(Spencer POV)
In the conference room, the mood was solemn.
The last time a meeting like this happened was the attack from two fronts, and this time the situation was somewhat similar.
Dante was resting on the table, and Rose was sitting at my side leaning towards me.
I looked at both side of the table and somehow they what was going to happen before it started.
As you could always expect, the discussion was going nowhere.
"We haven't recovered from the last time!"
"What if they lose and get here!"
"The vortex is blocking their way."
"Let those beast deal with them, we can take down both groups when they are weakened!"
"It has nothing not do with us!"
*Sigh*
At that moment, Dr. Harting voice sounded.
"Indeed, we haven't recovered yet, but we can't take the risk of letting them get near the city. An alliance with the farmland beasts and the rats it's our best shot to prevent something like what happened the last time from happening again."
"I agree if they made them try to invade us, it means that the enemy is strong…"
Blake added.
Right now, they held the most power in Green Shelter. If they wanted to send help, there was nothing that the others could do to prevent it.
As the conversation finally advanced towards the right topic, I finally voiced my opinion on the matter.
"We should send help, but a small group to support the ones already there."
"No a full-scale attack?"
"At that time, we didn't have that much choice, Pinky's subjects might be many, but they cannot take attacks and resist too much. We needed people like Gerhard, Zak, Mark, or the goons who can attract and handle powerful beast for a while, but this time we have blackie's army too."
"So you want to lead a small elite team and use the beast to handle the brunt attack?"
Mr. D'Aurora asked.
Dr. Hartings and Blake were the only ones here that knew that something happened in the swamp, so they understood from the way I looked at them, that this time I wasn't going.
This time Blake spoke up.
"He is not going this time."
The conference room got quiet while they processed the fact that I was going to stay here this time.
"What does that mean?"
Another guy seemed bewildered by that. Mister D'Aurora looked at us as if there was something else going on… so perceptive.
"I will go this time, and I need someone I can trust to stay behind."
One thing was for a know war-hero/team-leader to leave, but to have the leader of the whole hunting squads going was risky.
Without the need of using my mind reading ability, I knew that some of them thought that something fishy was going on. And Blake noticed too.
"Don't put those faces, it's just that my ability is better for this, he has a high control and one vs. one ability, but to take down large numbers, my ability is better."
That's just a half-truth, but they don't know that, and this seemed to at least calm them down for the moment.
"You will go with a couple of extra hands to help them take care of the most dangerous ones and reduce their numbers?"
"I will go with about 5 or 6 more people, with the ones already there we should be okay."
After a little extra discussion about who they thought should go (Not that they had a say in that matter) the meeting was over.
The people that didn't want to lose more people were relieved that we didn't decide on a full all-out attack, and those that wanted to help were happy that we were sending help in the form of an elite team. Losing the cannon fodder was easy, but for an elite to die, it was a lot more difficult, so it was unlikely for us to lose people this time.
With the decision made, Dante and I stayed behind for a short talk with Dr. Hartings and Blake. Rose had to inform the decision to Hayley's group and disappeared from our sights.
"Still recovering?"
"Not really, I think I'm already at 100%, but it's not good for them to rely on me that much."
They both frowned as they got what I refer to.
"Time is getting near?"
"Yes, I plan on leaving after the new year, and I have yet to finish a lot of plans, my investigation on Janice's stone is finally starting to advance, and I need to know what is going on in the north."
They both nodded, they knew that the time for me to go was getting near and with me a lot of influential people. That might cause a huge uproar is not handled correctly, but this new war gave us a huge opportunity.
New remarkable people might appear and helping Blackie will also create an alliance human-beast that will give safety to the people.
"You found something about the stone?"
"Yes… and no, it's difficult to explain."
He didn't ask further, but as long as the investigation advanced, it was okay. He knew that if I manage to complete it before leaving, the stone might have a way to let me know if they need help like Hamilton did.
"Focus on that then, Blake and Hayley are enough to help the farmlands."
I nodded and left together with Dante towards the apartment.
Even if I wanted to go and fight for the EP, it wasn't the right choice on the long run.
If I care about Green Shelter, they need to handle some problem themselves without me, and I want them to be able to do that. This is the place where I grew up and where I plan to come back when I found our families.
________________________________________________
Sophie was petting an oversized black cat while the rest of the team waited around looking at them.
"Do you know how the meeting is going Paws?"
*Meow*
The midnight panther acted as an Astral Anchor for Rose, and this way she could move between her pets and Spencer. Sending Paws was the way to keep them communicated without going themselves when they knew that something was happening Rose came and they explained to her. The meeting was set up in that next hour.
Just as Sophie asked, a figure materialized next to the Panther.
Milo, who was sitting on the floor, stood up as soon as he noticed Rose's appearance.
"How did it go? Do we stay?"
As a group, they also discussed what they should do, staying behind was dangerous, but after hearing blackie's story, they felt reluctance to just leave without helping them.
"Yes, during the meeting was decided that a small elite group will act as support for them."
"So is someone else coming or we are the elite reinforcement?"
Milo raised his brow. The people currently here were indeed elites, but it was hard to know if they could really change the tides of a battle with just them… maybe Hayley could, but it might not be enough.
"Blake will lead more people."
"Blake?... Spencer is not coming?"
This was what Spencer knew was starting to happen. They will depend on them and feel at lost when they are not there.
"Blake said that his power is more suited against large numbers. And he can't leave Green Shelter unprotected."
Rose started to manage her, not lying a lot better. She didn't say anything wrong. Blake said that… if she agrees or not isn't important, and he can't leave Green Shelter unprotected… that's a fact.
Milo and Mark both nodded. Something felt weird not having him in battle after everything, but it was when Hayley's voice came.
"Spencer fights weirdly, he controls and brings chaos to the enemy lines, but against a swarm of bees that most likely are going to fight as one, it might be ineffective. Blake is a lot more direct, and we will reduce their numbers a lot faster with him."
One of the things that Hayley fought hard to learn was strategy. She needed to be able to stay in the middle and know what is happening at every moment. In this battle, Blake might be better, riskier… but faster.