Jake tossed the last sack of meat and dead dog onto one of five piles he’d made. It landed with a grotesque plop and the bodies shifted from the additional weight. After killing off the last of the pack, Jake worked to collect the mass of scattered meat into the lower valley. After some negotiation, the female beast requested for the clean-up. Not to collect the dead for anything special but because it would be easy for her own pack. Since these individuals weren’t part of her kindred, eating them wasn’t off the table. Their mana sources would also provide her children with additional strength to help foster their development.

Figuring it would give him some time to recuperate before starting off on his walk again, Jake agreed. The female beast then sent out a loud howl into the valley, her voice booming through the mountains as she called for her family. As they waited, the pair did the leg work. Jake used his magic to first heal the female beast’s injuries so she could assist him, and then moved up along the ridges to toss the corpses over to the valley below. Dozens of mangled bodies were stacked up in heaps. Dismembered limbs, chunks of flesh, and entrails were left to rot in the wide expanse. Evidence of a one-sided slaughter. The large bodies were all that Jake cared about.

After the main effort was finished and the piles were made, Jake did as he’d promised. He found the corpse of the leader, Aurin’toth and snapped off his horn. It wasn’t as fine quality as the first horn he’d procured but it would serve its purpose as a trophy.

“I have a request, if I may.” As Jake stuffed the horn into his pack, the female beast called over to him.

Jake stood up and stared at her, signaling that he was listening.

She approached and lowered her head towards him. “I would like to ask that we take a moment to rest. The fight took much out of me, and I think it would be good for you to rest as well.”

“I’m fine,” Jake retorted without much emotion. He plucked his pack from the ground and shouldered the weight. “Let’s go.”

However, she remained firm. Before Jake could step away, she cut him off. “Mr. Jake. I implore you to take a moment to rest. If not for you, for me. I would like to ensure my pack finds this location and would like to make sure the pups are taken care of.”

Jake met her icy eyes. He searched them for some silent reason for why she was choosing to be difficult but it was an impossible task. He couldn’t read her mind. Unless she told him the true reason for her adamant stance, he was faced with the choice of compliance or a potential problem on his hands. If she was being bold enough to step in his way, then she was likely willing to press him should it be necessary.

A brief standoff ensued, with Jake unable to find a real to go against her wish. After walking through the night and fighting the pack, his mana reserves had been cut into. His body was fatigued and his mind was lagging behind as well. A rest would help with that, even if it was short.

The man sighed and shut his eyes, exhaling heavily as his shoulders slumped. “Fine.” He dropped his pack to the ground beside him. “But only for a short time. I want to clear the pass as quickly as possible.”

The wolf smiled and nodded, content with his decision. “I understand.”

As Jake made a quick camp to rest at, she walked over to one of the piles in order to acquire a meal of her own for the evening. She pulled out a wolf with a horn on its head, then dragged the corpse over to the fire pit to eat.

Jake finished his own meal much sooner than she did and eventually just stared down into the runes, passing the time by staring off into space. He let his thoughts toil and simply eased into a state of calm. Then, his head bobbed. Once. Twice. Three times. The quiet air and warmth of the runes lulled him slowly into a sort of haze.

The wolf noticed, as she raised her snout and nudged it closer to him. “You can rest. I will wait for my pack.”

Jake glanced at her for a moment, acknowledging that he’d heard her, but then he looked down into the firepit again. “No. I’ll stay awake.”

“After all this time, you still do not trust me?” She asked with a huff. “You are a despicable man, Mr. Jake. Hurtful in your own way.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “And your sarcasm is endless, wolf lady.”

She scoffed. “I have a name, you know. Thank you for asking.”

He didn’t ask because he didn’t care. That seemed to have been a mistake as she added that to her ammunition. Thus, Jake pressed his lips together, tilted his eyes, and stared at her. Waiting.

Taking that as him asking, she huffed. “I am Elicia. Elicia of the White Fang pack.” The female beast formally introduced herself, her muzzle stained red with the blood of her meal. The rest of her pelt was dirty as well and a bit matted due to the fight from earlier. She didn’t look as majestic as when Jake had first met her, but she fit the part of a wolf now.

