They needed improvement, but above all, time to fight with greater synchrony. Aer, Rune and Leith had had the opportunity to get used to each other, especially the time spent at Galya. They were together almost from the beginning, evolved for the first time fighting together, so everything affected them to know how to move with each other. Nero was different, though the wolf connected as if he had travelled longer with them.

"Having someone on the ground makes things easier for us," Aer said.

"Don't even think of using me as bait, or don't make a habit of it," Nero warned them.

After their encounter with the yuan-ti, that encounter was not complicated in a wrong way by pure luck, but that did not prevent them from changing their way of fighting. On the bright side, the bond did not overwhelm them, even with the addition of the wolf, probably because of the strength he offered. Unlike the rest, Nero remained at the Champion. He confirmed that Finnian shared his energy with him, but he was so used to it that he was effortless to maintain his current form.

"But you three have as much strength as I do. Why is that?" Nero said.

According to Ead, it was because the potential of the Signers influenced them beyond evolution. Indeed, it was an ability that many craved, but changing levels so frequently was not such an easy act for most. Besides the constant fights and what they had strengthened, they were not to be underestimated for their different aspects.

After leaving that fortress, the passage through Everground was both short and long at the same time. It was barely noon when they could finally see the plains that surrounded them, those belonging to the Sea of Grass. They still had a long way to go to reach the Silver Orchid, but it was not so far away.

"It may bring back bad memories," Blanche said, rubbing her arms.

"It's been days since then," Finnian said.

"I know, but it's enough to hear that name to feel like we've wandered from place to place."

She wasn't wrong, although the landscape was different. Indeed, there were many plains covered with green grass that they wanted to lie on them, enjoying the excellent weather. They would have done so had they not decided to take advantage of that impulse and eaten as they walked. After all, why stop when they could go further and not find themselves exposed?

"That's the least of our problems," Nero said.

The air brought a different scent to the one they had perceived so far. It did not belong to the flora or fauna of their surroundings, let alone the lunch they enjoyed in silence, but of something moving. The possibility of encountering new elthean would never go away, just as it might when navigating through a city. However, it did not exude chaos like their most recent foe, but a lupine scent too familiar to his friend.

"More wolves?" Blanche said.

"Are there other packs in Hawell?" Rune said.

Like dragons or any other creature, Braunah's pack was not the only one in that region. Others inhabited the border with Issey, mingling with the northern wolves in most cases. Although they were, in theory, close to that region, they did not know of any other elthean they had left around the same place they were now passing.

The earth trembled, warning them that they would soon encounter that large group. What would happen was yet to be decided, although by the way Nero's hair tensed, perhaps they had hit the nail on the head. Then, the same sound that had reached them disappeared, although that did not keep them out of danger. Gradually, several wolves began to appear unseen and surrounded them. One of these stood out, not only because of its size, but others gave way for it to come forward. Dark brown fur, the familiarity that flooded Nero was accompanied by pressure.

This was his pack. Now there was no doubt about it.

"Why did you allow the human to use you as a common mount?"

He let out those words through a growl, but a deeper and more powerful one managed to cut him off. Braunah's characteristic greyish-white fur soon made its presence known, causing the impertinent one to recoil at his alpha's command.

"He has disgraced the pack!"

"Sköll, don't go through with this," Braunah warned him once more.

There was agitation, resentment. After all, the Signers let themselves be captured so quickly, the same one who refused to give them more strength and who had led them to a defeat. It was ironic that they were blamed for what happened in Alder when they refused to listen to their recommendations. Were they so blind as to reach such heights?

"If you're so frustrated, let's settle this matter in the circle," Nero said.

He didn't have to come close for the rest of them to back away, knowing those words better than they did. According to what Nero whispered to their minds, it was a custom among the packs for situations like this where disagreements could fracture them. The elthean in dispute faced each other, and whoever won decided the outcome. It wasn't deadly, or not as a rule, but it was a way to keep the situation from getting worse.

Braunah looked at her son, then at the rest of her new companions. She did not know what was going through her mind at that moment, but her countenance did not change.

"I accept your challenge," Sköll said, advancing to him, "And when I defeat you, we will never have to see you, your problems, or those false saviours again."

"Wow, look who's the spiteful one now," Aer said, getting a grunt in response.

"Who seconds this confrontation?" Sköll said.

"Myself."

Braunah allowed it, a gesture that managed to alter the rhythm of the encounter. Even when she pretended to avoid it before, that she did it and not any other member of the pack reaffirmed her authorship and leadership.

"But only the two wolves will be able to fight. No one will interrupt this fight," Braunah said.

That prevented them from joining or preventing Nero from being defeated. As much as it annoyed them, they had no choice but to agree, mainly because of how fast the whole thing progressed.

"It's best for the pack, isn't it?" Finnian said.

"Braunah was ready for something like that, wasn't she?" Aer said.

They had let them prepare for a few minutes, though their bond prevented that conversation from being picked up by anyone else. The pack situation was unstable, especially since they'd met, but that had worsened after recent events.

"Sköll has always been very confrontational, but his attitude has changed for the worse since the problems started," Nero said.

He wasn't justifying him but explaining why all this was happening. He had known that wolf since he was a pup. They had both learned to hunt, fight and track, but their different personalities and how they saw the world eventually drove them apart.

"If I win, this problem should no longer affect my mothers," Nero said.

"And if you lose, Braunah would reaffirm her position as alpha by exiling her son," Finnian said.

A bleak alternative. Finnian didn't know what he would have done in such a situation, choosing between his destiny and his family, potentially losing both in the process. He knew they came from different places, but seeing something like this so close managed to stir his insides. However, he didn't look surprised as tense as his partner was.

"You expected it," Rune said.

"You knew what would happen when you left with us, and we met up with the pack again," Leith said.

"I had no choice," Nero said, "and you even know it."

With that statement, however, he was referring to his mother. Her customs had been passed down from generation to generation, adapting to the times but always keeping what was useful to them. The circle of wolves helped keep power games from happening so often and be a relatively direct way of dealing with problems.

"What do you need from us?" Finnian said.

"Someone will have to be my second if things go wrong," Nero said.

It couldn't be Rune or Leith. That both could fly made most people see them as a threat.

"What nonsense!" Rune exclaimed, unable to hide her resentment.

"That's why it has to be me," Aer snorted. "Because I'm Star".

"Well, there are prejudices of all kinds," Leith said, as frustrated as the others.

"Do you want me to peck him?" Rune added.

"I'd punch him myself if I could. Raise your hand whoever has a taste for that impertinent wolf," Finnian grinned, raising his hand as the rest of them mimicked him. "Why don't you show that wolf what this group is capable of?"

The opinions were as diverse as the colours. They were not always going to agree, nor would they like them. Everyone was unique in their way, and what was wrong with that?

"Besides, there's something they didn't include in the "rules" of the duel," Finnian said.

He didn't even need to explain it for them to understand. It was such a subtle detail that was permanently by their side. With every breath, with every act they performed. They could never make others look at them with better eyes, nor would they allow their prejudices to stop them from getting on with their lives. They joined hands and paws together because they were a team that grew in the face of challenges, even when others had no faith in them. They didn't need others to applaud them to achieve their goals - they had the strength to make them happen!

"Who wants to teach that impertinent and annoying wolf a lesson?" Finnian said, raising his voice to reach everybody around. "Team Signer, let's get to work!"