I arrived home with Rubix and Sapphire on my back, flying, followed by Mum and some dragon friends.

To my astonishment, I saw the police near the farm and horses lying around.

The smell of fresh blood rose to my throat and in an instant I knew something dramatic had happened.

Police officers waved us down, a little fearfully, but they were used to a large "helicopter" flapping its wings.

Immediately we were back to our small size and I ran home.

"Mom?"

I saw Esme crying in Daddy's arms and then she ran to me and I took her between my paws, to comfort her...

"We are ruined!!! all our best horses are gone and the rest are killed.."

"No, Mum... I took out insurance, I learned a lot at school. They're going to help us rebuild everything..."

"Torin? I'm Detective Corentin and I've already taken your dad's statement. "

He looked me up and down, still wary of having a predator in front of him worse than in the Jurassic era.

"I'm sorry to frighten you, Inspector, but I was once human and I know how you feel. But what happened and why is Mom in such a state!???"

Rubix walked in, distraught.

"Esme? Ragul? Have you seen mum and dad?"

Esme fell to the ground crying and Rubix panicked.

She ran to the barns that had been converted into a home for her parents, who were still very much animals...(Living in straw, unable to reason, except for her mother who had learned a little. She was at the caveman stage...)

Everything was trashed and anaesthetic darts were lying on the ground

Rubix yelled "PAPAAAA!!! MAAMAAANNN!"

She took off and flew around the farm roaring.

She grew to her full red dragon size and roared even more.

The inspector panicked.

"No... let her... she's in shock. She needs to release her stress. If she does anything, I'll go and reason with her.."

Corentin: "I'm counting on you, Torin..."

Then a moment later he asked to sit down and I lay down while we heard Rubix shouting at his parents and crying at the same time.

I understood immediately.

I had seen the crucified dolls and tears flowed from my slitted eyes.

Oddly enough I turned back into Torin, the human and Esme almost jumped on me with a blanket to cover me and hide my nakedness.

Esme "Torin... my little torin..."

She was happy and sad at the same time.

Corentin: "We found a memory card in the letter... it was a video.

It showed Rubix's parents being shot with darts and shot in a truck, chained up. And Felix in a net and then bitten by a dart and crying for help!"

I started to vomit and Poisonus arrived with Freezer and Firrax was accompanied by Frizor and Papa Exodus.

.

Valtrax snorted a few times and wanted to use magic but Exodus gave him the stink eye. "No magic, damn it!"

Rubix rushed towards me and I reverted to my giant form to absorb the impact.

She was all sorrow and tears.

"I promise you we'll find them! They are alive! They are too precious!"

While I consoled my wife,

Sapphia was consoling Rubix. And all the dragons present supported her.

Dad came back into the house and sat in front of the commissary, in anthro, Valtrax too and Ragul. Esme stayed to console Rubix and cry with her.

"We are Felix's adopted family and the dragons are Rubix's parents, also family and, by default, I am responsible for our little community."

The inspector did not beat about the bush.

"There has been a multiple crime, Trespassing, threats, racist threats and false imprisonment with violence... It's very serious. but...Mr Exodus...I know you're eager to go and find them but our men are on the case and I remind you that you don't have the right to take justice into your own hands. It is the law and as a thinking, sensible being, not to say human, although I see a human and a human in front of me, you are justiciables and the law applies to you too.

If you interfere, you risk ruining our investigation but also you risk the lives of innocent people.

And from my past experience, this is a professional job. If you want to help us, then you should only talk to me and not to anyone else.

Exodus: "This could be the work of jealous farmers. I know Ragul has been called a caveman several times and Saphie has been called a bestial libertine several times. They are competing farms and even agricultural farmers. They are jealous of our crops and the size and flavour of our vegetables. Some say we spike the fruit with syrup.

Corentin: "I can understand your feelings and I admire your self control. Few humans would have had as much restraint as you, but that's all to your credit. But let me stop you right there.

This is not the work of a group of disgruntled farmers..or competitors. It's bigger and deeper than that.

The farmers wouldn't have slaughtered the horses, they would have taken them away and left a trail. They are not professional criminals.

Moreover, the bullets are of military calibre. They are not hunting ammunition or sporting bullets.

It is the calibre used by organised crime, hitmen and secret services. And there is every reason to believe that these are the three possibilities.

Another point confirming my assumptions is that the surveillance cameras were hacked and there are no fingerprints."

Exodus looked up at the ceiling and went into a sort of meditation but his divination spell remained unclear.

"Inspector... do you think this could be the work of another dragon???"

At this, his eyes widened.

"What do you mean? Is there such tension in your community that such a senseless crime would be committed by one of your own kind?"

Exodus: "There is tension indeed, but it is sentimental. Couples are forming and concubines want to take part and become second wives, which is normal since there is 1 male for every 4 females... but there has been no violence or threats that I know of.

Valtrax looked sternly at Exodus while Firrax looked out the window, curious and worried like everyone else.

Exodus: "My son has 2 wives and 2 concubines... and... their studies... They are kids..."

Corentin : "Yes, but if I see my report, you should be a newborn..."

Exodus lowered his head, having nothing to disagree with.

The inspector slapped his hands on his thighs to snap everyone out of their trance.

"So if I understand correctly...there would be another dragon, out of nowhere, I suppose."

Exodus: "I don't know...but Felix mentioned that he had the scare of his life.

It was an arch-dragon in the form of a human girl with long blonde hair. She emanated an aura that crushed people and Felix in particular.

He was so scared that he wet himself. Yet we have a powerful aura, which we never activate, but he was traumatised by the creature. "

Inspector: "So it was at the mall with some farm workers.

"Yes, Inspector Corentin."

"I'll ask to see the recordings and try to trace this person."

Exodus "If Felix wasn't mistaken, her name would be Claudia and her dragon name, I don't know."

The inspector took notes, then stood up and took his leave.

"I'll see you tomorrow, same time... okay? In the meantime, if you have any news... here's my card with my number. Call me. "

As soon as the inspector left, the two dragons remained silent.

Exodus looked at Valtrax, "Minax!? Mondain?"

Who else would need a dragon but him? And this "Claudia"... who was she?

Exodus: "I have a terrible feeling..."

Valtrax: "So do I. I fear for our little ones... But, Exodus. Why don't you use your magic? You could find them instantly.

Exodus: "They are watching us right now..."

Valtrax : "Cameras??? microphones??"

Exodus : "You've been watching too many spy movies lately...

No... but when the expedition aboard the Red Anvil turned into a disaster, I felt the same fear, the same impression. Everyone who used magic died. It drew the 'Monster' from the infernal abyss... and I have this feeling of being spied on, watched and judged.

Valtrax: "Now that you mention it... brrr..."

Vatrax turned her head towards a dark corner and she felt as if she was moving. Strange Strange!!!"

"Exodus... I'm afraid..."

He took his wife in his arms.. and kissed the top of her head. He too looked sternly into the dark corner of the room.

Then... everything disappeared, as if the pressure was rising.

Exodus: "He's gone... I can feel it.."

Valtrax: "Yes... I felt... Poor Felix... Poor darling (Rubix)"