“My full name is Jake Furrow.” He slapped open his pack and then pulled free his sleeping bag. Seeing as it was likely going to be a while, catching a nap wasn’t a bad idea.

While he did so, he failed to notice Elicia’s reaction to his name. Her ears twitched, standing on end for a blink before she reeled in her emotions. She said nothing and quickly stuffed her snout into the guts of her feast.

Jake stripped down to the basic garments and piled everything up beside his bag. He kept his knives with him as he slipped into the sleeping bag and then rolled a bit closer to the fire pit. His eyes stared towards the night sky, watching as the stars slowly twinkled out of view. Elicia peered over at him, watching as he once again struggled to sleep.

“Something the matter, Mr. Jake?” She lowered her voice, leaning close again to speak quietly.

Jake didn’t answer at first, as even he didn’t know how to quite put his emotions into words. “No. Wake me when your family arrives.”

“I will.” Elicia nodded and then moved away, careful to position herself so she would not disturb him.

Then, Jake’s eyes slid closed. He slowed his breathing, elongated his breaths, and steadied his heart. In mere minutes, the fatigue that washed over him lulled him into a deep slumber. While he slept, Elicia gnawed on the body of her kill and watched over the man, her icy blue eyes watching the calm face of the human who was proving to be far more alluring than she could have ever imagined.

The night slowly passed. After Elicia finished her meal, she too curled up to rest. Her ears remained perked up as her eyes closed, however. She kept herself from going into a truly deep sleep and she remained alert, listening for any dangers as well as the sounds of her pack. Their howls echoed in the distance, signaling that they were closing in. Elicia didn’t answer them so as to not disturb Jake but she monitored their general direction and volume. If they veered off, she would make sure to call out to them.

A few hours later, the first outline of a familiar wolf poked out along the ridgeline. They spotted the pair in the valley and let loose a loud, powerful howl. Elicia, awoken by the sound, raised her head to look for the originator. Three howls followed, all from other members of the ack, and the wolves rushed to reunite with their pack leader.

In moments, the lead individuals had the valley surrounded and established what looked to be a perimeter around the area, their eyes scanning for trouble as they positioned themselves around the space. Some found traces of the fight, their noses poking and sniffing at the meat and innards they found scattered throughout the rocks. One of the new arrivals found a wolf still whimpering atop a set of rock spikes, skewered and in the long process of dying. After a few barks with a compatriot, the new arrival snatched the dying wolf by the throat and crushed it.

The old, injured, young, and their protective detail arrived nearly an hour later. By this time, the sun was rising and light crept into the valley. Elicia nudged Jake awake and informed him of the arrival of her pack. He grumbled and went to work cleaning up his space, groggy and even more tired now than before now that he had let himself relax. To wake himself up, he splashed cool water on his face and wiped the crust from his eyes. He rinsed out his mouth then packed away his sleeping bag. As the wolves descended from the ridgeline, Jake got dressed and then plopped down on his seat.

Hungry wolves secured themselves a body or two and then spread out in the valley to indulge in the fresh meat. Elicia and three others separated the more powerful dead from the rest, saving their mana sources for the youth to eat. Another pile was made to provide meat for the security detail along with the older wolves who would need assistance eating. Everything else was fair game for the other members of the pack.

“You put more thought into what you eat than I expected.” As they sorted the dead, Jake spoke up from his seat. Elicia was beside him, barking at the others to issue her orders.

“The young must be given every opportunity to grow, and we have some members who are not strong enough to break bones anymore. Helping them is a burden but it is necessary.” Elicia let out a huff, revealing that she was a bit tired by it all. That or she acknowledged that it was annoying.

Jake eyed her for a moment as he considered asking for more information to learn about her kin further. However, her gaze towards the pups told him enough. She was putting the future of her pack first. Those young pups were the youth who would one day replace her and others like her. She wanted to give them the best shot at doing that, like any mother or parent would. Ensuring they were given the best opportunity to do that was her purpose. As the leader of her pack, it was on her to protect that, and it was on the others to oblige.

“Madam.” As the rear group entered the area, one of the male wolves at the very tail end strode over to Elicia and Jake. He lowered his head respectfully. “All of us are accounted for. No complications.”

“Thank you, Judus. How are the injured?” Elicia looked over her pack, her concern clear as she stared at the few who were being assisted. Jake recognized most of them as recent casualties.

