~ * ~ * ~

Fire torches bordered the wolves from corner to corner, providing ample light. What was left of the bear hung over a pit. The servers were down to the bones, trying to scrape off what they could for the wolves that hadn't gotten their plates yet. The queue moved slowly, plates outstretched to get their share of meat, fish, leaves, berries, and grain.

Shreya didn't spot Galo and Kachina in the crowds. Their mourning clothes would have made them stick out. She trusted that someone delivered them their plates. Shanti, Danilo, and her had already got theirs. Their portions were meager. It was difficult keeping stomachs full when everyone was rationed to an age-appropriate serving. Pups and Elders were prioritized.

"If you're not going to eat your taekalb, can I have it?" Shanti shook her arm for attention.

Shreya passed it over, more than happy not to eat it.

Danilo moved his plate towards her, and asked, "do you want any grain? It'll make the trade fairer."

"I'm okay. I'm not that hungry," Shreya said. Sharing food with Ellie had taken care of most of her hunger pains. The porridge had stuck to her stomach well.

Her mind wandered. What was Ellie having for dinner? It had to be something hardier than what they were having. Probably something spiced and flavorful, if that porridge was anything to go by. Had she made it home okay? Her well-being should've been Shreya's first thought. Three days was going to be a long time to go without knowing how she was doing.

...Not that worrying about someone she hardly knew was any of her business. Ellie had that dog and that pig with her. They'd make sure she got back safely.

"Shreya, this bear is divine." Danilo sighed happily. "The taste will stay with me for days. No, weeks. Years." He'd only gotten a sliver—as much as Shreya and Shanti—but it was enough to say that and mean it.

"Eh...it didn't taste like anything to me." Shanti shrugged.

"That's because you didn't chew it," Danilo said.

"I'll savor it more next time, then," she said. "There'll be more bears."

The wolves sat in a wide circle around the stage where the performances took place. Shreya had managed to get the three of them seats close to the front. Plates in laps, all of the wolves eagerly looked forward to what would happen. The schedule was kept a mystery.

Two wolves stood up from the circle and got onto the stage. They were dressed in loose, vibrantly-colored clothing. They raised their hands together, a signal for everyone to stop talking and pay attention. Shreya leaned forward to get a better view. A wolf she couldn't see laid down a drum beat for them to dance to.

At first, the dance was chaste. Simple twirling, no real touching other than the occasional brushing of fingers. But then the beat grew faster and the male dancer grabbed the female dancer's waist and Shreya had to tear her eyes away at that, too embarrassed at whatever was going to happen next in the dance.

She played it off, whispering to her sister. "You and Danilo should go up there next."

"No thanks!" Shanti said it louder than she meant to. A wolf sitting behind them growled. "Sorry."

"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea." Danilo laughed nervously.

Once the performance was finally over (and Shreya's face felt like fire to the touch), one of the Marjani Elders took the stage. Ilkay Marjani Gavi. Her eyes pierced through the crowds, daring anyone to speak. At least three minutes had to have gone by before she starte her speech.

"Thank you, everyone, for attending, and for maintaining your spirits in these hard times," Elder Ilkay said. Shreya wanted to gag. Elder Ilkay relied on buzz words for her speeches. There wasn't much substance to them, but she said things that everyone wanted to hear so no one ever complained. Plus, she was an Elder. An Elder could burn down a building, call it art, and everyone would still celebrate them.

Elder Ilkay continued, "this is a testament to what makes wolves wolves. Resiliency. Strength. Determination. A trust and pride in our abilities." She lifted her arms. "I send praise to your reliance upon one another. I implore you to never forget your bonds and connections to each other as Marjani wolves."

A typical, wooden plug-and-play speech. Shreya glanced around. The wolf she sat next to had tears in her eyes. Give me a break.

Elder Ilkay bowed. "If anyone has an announcement to make, please do so. After the announcements, we will hear three songs from the talented Hasna Marjani Taruh."

Someone pipsqueak-voiced got onto the stage and started talking. Their big, grand announcement that everyone had to hear was that they were putting the finishing touches on their kite project. They had stitched together a kite so large that it required four people to hold it. The crowd cheered louder for the kite project than they did for the dancers.

"I saw that kite. It looks like crap," Shanti whispered. "It looks like a stuffed worm."

"It's not that bad. It has its charm," Danilo said with a smile.

"Sure, if you like google-eyed paper creatures."

Hasna's songs were exactly what Shreya expected them to be—songs praising the glory that was being a wolf. It was the nationalistic subject matter that got people excited, not her voice. Shreya was over it before she'd sung the first note of her second song.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around to come face-to-face with her mother, crouched down so they would be at eye-level. Pravaah's bad eye was hidden under a black eyepatch. She wore the emblem that represented Shreya's father, a symbol of strength and loyalty. Shreya's tail lowered on instinct.

"Mama," Shanti greeted her with a toothy grin. Pravaah didn't return it. She barely acknowledged her. Danilo was smart enough to look away, to give them their privacy.

"Shreya. Shanti. How did you get the bear? Did you pass over the wall again?" Pravaah's tone was as cold as the look on her face.

"Shanti wasn't with me this time." Shreya came clean. It would have been wrong not to. "I went by myself. The bear was almost dead when I found it. I finished it off and brought it here because I thought it was the best thing to do." Wasn't it?

"Come to the Elders' Hall when this is over." Apparently, it wasn't. Pravaah got up and left them.

When Pravaah was out of earshot, Shanti nudged Shreya. "You are so in for it."

"Did you really go over the wall by yourself? That's...that was so bad of you to do. You know it's against the Elders' rules." Danilo shook his head. The way he talked meant that he didn't know anything about Shanti's own adventures over the wall. That cinched it. Danilo was too clean and too innocent for her. "A bear's not worth your life."

"Good luck at the Elder's Hall." Shanti patted Shreya on the shoulder.

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A/N: Voting for the latest chapter of Redwood Crossing is happening now on its main site until Monday at 11:59 PM EST. Don't miss out on a chance to affect the story!

The next RRL chapter update will be Chapter 10.4, the last one for this chapter.