "Tora said you were coming back soon!"

"Well, she was telling the truth, because here I am, Topaz." Ylva scooped up the child and rested her on her hip. Speaking to Dani and Amber, she said; "I will take you to our Matriarch Alpha. This way."

Pointing at the main fire, Ylva whispered one last chilling thing to them.

"Good luck."

       ***

The Matriarch Alpha was similarly beautiful and terrifying at the same time. She wore the skin of a muskox over her shoulder, her long brown hair twisted into a loose braid. Amber bowed, and Dani followed her lead.

"So, you've come to be us for help. The wolves of the north." The Alpha female looked around at her pack, the corner of her mouth twitching. "It almost sounds like the start of a joke, eh? A Selkie queen and a coatl demigod ask the werewolf packs to help them out."

There was a collection of snickers from the pack, some mocking the two. Dani felt his anger burn and his face flushed.

Amber, however, kept her calm. "I am sure we can make a deal that is worth your while, Matriarch Alpha." She stated, smiling persuasively. "I have the power to make your life much better than it already is."

"Not right now, you don't." The woman, Matriarch Alpha, as Amber had called her, responded. "You are on the run from the Silver King, a position that you covet for your own. Do you not have enough power just being the ruler of the Selkie tribes? Is it not enough for you?" She mocked.

"The position of the Selkie Royalty was abolished when the first Silver King came to the throne. So, in short, I have no idea what you mean by that statement." Amber responded smoothly.

"Well, then. We parry each other, I suppose." The werewolf said. "But if we help you, we know that there will be no honor in it. In every battle we've fought in, the wolves of the north have been passed over for more powerful allies."

"Then allow me to be the one to change that tradition. You are just as deserving of honor as the great Selkies, or the burning Phoenix. So, help me regain my throne, and I will make you part of the Inner Court." Amber offer, her words honey-sweet as her eyes flickered in the firelight.

The Alpha laughed. She laughed so hard that her breath came in short bursts. "You have the tongue of a siren! No wonder Madah chose you!"

For a split second, Amber looked confused, unsure of what was going on. However, as quickly as it came, it left, leaving only the smirking mask of Amber. "I have qualities that make me an astute diplomat." She agreed.

"Well, in that case," The Matriarch Alpha looked around at her pack. Poised to move, the tension in Dani's shoulder growing with each silent second. This Mage was still a wild card.

"No."

Amber blinked, her mask of calm broken. "I beg your pardon?" She asked, and Dani would have kicked her for the vein of poison in her tone.

"You think that making us just as great as you will fix anything?" The Alpha shook her head. "That is how we got into this mess in the first place, Amber Pearl."

It sent a tingle through Dani's spine to hear Amber's last name again. 'Focus, you fool.' he reminded himself.

"The Dawon wanted power, and they were denied it. For centuries. In all honesty, there are many who feel the same, and would fight to the bitter end to see you dead. We are stuck in an endless cycle of fighting for an unattainable end. A cycle, you have put us in."

Amber opened her mouth. "The Silver Crown was meant-"

"Bring peace and order to a lawless bunch. But living in fear is no better than living at war." The Alpha interrupted.

"Then why haven't you fought back before, Matriarch Alpha?" Dani questioned. She turned her eyes on him, and Dani held her gaze.

"We tried." She told him. "Didn't your mother tell you?"

Dani looked away. "I didn't exactly get a lot of one on one time with her." He admitted.

The Alpha hummed, like she understood. "Well, if Zammi is too busy to tell the story herself, I guess I will."

"What story?" Dani asked. Amber smacked him.

"Are you really that dumb?" She hissed.

"Do not blame someone of unintelligence when they unaware." The Alpha chastised, "And please, call me Luma."

***

"Zammi was a bit of a rebel back in the day." Luma started. "Her mother, Tiamat was known for being unorthodox, letting her only daughter make mistakes. That's how she joined a reform group."

The fact that his mother, who's attitude about other Silver Mage was nothing less than dismissive, had been in a reform group, shocked Dani.

"We were warry of each other at first, of course. A coatl who wanted to help others? They had everything we wanted. Not only that, Zammi was the niece of the then Advisor, Coaxoch. Zammi was elite by Imperial Mage standards.

"But we slowly became friends, and once it became clear the investment she had in this group, she became a core member of it. We were heard, our complaints were noted and it was a wonderful feeling." Luma sighed, looking at the fire, lost in memories. "It felt like we could have done it, could have made change.

"And then Coaxoch died. She was old, almost two hundred years old, and the title of Advisor passed onto Zammi, like she'd known it would. She knew she'd have to stop eventually. With no one else to be Advisor, she was stuck in a rock and a hard place."

"So that's what Seth was talking." Dani realized. Luma tipped her head, an unspoken question. "He said that she'd forgotten what it was like to be young and want freedom."

"Zammi is not so forgetful. After she was appointed Advisor, she settled down with a Coatl from Peru, Goga."

"Dra's father." Dani said.

"Indeed. I never met him, but Dra was often with her father. Goga refused to let her out of his sight when she was younger. Then Goga died." Luma sighed. "Zammi was broke hearted, but she still persisted. Dra traveled with her mother more, and when Zammi discovered she was pregnant with you..." Luma smiled, "She was the happiest she'd been in a long time."

"And then she left me." Dani said. Luma sighed.

"Still bitter, I see. You're not wrong. It's a despicable thing to do, but part of Silver Law."

Dani looked at Amber. So did Luma.

"What?" She asked, confused. "Why are you looking at me?"

"You're the law now that Madah is gone. You can change the Silver Law." Dani told her.

"That's almost a thousand years of tradition and history." Amber told him.

"And times change. We need a change." Luma rumbled. "No great leader keeps everything the same. The one who are put down in history are the ones who change."

"That's too much to ask of me." Amber protested. Luma's face turned stony.

"Then why should I help you at all? There's no point to back a Mage who will just change one thing." Luma retorted.

"I am trying my best here! Politics are more complex than you realize-!"

"Now you're just making excuses." Dani accused.

Amber inhaled deeply, looking like she was about to smack him, but then... She sighed. "I know." She muttered. "I don't know what to do."

Luma's expression seemed to soften, but she still seemed stern. "You will have an Advisor. You will make good choices, if you wish to." There was an undercurrent of a warning in her statement. Make good choices or else.

"Okay." Amber said quietly. "I will."

Luma smiled widely, showing her fangs. "Come eat with us, little seal and little snake. Let us find common ground."

Hi everyone! It's Ivy again! I think this is the last time I'll be updating for Jade? But who knows?

Anyways! Vote, comment, and share if you enjoy reading Silver Jungle!

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