Judus’s eyes drifted towards them as well. “Tired but recovering. Thanks to the human’s help, they’ll be fine. I believe the food here will be enough to get most of them back on their feet.”

Elicia nodded. “Good.” Then, she stared at Judus. “Eat.” Beside her, a horned wolf corpse was set aside. Untouched. She had nabbed it during the sorting process.

Judus blinked, his snout lowering for a sniff. He must have recognized something as he instinctively stepped back. “Madam. I cannot.”

“Eat it, Judus.” She demanded, her eyes narrowing.

Judus returned her stare with a hard look of his own. “Madam. If I may, the children should be our prio-”

A low snarl escaped Elicia’s mouth as she scowled. “If you speak any further, I’ll bite out your eyes and leave you to wander this mountain until you die. Now eat the meat, Judus.”

Judus’s tail snapped to attention and he returned her snarl with one of his own. His muscles flexed and his fur rustled as his ears smoothed along his skull. The wolf bore his fangs towards his pack leader, which earned him the attention of the rest of the pack. It seemed he wasn’t going to listen anymore. “Madam, with respect, you are in your position only because of Radal, as you are his mate. Or should I say, you were his mate.”

A low chill ran down Jake’s spine. Judus planted a paw firmly on the back of the wolf corpse as he squared up on Elicia. His snout flexed, revealing a shiny set of white fangs.

“Radal is no longer here, Elicia. And you are no longer any different than the rest of us.”

Elicia’s eyes remained fixed on the male wolf but her snarling subsided. She rose up onto all four of her legs, her twin tails swishing behind her. Though Judus seemed ready for a fight, his body tight and coiled with strength, Elicia was far more calm. She wasn’t scared in the least. No, she met his harsh stare and raised her snout to meet his.

“Would you like to be reminded as to why Radal chose me, Judus?”

Jake let out a sigh and turned his attention elsewhere, not wanting to get involved in the scuffle. This was their problem to hash out and getting in between their dispute wasn’t his place as an outsider. The rest of the pack, however, was far more invested in the altercation. They closed in around the warring parties, creating a loose and open circle around the pair.

The pair continued to bark and snarl at one another as Judus considered his position and his chances of beating the female. She wasn’t bigger than him in any regard. Actually, Elicia was smaller in stature and her body was more lean. Yet, those twin tails at her back weren’t there for nothing. She was quicker, faster, and the strength to her muscles was on par with his own. A result of her pedigree and also her being fostered to become the future Queen of the pack. Radal had chosen her, sure, but she was no normal female. She also had far more battle experience, as revealed by the scars along her sides and at her hips.

Jake was about to speak up to tell them to sort it out when suddenly, Judus lunged. His muscles snapped forward and his jaw parted as he moved to attack. Whatever reasoning he had, whatever risk assessment he made- Judus decided it was time to contest the seat. Elicia accepted his request. As he lunged to claw at her, she slipped underneath and snatched his exposed throat into her jaws. Judus’s eyes shot open as she speared him from below, pushing him up onto his rear legs as she took a commanding grab on him. He yelped and clawed at her, a feeble attempt to free himself as she twisted him over before slamming him down onto his back.

There was no opportunity to explain himself or ask for forgiveness. He made his choice, and she would use him as an example. He struggled, kicked and flailed. His body wiggled beneath her but she kept him firmly pinned, allowing him a few moments to understand his place. She snarled and growled, adjusted her body for a better angle, and then clamped down to secure her bite. No matter what Judus did, he was stuck.

It was hardly a fight. Nothing like Jake had expected but an outcome that was necessary. Elicia waited for what she likely believed a satisfactory amount of time, and then her jaws clamped down powerfully. Judus’s struggling continued but his windpipe was crushed. She didn’t tear it out like she would have done to one of the black furred wolves. No, she hurt him badly and then opened her jaws to free him. Judus rolled away, wheezing and gasping for air as he stumbled to his feet.

Elicia rose up tall and stared at him, watching as he cowered away. Fear filled his eyes as he practically ran, his snout searching for help within those watching. Yet, there were no friends here anymore. Every pack member he approached or stumbled near snarled and bit at him, forcing the injured wolf to flee to the rear and out of the dangerous circle of hungry jaws. Pushed out, Judus coughed as he backed away from the pack. His tail tucked near his legs, his ears lowered along the side of his head.

