Page 10 of Vampire's Cupcake
"No!"The air whooshed out of Eli's lungs.
"No?I should not consider the food scarcity?"
"Yes."Shit, what should he say?"We need Fisherman's Lake, and the food they produce."
Thano remained unmoving for a while."When we discussed the mooring fee on the board, Charles argued everyone would suffer if we enforced it.The Fisherman's Lake people would raise their prices, forcing you to raise your prices--" Alice gasped."--and people wouldn't be able to pay for what they need."
Eli nodded.He couldn't argue with the prediction."Everyone has to make a living.I shop here too."Eli gestured around."If I don't make enough money, I'm not eating since I can't take out any salary."
"Because humans have stupid systems."Thano gave a short nod."I'll try to explain to Fala, Raven, Conal, and Tuur before we vote."Then he headed for the door.
* * * *
Chapter 3
Thano walked out of Eli's store and was about to shadow walk back to the ranch when Conal called his name from across the street.Had they taken Romeo's car here?The birds normally flew, but Conal's and Tuur's other forms didn't allow flying.
"Want a ride?"
He might as well.He gave Conal a short nod and crossed the street."Why are you still in town?"
"I wanted to check out the phone."
The phone?
When Thano didn't speak, Conal continued."I wasn't sure what Elijah Lucus looks like and figured it might be good to know."
"Why?"
Conal shrugged."If they're gonna starve to death, like Charles said, he might be someone we'll want to save.The one with the phone might be important.I assume we'll keep Eli alive.A shop, a phone keeper, and Romeo's pack."
They turned a corner and the square came into view.
Tuur was waiting by the car, glaring at everyone who dared walk close to it.To Thano's surprise, Raven was sitting on the roof in raven form."Did Fala fly home?"
"Yes."
They got into the car, and Thano looked at Conal who was driving."I think we've made a mistake."
"How's so?"
Thano held in a sigh."We never should've become involved.We should've let them deal with all their decisions on their own."
Silence filled the car.No one dared to contradict him, they weren't leaders of their groups--other than Raven, but she was in bird form.They most likely didn't dare speak on their species' behalf, but right now, he didn't want their compliance."There are too many rules, too many stupid things we don't need to care about.We should give them back the board, allow them to rule as they see fit, and guard the borders as we used to."
Conal grimaced."But it was what got Emeric shot."
"Our home is on the ranch.We live, we hunt, we entertain ourselves.We don't need Last Hope."And it was starting to annoy him that he had to care about what they did here.He didn't care.He'd been on the board to learn more about humans, to understand how they were thinking, and to be able to predict what would happen.But they had Romeo now.They could ask him about humans' reasoning and what their actions meant.They had story night where they learned about how humans other than Romeo acted, both good and bad humans.
They needed a person in Last Hope to get information, but they didn't need to be involved in the decisions.They could have the crows survey things.Or maybe not the crows.They were too easily distracted.
He glanced at Raven.Would she agree to spend her days in Last Hope?Flying around and listening to conversations.He didn't like the idea of having her there alone.What if someone hurt her?Ravens couldn't gather the shadows around them and disappear, and if she was injured, she couldn't fight.No, not Raven.Maybe a murder of crows, but he feared the information would be inconclusive.
"True, but without the shop, Ciar and Draven have no business and can get no money to buy the things Romeo needs or any fun things.And Romeo would be sad if something happened to his kin."
Thano gave a slow nod."We could have one representative as we did before.One person on the board who surveyed their actions."
Conal would be best suited.He was observant and planned ahead, could see what consequences a decision would have.Fala was there because she was curious, and he suspected Raven was too.He didn't know why Tuur was there.Maybe Armelle wanted a bear on the board, so they wouldn't miss out on information.Bears might not be as flaky as crows but they were as curious.
