Fall of the Packs: Void

Chapter Twenty-Five

Minerva was never the same after that day. Where previously she had been reserved, now she was utterly emotionless. She didn't react, she barely spoke. She simply carried out whatever jobs or duties she was given, less like a dog and more like a... thing. A thing that simply ate and slept and worked, and nothing else.

She continued like this for an entire year and a half, despite Desert's efforts to get through to her. She had tried to talk to her, to appeal to her, but it made no difference. She might as well have been trying to talk sense into the overhang itself.

However, she still had to fulfill her duties as a pack, and she had partially been using them as both a distraction and an outlet for her frustration and worry about Minerva. The one thing that brought her a modicum of happiness was that Gannon appeared to have actually listened to her. When spring had come he had let the borders be reset, despite some protests within the pack. Gannon had, however, successfully asserted himself, and no dog made real trouble. No one would have said there was "peace" between Night Pack and Wind Pack--there was far too many years of ill will for that--but no one was dying, and Desert thanked the Hunter Dog every day for that. Besides, there were larger concerns than Wind Pack these days.

"The signs of those wolves are persisting," Gannon said to her as they walked through Storm Pack's territory for the Hunter's Moon. "I don't like it. I'd much rather they came out directly so we could send them running."

Desert grunted in agreement. "It is rather disconcerting. But I suppose we should be grateful they haven't made trouble yet."

"Yet," Gannon repeated. He shook his head. "They'll have to come out sooner or later. I'll be glad to hear tonight what the other packs have seen."

Desert nodded as they reached the meeting place, a wide clearing in the middle of Storm Pack's evergreen forest. It appeared they were the first to arrive. Aaron, the young German Shepherd alpha, rose to greet them "Good evening," he said. "I assume you didn't have any trouble getting here?"

Gannon snorted. "No more than usual." He sat down and Desert took a seat close by, just as Lake Pack arrived. Wind Pack came soon after, and sat down as far from Night Pack as they possibly could. Gabriel gave Desert a nod, which she returned, but no words were said.

Finally Frost Pack and Earth Pack arrived, close together, and Aaron stood up to speak. "Thank you all for coming," he began. "We've done well in Storm Pack this fall. The deer are coming down from the mountains and so we've been eating well. The progress of our trainees, Silhouette and Smoke, also goes well. It won't be very long until they'll reach their full ranks as hunters--"

He was suddenly cut off by a howl, loud and low and long. Desert started in surprise, noticing several other dogs doing the same. Many of them looked for the source, but it was no dog who had made that noise. A distant rumble became audible as several other voices began to howl along with the first. The assembled dogs were all frozen in place, unsure of how to respond or what to do.

Only one dog dared speak, although Desert didn't see who it was, uttering, "What in Siglitun's name..."However, they did not finish their question, because it was answered as the packs beheld a gigantic pack of wolves racing towards them.

There appeared to be dozens, far more than Desert could count, of all different colors and sizes. They were led by a tall, silver male with glimmering yellow eyes and a curved scar on his cheek that looked like it had only just begun to heal. When he came to a stop the rest of the wolves followed, their song coming to an end.

The leading wolf took a few steps forward into a shaft of moonlight, his silver fur nearly appearing to glow. "Rulers of the land we enter," he began, in a tone far more gentle and musical than one would expect, "we have come to speak with you."

Everyone was still far too dumbfounded to make any sort of coherent response. The wolf only waited a moment before continuing, "We see that you live on a wealthy, plentiful land, land that supports much life. We have been driven out of our homes by sickness and famine. We have come here to claim new territory."

Desert began to wonder if this was actually real. How was this even happening? How could the wolves just walk in like this? And what did they really want?

Gannon twitched beside her and finally became the first to speak. "You speak dog very well," he growled. Desert guessed that was the first thing he could think of to say.

The wolf smiled proudly. "I know many tongues. I am Songan, chieftain of my brethren."

Gabriel was the next to speak, possibly unwilling to let Night Pack have the distinction of being the only ones who dared to do so. "What do you mean by 'claim new territory?'" he asked.

"Sickness and famine came to our land," Songan answered gravely. "We were many packs, but we united and left the land. It held nothing but death for us. We came here, and we have watched you. We find your land plentiful and good. We shall have a good home here."

Earth Pack's alpha, Cordan, suddenly stood up, causing Songan to look briefly surprised. "Wait," the black and brown terrier said. "Are you implying that you want to take our territories?"

Songan looked even more surprised by the question. "Yes."

The spell the wolves had previously appeared to holding on the dogs was now broken, and they responded in outrage. The wolves behind Songan began to respond in kind, but at their chieftain's signal they quieted again. "It is well-known that the race of dogs is inferior to wolves," he said in a rather infuriating tone. "So, naturally, you must give your territory over to us."

Aaron's hackles raised and he stepped towards the he-wolf with his teeth bared. "Inferior?" he snarled. "I'll show you who's inferior!"

Songan gave Aaron a patronizing glance and shook his head. "I was told of the way dogs are--aggressive and unreasonable." This sparked a fresh outcry from the packs, but Songan continued speaking over them. "If you do not choose to peacefully surrender your territories and find a new place to live, then we will not hesitate to take it from you. The sickness and famine weakened our numbers, but we are still strong. Think on it, dog chieftains. I expect an answer when the moon is half-dark."

The wolf turned around and threw his head back to howl a command to his wolves. They responded instantly, turning to face the opposite direction and running off into the woods just as they had come. In spite of her mixture of shock and anger, Desert couldn't help but feel a shred of admiration at their discipline.

Silence reigned over the assembly once again, until Gannon flatly asked, "What, in the name of Siglitun and everything under his sight, was that?"

Gabriel blinked, looking dazed. "We've been seeing signs of wolves for the past few months. I... suppose that was them."

Martin, the alpha of Frost Pack, let out a snarl. "Well, there's no way we're going to meet their demands. Who do they think they are? They expect us to just abandon our homes because they threaten us? Outrageous!"

"Wolves are savages but I'm not afraid of them," Aaron agreed with a growl. "We should call them back now and tell them what we think of their 'offer.'"

"I suppose we still need to meet back here at the half-moon," said Cassidy, Lake Pack's alpha. "What... what do you think will happen?"

Martin gave the Bloodhound a baleful look. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going to be bullied out of my territory by some egomaniacal savage."

All of the other alphas indicated their agreement. "Are... are we still hunting tonight?" Cordan asked after a few moments.

Gannon scoffed slightly. "I don't think any of us are going to be able to hunt after that. I think the Hunter's Moon is over."

Aaron cleared his throat, giving Gannon a hard look. "Yes, as host, I say that it is. We wish you all a good night and good luck preparing for whatever comes next."

Gannon quickly rounded up the pack and they headed back towards their own forest. "I had a feeling about this," he growled to Desert. "I knew those signs meant more than they seemed."

"We have to get ready," Desert responded. "I get the feeling they won't go down without a fight."

"Neither will we." Gannon's eyes glinted. "They'll think twice after they've felt the teeth of Night Pack."