Exiled.

This was the consequence of his choice and his defeat.

“Disappear and die alone, Judus. Tell Radal how you tried to take his seat when you see him.” Elicia sealed the wolf’s fate with her words. After she did so, two other males stepped forward to scare him off, forcing Judus to either flee or die. Judus tucked his tail and elected to run, scampering away into the valley.

With Judus dealt with, the pack returned to eating. Elicia sat down beside Jake, heaving as she flopped onto her belly. Jake didn’t look at her, privy to her theatrics already.

“That was boring,” Jake spat as he pointed out the quick fight.

Elicia grumbled at him. “Not all of us fight in flashy ways like you, Mr. Jake. If I can handle them quickly, I prefer to do so.”

Jake shrugged. “I don’t like flashy either but I think a bit of a struggle would have been good.”

“And why is that, oh wise one of battle?” Elicia rolled her eyes as she turned her head to look at him. She adjusted her posture so she could look at him more comfortably.

“A few scratches, a bit of a struggle, some feisty growling. The flashy route would have given the pack more time to see you assert your dominance. They all could have seen you fight and beat him.“A quick snatch of the throat was quick and conserved energy, but what did it do? It showed you could tackle someone to the ground and bite them. Great. They all can do that, can’t they? But if you out wrestled him or outsmarted him, I think it would have shown you to be much more competent of a fighter and might make some of the others less willing to compete.”

She must have considered his words quite a bit more than he originally thought she might, as she stared at him in silence for a long time after he spoke. Her head even turned towards the fire runes and then her eyes peered towards where Judus had walked. “You might be right, Mr. Jake.” She sighed, closing her eyes. “But, the deed is done. Should another try to test me, then I will consider a more flashy way to handle them.”

Jake chuckled. “Hopefully I’m not here to see it. I’d hate to see you lose.”

The wolf let out a low growl as she swatted at him with a tail. There was no intention to hit him and it whisked passed him harmlessly. “You still think so low of me, human?”

Jake smirked and shrugged again. “Consider it a hope that you’ll still be the pack leader when I come back through here. It would be very annoying if I had to deal with one of your kin and explain things.” Jake glanced around at the rest of the pack, a tickle of a wonder crossing his mind as he thought over who might be next in line. It was hard to tell. Elicia was the only wolf with two tails and none of the males had horns. Maybe one of the pups might grow into the seat?

Elicia watched him look, her own tails moving slowly at her back. “So, you wish to see me again. Is that what I hear?”

An icy chill ran down Jake’s spine once more, one that made the hairs on his neck stand on end. He looked over at the wolf, staring into those icy blue eyes of hers. “Don’t you get weird on me, lady.”

Elicia huffed and lowered her head to her paws, not saying anything more. Yet she continued to stare and watch him. Jake held her gaze for only a few breaths before his jaw tensed up. He forced himself to look away.

A curious pup, finished with their meal, approached the fire pit with his eyes low and ears perked up. Their fluffy tail swished at their back, swaying as a pair of beady blue eyes stared up towards the human across the pit. Jake raised an eyebrow and glanced toward Elicia, only for her to do nothing but watch. Jake kept quiet and kept his eyes on the firepit.

The pup slowly walked around the pit towards Elicia, never taking its eyes off Jake. “Mum. Why are we not eating the human?”

Elicia’s ears twitched as she pushed her snout against the pup. “Because we can’t, my baby boy.”

“But why?” He mumbled, grumbling and pawing at his mother’s snout as he tried to keep his balance. “I can take him.”

Elicia stifled a laugh and lowered her head to her paws. “You are welcome to try but don’t come to me crying afterwards.”

The pup growled lightly and pawed at his mother’s ear a few times, but she ignored him and let him play. The pup then made his way around behind her, peeking over her body a few times towards Jake as he crept closer. Jake feigned ignorance, letting the pup play his game. Elicia closed her eyes for a moment but then decided to open one to watch. Jake sighed.

He waited until the pup was just off his left side, two sword lengths away, before opening his mouth. “Am I supposed to let him bite me?” Jake said aloud.

