At least Zoxiz and the others who had been dragged or led back to Star City by that annoying little blam-whit, that chicken-man... at least they were tolerable. Mineath was rather proud of himself. Despite his small size, he'd managed to win over most of those other Wylds that he'd stumbled upon, loose on the station. 'Come with me,' he'd said. 'We'll go back to Mythicalae, we don't need to obey this stupid curfew that that idiot Minister put on us. We're Wylds after all! We go where we want, we do what and who we please!' He'd even managed to earn a chuckle at that.

Really... he didn't care what the others thought. They could go get churned into dog food for all that he cared. In reality, he was only gathering them to himself in order to show solidarity. If he came to the Minister of Trade and Communication, backed by much larger allies, and demanded to be let off of the station for as long as he pleased, what could the human do? Tranquilize him and stuff him into a box until he learned his lesson? This station was supposed to be a free-haven, after all... and Mineath didn't feel anything close to 'free'.

The day had come... it had been a long time, but now... Mineath could feel his chance rushing up to him. He'd finally won over the last group of Wylds to his cause, and now... now was his monthly interview with the Minister, Mr. S'aller.

Mineath stepped off of the lift that brought him to the Ministries complex, and took the familiar path to S'aller's office. The room was large enough for a Mutt dragon, and yet the open space didn't seem empty. The walls were overlaid with wood veneer, or some kind of synthetic mockup. The desk was similarly dark and natural looking, human sized... chairs and wide-ranging buoyant pillows were ranged from near the desk to along the wall. Mineath deemed not to take any of them, instead waiting just inside the door. S'aller, leaning back in his leather chair, waited for the Wyld to approach more closely... but as always, Mineath didn't budge.

"So," the Minister began, addressing the small copper dragon. "I've heard that you've been gathering quite a posse! I'm glad to see that you're finally adjusting to Star City."

"I'm not adjusting and you know it," Mineath retorted, his voice crossing the space like a venomous dart. "The Wylds and I are going back, S'aller. We're sick of Star City, and sick of your half-assed curfew."

The Minister looked hurt, though the lumiglo pads smacked to his dark skin cast more of an eerie glow, than anything. "But Mineath," he began, his voice placating. "You're given free-range, here. You're a legal citizen, and you're allowed to do whatever you like, so long as it falls within our laws."

"It's a joke," the small dragon spat, glaring now. "How can I do whatever I like when I have to come back here every month to see you?"

"Only to help ensure that you adjust to civilization, and for no other reason. Mineath," S'aller raised a consoling hand from his desk, a gesture at once asking the dragon to draw nearer, and to soothe him, "I was issued an invitation--a plea, really, from one of Shivran Aerd's top spokespeople. They were looking for people to help with the sudden explosion of Wylds in the vicinity." Mineath snorted, unsettled his first set of wings, and continued his acidic glare, but the Minister didn't seem to notice. "Now, I could have sent someone, or some people to destroy them, but instead I sent someone that I believed would bring you all back alive and intact. I'd rather help as many people and dragons out as possible. You Wylds deserve a chance to see civilization, and turn to it, rather then to be destroyed on sight, am I right?"

"Better to be dead then to be a prisoner," Mineath growled. This imbecile, talking about Wylds as if they were a pest-problem. Unintelligent beasts that needed to be controlled, tamed, or put down. As if the Wylds couldn't take care of themselves! However... Mineath straightened his stance, wrapped his tail about him loosely, and spoke, "I've seen your civilization, Minister, and I've had enough of it. So have the others. We want to go back."

"Be that as it may, Mineath, you're a changed dragon." S'aller folded his fingers together, and cast the Wyld a look across the intervening space. "You're not who you used to be."

"If I've changed, I don't feel it."

S'aller smiled faintly, revealing his teeth. Mineath was tempted to do the same. "Mineath... if you wish to go back to Mythicalae, and to bring your band with you, I can't stop you."

The rainbow-marked dragon blinked. What was this? "You're lying."

"No, if you want to go back, I'll let you. However."

Ah. The catch.

"However," S'aller repeated, "I'd like you to do one thing for me." He paused as if assessing Mineath, and the dragon waited. Impatient, resentful... he could feel all kinds of negative thoughts bubbling up in him even stronger then before. However, he held his tongue. At least he had the sense to do that! S'aller continued, "I'd like you to bring back other Wylds. Frank... has been having an interesting time of things on Mythicalae."

"Wait." Mineath lowered his head, flattening his head-crest to the nape of his neck. "You. Want me. To Hunt other Wylds..." He snorted. "To bring them back here?!"

S'aller nodded amiably.

The small dragon actually did laugh, this time. The noise was a harsh series of barks, and contained little humor. "You're joking me. What makes you think that I'd put someone else through all of this, after I had to go through it myself?"

The question fell on empty silence for a moment, and when he looked up, the Minister was staring at him intently. When the human spoke, his voice was serious, now, drilling to the heart of things. "Because... you would as easily throw your friends into the fire as help them out, let alone strangers. If bringing back a few Wylds to Star City would mean that you could roam as far and wide as you like, for the rest of your life, you'd do it. Wouldn't you?"

Shocked, now, Mineath stared at the Minister. How did a puny human know what he was thinking? Well... he hadn't been overtly cautious to hide his arrogance or his independence... but still! Humans weren't on his list of overly intelligent people. Perhaps S'aller had had someone watch him... that might make sense. "So if I bring back more Wylds to 'tame', you'll set us free?"

"You, certainly, though the others require some more integration with the civilized world." So, basically... Mineath would be set free, but the others would have to remain behind...

He didn't care about the others. If Ziage were restrained to Star City, and he were free to hop the Nexus as he pleased... all the better! "I'll do it. But I expect you to hold your word, human."

"I promise that I will, Wyld." The Minister grinned across the office at the new Hunter, and dismissed him. Oh, manipulation...

Mineath backed out of the room, and headed back to the residences that the Wylds had occupied as their own. He'd tell the others, let them know that his interview had been a success. Of course they'd all be pleased, and want to set forth immediately, thinking that they'd be released along with him. By the time that they discovered that it was only Mineath who'd be set free, he'd be long gone, and wouldn't have to worry about revenge. It was the perfect plan.