He examines me with his penetrating gaze. “Understanding doesn’t guarantee agreement.”
“No,” I acknowledge. “But it creates the necessary foundation.”
His expression softens fractionally—a subtle change I might have missed if I weren’t watching carefully. “Few from the council would have listened as you have.”
The unexpected near-compliment surprises me. Before I can respond, distant howls pierce the air—Wolf clan signals beyond my comprehension.
Zane stands immediately, tension returning to his posture. “We must return to camp. The afternoon hunt has returned early.”
We travel back much faster than our outward journey, Zane setting a pace that challenges even my athletic stamina. Upon reaching the clearing, I see the camp alive with activity centered around returning hunters.
A wounded wolf lies on a fur pallet while pack members tend to several deep gashes across its flank. The injured wolf transforms into human form—a young male barely past adolescence. His wounds appear even more severe on his human body.
“What happened?” Zane demands, striding directly to the wounded wolf.
An older female—one of the hunt leaders—steps forward. “Mountain Bear patrol ambushed us at the northwest boundary. Claimed we trespassed on their newly marked territory.”
“Their markings extend two miles inside our established borders,” another hunter adds. “They’re pushing deliberately, testing our response.”
I observe from a distance as the pack reorganizes around this crisis. Healers work with practiced skill on the wounded wolf, applying herbal poultices and precise pressure techniques to stop bleeding. Cubs gather in central shelters. Warriors form defensive groups without explicit orders, anticipating a potential attack.
Their coordinated response impresses me—these people may live primitively by council standards, but their crisis management rivals our most disciplined units.
Zane kneels beside the injured wolf, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You fought well, Tarak. Rest now.”
The young wolf nods weakly. “They said to deliver a message, Alpha. The bear chief claims all northern territories by right of strength. Any who challenge will be considered enemies of the Mountain Bear Alliance.”
The gathered wolves exchange murmurs. I spot Marcus watching me with open suspicion, as though I might somehow connect to this new threat.
Zane rises, addressing the pack. “Double the border patrols. No one hunts alone. Cubs remain in camp until further notice.”
He finds me among the crowd. “Ambassador Steelclaw, join me.”
I follow him to a secluded corner of the camp, noting that Marcus and several elders maintain a respectful distance behind us.
“The bears move more aggressively than anticipated,” Zane says without preamble. “Your settlements lie directly in their path if they continue south.”
“You believe they’ll attack civilians?”
“The Mountain Bears view all non-bears as potential prey,” he states flatly. “Their alpha, Ridge Stormcrow, built his reputation on brutality. If he’s forming alliances withother emerging clans, the situation becomes more volatile.”
I consider this new threat to our territorial dispute. “Your clan and the settlements face a common enemy.”
“Perhaps,” Zane acknowledges. “But many of my wolves would sooner ally with other wild clans, even aggressive ones, than with ‘tame’ shifters.”
Marcus steps forward. “The Mountain Bears respect strength, not diplomacy. We should reinforce our northern borders immediately, show them Shadow Wolves yield to no one.”
Elder Mira joins the conversation. “Confrontation with bears rarely ends well. Their numbers grow as more emerge from the Wild Territories.”
“The bears have historically respected wolf territory,” Marcus counters. “Only because they feared our strength.”
I watch this internal debate carefully. The discussion mirrors council sessions, though expressed through more direct language. Zane allows each perspective before making his decision—a leadership style more nuanced than I initially recognized.
Finally, Zane raises his hand, silencing the debate. “We strengthen borders but avoid direct confrontation while we assess bear numbers. Elder Kota will lead additional scouting parties.”
He turns to me. “Ambassador, your time with us concludes. You must return to your settlements with a warning of the bear threat.”
I hadn’t expected this abrupt dismissal. “I thought I would remain overnight, as we discussed.”