Elicia giggled. “ Well that depends on how flashy you want to be.”

Jake shut his eyes and pressed his lips together, kicking himself for even opening his mouth.

The pup took that moment to lunge, pouncing on Jake from his back. Jake smoothly shifted to the right and out of his seat, rolling to his feet as the pup sailed past him. The young wolf quickly turned and tried again, only for Jake to twirl out of the way and snatch the dog by the scruff of his neck.

“Come ‘ere you…” Jake muttered, gripping the pup and lifting it up. The pup barked and snapped at the air, pawing at nothing as he dangled in Jake’s grip.

“That’s cheating!” The pup yapped and twirled his head around, trying every angle in a chance to get a taste.

Jake turned and pointed the boy towards his mother. “At least he tried.”

Elicia smirked and then smoothly jerked her head to her left. When Jake looked, he noticed a bunch of other pups were staring at him. The adults and juveniles were looking as well, but they were all lounging about or still munching on their meals. There was no intention from them to get involved. The pups on the other hand…

“...Hey now.” Jake gripped onto the pup in his hand.

“Get him!” The pup shouted, spurring the others into action.

Elicia flicked her tails and one of the other female wolves stepped up. “Do not hurt the human!” The other female barked loudly as the pups ran past her.

“Yes Auntie!” A few answered, but most didn’t.

“You brats!” Jake belted as he tossed the pup in his hands carefully towards the sea of fluff. Two were tackled, but the rest dodged and jumped. Jake caught one by the snout and used the pup as a shield from another trying to get at his ankle, only for a third to jump up and munch on his shoulder. It wasn’t a fierce bite, as the pup didn’t exactly have much strength to its jaw or a lot of teeth, but it was the force of the impact that knocked Jake off kilter. Two more managed to jump at his legs and, off balance, the man toppled over.

Several of the adults began to laugh, watching the play from a distance as they relaxed. Many of the older wolves talked quietly to each other as they watched. After a few moments, two females walked over to oversee the dogpile as the pups crawled on top of their victim. The order to not harm the human was being followed but their paws and jaws were still potentially dangerous. Jake put up a fight of his own, pushing and tossing the pups around to make them work for their meal.

“Madam…” One of the females approached Elicia and lay down next to her. “What are your plans here? Many are confused.”

Elicia turned her eyes away from Jake and the pups, turning her attention back to her family. “He is not a bad human, not like the others. He is a traveler and is doing what he can to survive, just like us. We attacked him first and he showed us mercy. Even here, now, he is showing kindness in his own way.” Elicia nodded toward the pile of dead black furred wolves. Wolves she and her family were having trouble dealing with on their own.

“When he fought, when we fought, he helped me several times. When I was injured, he healed me and has provided me with safety as much as I for him.” Elicia took in a breath as she looked back at the pups and Jake. “He may not be a wolf like us, but I believe so long as we show him respect and treat him well, he will do the same for us.”

The other wolf looked over at Jake, taking in the scene of the human playing with the children. “He won’t turn on us?”

“So long as we do not give him cause,” Elicia answered. “Yes, that does not make him a friend. There is no binding treaty or promise between us.” Elicia looked at her friend and chuckled. “But this is how friendships are made, are they not? Mutual respect, trust. He has shown it from his end, we must do the same.”

“And if we don’t?” The other wolf asked in a low voice.

Elicia huffed. “Then it will be another pack who will feast on our corpses next, and it will be our pups who will go hungry.” The pack leader leaned over to give her friend a lick across the face. “Rest. Enjoy the peace while we have it. Let the pups play and let me deal with the hard stuff, Veryn.”

The female rumbled and turned away from the lick. “I worry, Elicia. For you. For us. For them.”

“I know you do. It is why you will make a fine leader of your own pack one day.” Elicia pulled her head back and then rested her head across Veryn’s paws.

Veryn chuffed, resting her head on top of Elicia’s, her eyes gazing towards Jake and the pups. “You know I would much rather stay here.”

“And you know that will not happen.”

