Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Eleven

The sun was just beginning to rise up over the far side of the meadow when Minerva and the patrol, which beside herself and Draco contained Emma, Jade, Ajax, and Gannon, arrived at the border. Draco ordered them to hang back within the trees. "We'll let Wind Pack make the first move."

Minerva stayed on her feet, keeping her eyes on the horizon. "Aren't we at a disadvantage with the sun in our eyes?" asked Gannon.

"It won't matter if a fight starts," Draco answered. "And it means we'll see them coming."

A few more moments passed and then Draco came to Minerva's side. "I wanted to thank you," he said, his voice low. "Your mother is a dog with... very strong opinions. But you've never questioned me or my orders, and even though that's your duty I appreciate it. You're going to be a great Night-dog."

Minerva slowly dipped her head. "That's all I've tried to do."

Draco smirked. "Good." He glanced aside and nodded towards the meadow. "They're here. Right on schedule."

Minerva turned to see six dark shapes coming towards the border, their forms outlined by the sunlight. All of the defenders looked to Draco, who shook his head. "Not yet. Wait for my signal."

The Wind-dogs appeared to be cautious, their ears pricked and fur bristling as they began to reset the border markings. Just as they began to relax, Draco flicked his ears and the patrol moved forward.

The Wind-dogs clustered together and Minerva could at last make out clearly that Gabriel was leading them. "Just as I suspected," Draco called. "I knew you would try to take it back. You're awfully predictable, Gabriel."

The dark red Kelpie wore a look of almost beleaguered patience. "We're not leaving, Draco," he said. "This is Wind Pack territory. Go back to your own before somebody gets hurt."

Draco's eyes darkened. "Someone always gets hurt. At this point, we've come too far for anything else." He began to stride forward, crossing the newly marked border. "If you don't want anyone hurt, you should leave now. I won't ask again."

Gabriel did not respond, his former expression replaced with a rocky stare. None of the Wind-dogs moved, baring their teeth and raising their tails.

Draco stopped walking and smiled. "I guess bloodshed it is, then." His gaze flicked back to the patrol behind him. "Night Pack, drive them off our territory."

At their alpha's word, the defenders charged and instantly collided with Wind Pack. Over the ensuing din, Minerva heard Gabriel shout, "Don't give them an inch! This is our land!"

She was soon locked in battle with a black Briard, who was stronger than she looked. She managed to throw Minerva to the ground and landed a series of bites along her back. Gritting her teeth in pain, Minerva shoved out with her hind legs, knocking the Wind-dog off balance and allowing herself to rise.

She dove for her opponent but the Briard managed to roll out of the way just in time. Minerva reacted quickly herself, however, clamping hold on the Wind-dog's tail. She dragged her back, causing a snarl of pain and Minerva soon felt teeth sink into her left leg. She retaliated by throwing her body weight into the other dog and the fight devolved into a mad scrabble for control.

"Ranger! Ranger!"

Minerva was blinking blood out of her right eye when she suddenly heard Gabriel shouting again, his voice sounding nearly desperate. Both she and her opponent paused and turned to see that a collie, presumably the "Ranger" whom Gabriel was calling, was fighting viciously with Draco.

It couldn't really be called, a fight, actually. Ranger had the Doberman by the throat, holding on tightly no matter how Draco tried to free himself. His struggles only made the Wind-dog's teeth dig in deeper. It was only a few seconds before Draco was on the ground, his eyes glazed over in death.

It had all happened so fast that nobody knew how to react at first. Then Gannon suddenly charged towards the collie. "Murderous mongrel!" he roared. "I'll kill you!"

Before Gannon could reach the dog, however, an Aidi and the Briard Minerva had been fighting raced to their packmate's defense, blocking his way. "You're outnumbered, Night Pack," Gabriel said, his usual composure returned to his voice. "You will gain nothing here. Take your dead and leave."

Gannon simply bared his teeth and prepared to launch himself at the Wind-dogs, but Emma suddenly grabbed him by the scruff and dragged him back. "He's right," she growled, although by the look in her eyes Minerva could tell she wanted to stay and fight. "Gannon! Let's go."

Gannon continued to struggle for a few seconds but slowly came to a stop. He gave the collie a murderous glower before snarling, "This isn't over."

Jade and Ajax came forward to take Draco's body, giving the Wind-dogs some glares of their own. No more words were spoken as the Night-dogs retreated back within the trees.

Minerva couldn't have put her feelings into words; not that she normally knew how to do that anyway. But this was far more confusing. Draco, her alpha, her uncle, was dead. In such a short time, when only a few minutes ago he had been his over-confident, melodramatic self. And how did she feel? Was it grief? Was it pity for Gannon and Jas? She didn't know.

"Those murderous mutts," Emma snarled, clawing at the ground. "This is the second dog they've killed, our alpha! How can we let this stand?"

"You're the one who walked away," Ajax said. "I was surprised."

Emma looked at the ground with a grunt. "There was no point in getting more of us killed. And besides, the pack needs to know as soon as possible. Wind Pack will pay for this soon enough."

No one said anything for several moments. Jade finally spoke up, asking gently, "Gannon? Are you--"

"Don't talk to me." His voice was cold and he met no one's gaze, staring ahead blankly. "Let's just get him back."

~

When they arrived at the overhang, bearing Draco's body, most dogs were stunned speechless. Minerva saw Desert stare at her brother's body for several moments, her expression shifting from shocked to grief-stricken before she left the clearing without a word. No one tried to stop her, and there was complete silence until Emma spoke.

"That collie killed him," she said. 'Ranger. And we lost the territory."

Pebble slowly lowered his head. "He died fighting for his pack. That's all he ever wanted."

"But we can't let this go," Samuel growled. "Wind Pack needs to pay for what they've done."

"That decision," interrupted Tansy, who had walked to the center of the clearing, "will be made by our new alpha. For now we will mourn our old one, and then we will decide who leads us."

She leaned down and touched her nose to Draco's head, murmuring a prayer. Several dogs came forward to pay their own respects, but some of them hung back. Minerva knew that Draco had not been beloved by every dog.

She was considering whether or not she should try to find where Desert went when Tinder came up to her, his eyes wide in sympathy. "Minerva," he said, "I'm so sorry."

Minerva shrugged and looked away. "I didn't know him that well, really," she said. "He was always so busy with one thing or another. And I'm not--exactly..." She trailed off, unsure of what she meant to say.

"Still," Tinder pressed, leaning closer. "He was your uncle. Losing family always hurts. You know I'm here if you ever want to talk, right?"

Minerva made eye contact with him again. "Yeah. Thanks." She glanced aside. "I... think I'm going to go find my mother."