The swarm was slowly rousing around me. At night, the jungle had looked the same as where we had come from, but now, during the day, a slight difference was becoming apparent–it was drier. Our home had been situated between two notable rivers, and the offshoots had lead to a massive Toothy Bullfrog population in the area, but here any water present was flowing too quickly downhill to the river we had crossed the night before, and the previously omnipresent croaking of the creatures had waned to nothing, instead filled with the quiet talking and groaning about soreness of the swarm.

I realized that what I once thought of a cacophony of grating shrieks now sounded like normal morning conversation, and I smiled before walking forward into the new day.

…

“It’s getting a lot worse!”

“Well, we are climbing a mountain. To be expected.”

“I hate mountains!”

“Well, take it up with the Alpha if you think we should turn back.”

“...”

The days had begun blending together, but I could remember it had been ten days since we’d fled our home. Initially, we had remained in the jungle, and it almost felt like an extended hunting trip most days. The last two days, however, had brought a massive change in locale. The hills we had been passing through had imperceptibly changed to mountains, and the jungle was falling away to a mostly rocky slope. Far off in the mountains I could see occasional mountain goats, but nowhere near enough for the swarm to subsist from.

“Alpha, I don’t think we can make it through here. Maybe physically, but we can’t support the swarm going through here off of the prey.”

“I know.”

Sybil nodded at me then quietly waited for me to continue.

“We’ll need to loop around the north. There should be more prey there, and an easier path to the east.”

“How do you know that we need to go East?”

“Well, the same way I’ve known other things that I need to do. It’s hard to explain, I just… understand and know.”

“I trust you, Alpha. Lead us well.”

“Could you call my name sometimes at least?”

“You’ve heard me call your name loud and clear before.” Sybil’s tail gently stroked my arm and I couldn’t stop the hungry chuckle.

“You’re a vile little temptress, you know that?”

“I’ll admit to nothing… you can try to make me though.” Her tail reached out to me again but I sidestepped it. If I let this continue…

Sybil chucked with a hint of actual warmth before slowing and turning to Octavi with her tail winding behind her. Their conversation quickly turned mundane and utilitarian and I continued forward, running into a waiting Took.

“Hello Took.”

“Alpha…”

A moment’s pause. “Yes?”

“What is my purpose?”

“What?” I stared over at Took. “What do you mean?”

“I am your Beta, yes?”

“Yes.”

“So I am second in command of the swarm, yes?”

A slow nod.

“Then what commands am I to issue? How do I contribute, beyond being a good hunter? I am useless.”

My mind roiled over the thought. Took was my quiet, steady support, and I trusted her to be at my side at all times. Now, she was talking about how she felt she had no purpose? “I…”

“In every way that matters, Sybil is your Beta, and I… a hunter under your command.”

I couldn’t refute it. I paused for a moment, then, “How would you like to contribute to the swarm? How and when do you think yourself most useful?”

“When told what to do. I am not a leader, but a follower.” There was no hesitation in her voice. “A Beta must be able to lead by themselves, but I cannot. I am a hunter, a fighter, a soldier, but not a master, a leader, or commander. I don’t suit the position.”

“... I think you may be right. You are my trusted friend though. What would you like to do?”

“I’ll tell you what you should do, feisty one. Join the Alqat. We have an opening in the ranks, and all the Alqat consider you a comrade already. Just need to make it official.”

Again, Rulac displayed his uncanny ability to be close enough to overhear a conversation but far enough to escape idle notice. He grinned at Took, his rust-colored scales shining in the daylight. “With more training you could rival me, but, by what you just said, you wouldn’t want to take my position.”

Took shook her head, as if she’d used up her word quota for the day.

“Well, come find me if you want the position.”

Took looked at me. I smiled and nodded, and no later than I did so was Took following Rulac.

“Decisive, submissive, beautiful... I like that in a female.”

No sooner than he opened his mouth was Took throwing herself in a fury at Rulac, and he quickly found himself more evenly matched than he’d expected. It wasn’t a fight to the death but an immediate expression of anger so there were no killing blows or murderous intent from either side. Nonetheless, as Rulac began to take the fight more in earnest, I interposed myself.

“Now, Rulac. I know you want to rut anything with a pulse. Do understand, though, that Took is as big as you are, twice as dedicated, and will have uninterrupted, constant access to Wisterl from now on. Do you really want to force her to beat you senseless? Because I look forward to that day.”

Rulac backed away slowly, acting demure. “Dedicated, powerful…” He began to jog away, his laughter washing over us, “You’ve only proved my point, Eighteen of the Alqat.”

Took looked at me, and for the first time in quite a while, I saw that look in her eye that I’d seen when I’d asked who’d wanted the position of Beta in my pack.

“I was serious when I said I was looking forward to the day, Huntmaster Took.”

Took looked at me archly, then slowly nodded, a vicious grin crossing her face before she yelled out, “WISTERL! I’M YOUR NEW TRAINING PARTNER! FIND ME!”