The sun rose and the morning passed in jubilant peace. The pups tired themselves with Jake and eventually returned to the pack for a nap. The two females who watched over the affair checked with Jake to ensure he was uninjured, then corralled the pups away from him to give him time to rest. Covered in fur and exhausted again, Jake ate his own meal. He then prepared a juicy, cooked meal for the wolves with some of the leftover meat from the dead. A few enjoyed the taste of the heated meat while others still preferred the raw texture.

As he cooked and ate with the wolves, the pack eventually settled around the fire pit. Some even found the courage to ask questions. They asked where Jake was from, where he was going, where he learned his magic and how to fight. They asked about his experience and, when they learned of his fighting the Maedra, asked how he survived them. They were curious, and Jake found that to be something endearing. This was their first time communicating with a Human in such a way and they took the opportunity to ask as many questions as they could.

One of the females even asked if he had a lover. Elicia’s ears perked up at the question and Jake answered in earnest, telling of his wife that he’d left behind.

“Only one wife? Well, sounds like there’s room for plenty more!” One of the females yipped. Some of the males groaned and Jake felt uneasy for a third time, especially beneath the icy blue stare off to his left.

As the conversation flowed, so did time. Afternoon came fast and the sun crested over the mountain peaks, signaling that it was time to either move or settle for another day in place. Jake cleaned the area and Elicia ordered her pack to remain in place and continue to eat, rest, and recover. She instructed four of her pack to also go find the pups of the dead and bring them in to bolster their numbers. Apparently if a pack was wiped out, others would foster the abandoned pups as one of their own. So long as they remained docile and were young enough to not disrupt the fidelity of the pack.

When they were ready, Jake and Elicia stepped off to continue their journey.

“Your pups,” Jake said once they were beyond the visual range of the pack. “How many of them are yours?”

“Only one remains for my litter. Geri. He was my runt, but resembles his father in his brave tendencies.” Elicia tilted her head and looked towards the Human at her side. “Why do you ask?”

“He was the one who attacked me first, right?” Jake cinched down the straps of his pack as he walked, his eyes already searching for the easiest way forward.

“Indeed.”

Jake nodded. “He’s a good son.”

Elicia smiled. “I agree. A bit foolish and he asks many questions, but I like to think it is because he is smart. He likes to know the why and he is very curious. He tests his limits often and he is not afraid to make a mistake.” She trailed off towards the end, lowering her voice to nearly a whisper. “I wish to see him become like his father, if I can.”

Jake did not bring up the fear in her tone, nor did he point out the distant look in her eyes. She worried for her son like any mother would and in the environment they lived in, survival was a constant battle. There wouldn’t always be easy meals like there were today and yesterday. Her pack had many mouths to feed and the mountains were unforgiving. Geri was the last of her pups left, which told Jake enough. The likelihood of him growing up to be a pack leader were slim and everything would be against him.

Chance was not on their side. Yet, as his mother, she would continue to do her best to provide for him. Until the day she died, she would fulfill that role. Much like how Jake’s Auntie had sacrificed much for him.

“I would help if I could,” Jake muttered.

“It is not something I would ask of you,” Elicia answered. “You are an adventurer, a passing wind. To come and go is your nature. A flash of light, if you will.”

Jake smirked and rolled his eyes. “I feel you aren’t going to let that one go any time soon.”

Elicia giggled, her tails swaying at her back. “Oh no. Not when I have something to tease you so openly with.”

The banter continued as the slow pace of the pair carried them through the valley.

What was to be a three day trip became five.

What was supposed to be an enemy became a friend.

What was supposed to be a passing moment in time became a memory.

In the afternoon of the fifth day, Jake and Elicia stopped at the exit of the pass. The pair paused at the mouth of the valley, both peering down the slope that led to the forest below. Though he had reached the end of the first leg of his journey, his feet felt suddenly heavy. As if he didn’t quite want to continue. Much like when he stood at the exit of his village. He had found comfort here, with Elicia and her pack. He found friends and had found time to rest. Though there were some hiccups, this was familiar. Entering the forest would once more bring the unknown.

“You hesitate.” Ever the thorn, Elicia pointed out Jake’s lack of motion.

The man clenched his jaw and nodded. “This part is always the hardest.”

Elicia tilted her head and stared at his back. “Walking through the forest?” She asked in an obviously teasing tone.

