“They used archers once before. I believe they were mercenaries. I couldn’t understand why he would want to fight in the open, and then he looked over my shoulder to line me up for something. That’s when it all came flooding back. Archers.”
“The alphas from the bunkers are herding the last of their prisoners this way. The battle is all but over. What do you wish us to do with the prisoners?” Wallace points to the forest where I see defeated rogues being herded like sheep.
“Hold them in the clearing for now. Guard them well. I don’t want any slipping off to join Arric wherever the scum is hiding. This all ends today.”
Waiting for the Alphas to appear from the trees, I look around at the terrible waste of life I see before me. I am fortunate that the majority are rogues, but even their deaths cause my anger to flare. It is a waste of life no matter who or what they are, and all for one shifter's ambition to be something he was not destined to be. A King!
Watching as Lyle, Bronze and Connell walk towards me, although I see three alphas I also see three young men chatting amicably as they stroll casually along. I know that they will be seeing the carnage around them as much of a waste as I do, but they make me wonder where my youth went.
As they approach, Connell is the first to speak. “Gerry! Was that a training ring I saw you in earlier? You do realize it’s notourjob to traintheirwarriors to killours?”
“Obviously, you didn’t bump into Wallace on your way here. That, Connell, was an attempt to assassinate me.” Watching the effect my words have on him, I relent on my teasing and let him off the hook. “I was training them that there is life in an old dog yet. In dodging their arrows, they hit my would-be assassin.”
“Arric is dead then? We haven’t seen hide nor hair of him, so that would explain that,” Bronze states, looking pleased that Arric is accounted for.
“Alas, my dear Bronze, that was not Arric. It was Arric’s son, though. Arric was hoping to kill me and then have his son torn to pieces by the pack. Two wolves with one bow, perhaps.”
“Damn! That means he’s still out there and no doubt still has a good number of warriors with him. Which pack then would bag him the biggest prize?” Lyle looks around, and before Bronze begins listing the options, I think we all know where Arric would attack next.
“He's not here, so Blood Pearl Pack is out. My Eclipse and Connell’s Blackshadow are too far to warrant an attack. If he hits Wolfsfoot, and his attack here failed he’d be trapped between us all. That only leaves Lyle’s Spirit Walker Pack as a viable secondary target.” Bronze turns to Lyle. “Let’s gather as many warriors as we can and set off now. We could still be of use when we get there.”
“No, Bronze. I think we all know that even if we set off immediately and didn’t stop, it would all be over long before we got there.” Lyle shakes his head in resignation, but Bronze continues.
“Fenya and Taria are there. We need to set off as soon as possible. I won’t give up on my Luna.” He gives Lyle a glare.
“Who said anything about giving up? You forget my friend, Fenya has Sloane, Taria has Ember, Ember has her bat. They all have Glen, and more importantly…” Lyle pauses for effect, I’m sure. “Falan is hiding out in the surrounding forest with some of the Northern sector warriors. I’d say they were better protected than any of us, and Falan’s warriors were there in case we failed. I didn’t weaken our numbers here to protect two very capable Lunas.”
We all laugh as Bronze stares open-mouthed at hearing that his beloved Taria is well cared for.
FENYA
I hate waiting. I don’t have the patience for defensive warfare. I should never have agreed to Lyle’s plan. What was I thinking of?
I swear to the Goddess that one day I will find a way to bite you! Will you stop pacing around and relax! By the timesomething happens, if it’s going to happen, you’ll be too worn out to go on the offensive,Astra admonishes.
‘I hate it when you’re right, you know that, don’t you?’
Yet you never learn from it…
Before I can say anything to that, though I’m not sure I even have an answer, I get a message to say that a rogue force is heading into Spirit Walker Pack lands. They are heading directly into Glen’s area. Instructing him to slowly retreat and thus draw them between my and Taria’s forces, I get a message to Falan to cover the rogues flanks and prevent their escape.
We will have them neatly boxed in on all four sides before they know it, and maybe I’ll get to kill that evil Number Seven during the battle. I don’t think Lyle would approve of my train of thought though!
So now we wait…Astra states.
‘Oh, shut up, you clever…’
Ah, ah, ah. Calm and constructive. Remember?
Grinning, I extend my claws and then quickly bite one hard! Holy Shit! That hurts so much, and I shove my hand in my armpit, as though that is going to soothe anything.
Oh, my Goddess. That’s so funny! You idiot! If it were that simple, I’d have done it years ago!Astra deeply chortles.
Seeing Sloane walking over with a huge grin on her face, I throw myself into a sitting position under a tree. Glaring at her as she approaches, her grin turns to giggles and then laughter.
“Astra told Boulder, didn’t she? I hate my wolf sometimes.” I can’t help myself and start giggling.
“Oh, my dear Fenya! Only you could bite yourself as we wait for an invading army. In less than an hour's time there’ll be more than enough limbs to bite without using your own finger. You need to learn patience and remember…”
