Blood Brothers

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔴𝔬

We were the last ones to get to the clearing. To some it may not have even been a clearing anymore: it was packed with wolves from the three alliances, separated by an imaginary line, moving around to get a better look at the leaders.

There was Cosmo, Damaris, and Ace sitting on three stones to the right of the clearing, and Pluto, Honey, and Reed on three stones to the left. In the middle there were three empty stones - three empty stones I knew to be for Hurricane, Wuther, and I.

Hurricane strutted through the crowds, his head and tail held high. Wuther did the same, though she seemed to be trying to keep a lower profile. And again, as I walked, all eyes were on me; the alliances all seemed to find the sight of a wolf walking through a clearing most exciting.

I sat atop the rock in the centre and gazed at all the faces that watched from below me. Some looked younger than others. Some smaller. And all varied in coat colour.

Cliff gave me a reassuring nod from the crowd, and Pearl smiled hesitantly, but their comfort did nothing to ease my nerves. Here I was, uncomfortably close to my two surviving littermates for the first time in months and trying desperately to remain calm.

A moment later, Hurricane coughed loudly, trying to get everyone's attention. Of course he'd want to be the one to talk, I thought. He always wants to be the one to talk.

"Welcome to the council of the three alliances," Hurricane said. "Today we have come in peace to set aside our differences and compromise a way to end this war without risking further bloodshed."

To my left, Pluto flexed his claws and dragged them across the stone on which he sat, as if he was purposely ignoring Hurricane's words. I shook my head and tried to ignore him.

Hurricane turned to Damaris. "Now, I will see if any of the other leaders have something to say."

Damaris nodded, but she didn't look at Hurricane any less icily. "Indeed," she announced. "I think all of us should put in our opinions, so that is exactly what I shall do."

She paused, perhaps for dramatic effect.

"I believe that although both Blaze and Pluto could be more than adequate leaders, there is a reason we have been fighting for Cosmo," she said. "It is in our best interest that the leader of the Holy Ground Rilter and the Starry Skies Pack is a wolf who is smart and able to make good decisions for the pack. Cosmo can do just that, as well as being a competent fighter. Ace and I have both agreed that he is the best choice to be leader of Rilter, despite him not being the oldest of the litter."

There were a few mutterings from Pluto's alliance and my own at this, both of which clearly did not agree with Damaris's point. As expected, Honey stood, frowning.

"That's lovely," she said, turning to Damaris, "but simply not true. Though Cosmo and Blaze may be smart and fast, what a leader really needs is strength. Rilter - the Holy Ground - will not survive an attack with a leader who can only plan. Planning is one thing, but fighting a different matter entirely. The leader of the Starry Skies Pack must be undaunted, strong, and feared. Pluto, you see, can be just that."