Jake shook his head. “Leaving friends. It’s becoming more of a normal than I’d like.”

Hearing his words immediately caused Elicia to laugh, the female wolf giggling over his childish worry. “How cute of you. After all that gruff attitude from you and you tell me you don’t wish to leave? Mr. Jake, I don’t know if I should be happy or annoyed with you.”

Jake rolled his eyes and refused to look at her. Both to not incite any more banter and to hide the embarrassment he felt.

Elicia noticed that he wasn’t laughing and sensed this was a more tender moment for him. He looked young. Maybe he was more juvenile than his battle experience revealed. Thus, she elected to use a more… gentle touch.

“Mr. Jake, we met you first with violence and attempted to take your life. However, in the aftermath you showed mercy and kindness. Something my pack and I will never be able to repay. Then, you coincidentally defeated our primary opposition within this territory. My kin will feast on their bones for the next few days, grow stronger, and our territory will expand to fill the hole that has been created.” Her tails flicked at her back as she looked at him. “Though you are a bit mean, you have earned my gratitude and I am in your debt.”

Elicia leaned forward and nudged her button nose against his shoulder. “Should you find yourself in need within the mountains, call for us and we will come to help.”

Feeling her nose, Jake finally turned to look up at her. He bit down hard, flexing his jaw almost painfully as he stared into her icy blue eyes. She was sincere with her speech and meant every word. Though they’d started as enemies, it was simply a matter of survival. After learning that they could cooperate and coexist, Elicia instead saw Jake as someone she could put her trust in. Walking with him had been at first an obligation. One that had been fulfilled the moment he’d stepped out of the valley. Now, it was her choice to see him off.

The two stared at each other for a moment, and then Jake looked in toward the valley. Elicia tilted her head.

“Something the matter?”

Jake shook his head. “No…” He pressed his lips together and gripped onto his pack straps. “Thanks, Elicia, for walking with me.”

She smiled and leaned over to give his face a lick. “It is I who should thank you. I cannot apologize enough for our transgression, but even more I cannot thank you enough for your mercy and kindness towards my pack.”

Jake wiped off his face and returned her smile for a brief moment before he gave the mountains one more look. He clenched his jaw, then turned and headed for the forest.

“Be well, Mr. Jake Furrow.” She called to him, her tails resting softly on the ground.

“It’s Jake, Elicia. Just Jake.” He waved to her over his shoulder. “I’ll see you again soon.”

Her tails twitched as she heard those words.

As he broke into the treeline, the female wolf sighed and spoke in a low voice. “Promises, promises. Humans always break them, but we’ll see if you are any different, Jake Furrow.”

She sat for a long time, staring at the treeline. From above along one of the ridgelines, a group of snow white furred wolves stepped out. “My lady?” One of them called.

“He’s gone, Veryn.” Elicia turned away from the forest and began to walk back into the mountains.

Veryn, along with the others, descended quickly to the side of their pack leader. “Did you tell him?”

“I am under no obligation to.” Elicia answered, not meeting the eyes of her compatriot.

“But madam, wasn’t he-?”

Elicia snapped her tails. “He was. Even so, we were told only under one circumstance to speak. Were we not?”

“Yes, Madam.” Veryn lowered her head and her tail.

“Then you are to remain silent. Those were His wishes.” Elicia sighed and glanced towards her friend. “Next time, we will tell him. By then, Geri will be of age.”

“Yes, Madam.” Veryn frowned as she walked beside her pack leader.

After a short distance, Elicia sighed. “It is unfortunate, though. He won’t be happy when He hears of Radal.”

Veryn nodded again. The other two wolves exchanged glances. Then, one opened his mouth. “Madam. Will we be punished further?”

“No. We did not know it was the boy until it was too late. I did not even know for myself until after. An unfortunate circumstance but it was not a complete tragedy.” Elicia spoke clearly and without remorse as she spoke of her fallen mate.

“Why is that, Madam?” The male asked, curious.

Elicia smiled and laughed, looking over her shoulder towards the other wolf. “The boy carries his horn. I think He will find that quite funny. Sad, but it will bring forth memories. And I know the boy will take care of it.”

The male nodded his head quietly.

“Come. The pack is waiting.” Elicia opened her stride to a run, leading her group back towards the others.