"We've found them," Kimon runs into the office and announces.
Derek and I are working away in the office. We stand up as soon as he's spoken.
Without hesitation, I know what I have to do. We leave the work behind us and leave. "Notify the cavalry. Get the best warriors together. Be sure to leave enough fighters behind to protect the community if it comes to that. Go Derek, now," I command.
Derek runs off ahead. I march towards the forest entrance, beyond the training fields.
Kimon is only a step behind me. "Debrief me, Kimon. What do we know?" "Earlier today, we found fresh fire embers of a camp just outside of the southeastern border. Our spies hid low brush and have tracked a rogue pack. Your father's killer was identified. They look like theyre preparing for an attack.
They've decimated the wildlife in the area, feasting on everything in their path to build strength."
He tells me everything I need to know. I have been strategizing an attack for days now. I will avenge my father.
I will protect this compound.
Tonight, there will be blood.
I am proud of my wolves for being able to restrain themselves from attacking.
Anyone would love a chance to avenge my father, but a calculated response to these threats is the only way to win this war. Our spies are well trained. Im ready for this opportunity.
From my calculations, based on Kimon's description, their camp is a two-hour run away. If we leave after dark, we can intervene in their rest period before they hunt. It will be best to find them before they've eaten, at their weakest point of the day.
I think we should have a three-phase attack sequence: surprise, entrapment and then kill. We need to be stealthy on our entrance and get them when they least expect it," Kimon says. "That's what I was thinking. Kimon, you'll lead the first phase and Derek the second phase. But youll both leave the shaggy hound that killed my father to me. Got it?"
Irespond. "Loud and clear, Alpha." Kimon knows how important this is to me.
Shortly, Derek and the rest will arrive.
We've been training all week and our entire pack has never looked fitter or fiercer. They stand around me, awaiting their orders. "Listen up. We have one shot at a sneak attack on these rogues. We've known they were around and we have the upper hand." I will prepare everyone with my plan. "Derek has distributed duties among all of you. Those on attack move to the right, those on defense to the left," Kimon delegates to the expecting fighters.
The crowd separates and Im happy with my Beta's decisions. He's put the stealthy runners with my attack group, along with a few more burly wolves. Stealth is the most valuable skill we have to execute this plan. He knows exactly what we've been discussing and my confidence is in him is growing, knowing that this team is on the same page.
Staying behind are the lesser runners.
All of my wolves are fine fighters, so at least I know the pack will have excellent protection. "Good. Pay attention," I begin. "Defense squad, you're to support our preparations. Decide on a regular scouting pattern and perimeter check. Enforce a curfew at 9pm and be on guard until our return in the morming. No one may leave the grounds." "Yes. Alpha." The chorus is focused and powerful. "Attack. We'll be heading out into the forest in less than an hour. An unsuspected opportunity has arisen and we need to take the risk. Look your fellow wolves in the eyes. We're all for one in this pack. The brothers and sisters that surround you, that are bound to you, will protect you.
Watch out for each other. The rogues are ruthless and fight dirty. Remember your training. Rely on your instincts. Rely on your wolf." "Yes. Alpha." The repetition is more powerful than the last.
We will meet here as the sun sets. Go back to your families, your loved ones and say your goodbyes. For we will fight tonight as if it's our last. "Yesl Alpha!"
Derek, Kimon and I finalize the strategy.
We decide on which wolves will enter first, the best way to corner the rogues while the others get prepared. We don't leave the field and as the sun sets, the warriors return.
Ilook over my group one last time in their human forms. I'm leading this raid, andI take a moment to acknowledge every pair of eyes dedicated to me.
The sky turns blood red behind us as the last light disappears. Within the faces in front of me, I see the young sentry who had warned us about the growing rogue threat days earlier.
We share a nod.
I turn into the forest. Discard my clothes to the side and howl. At first in my human voice, then my howl intensifies as I turn into my wolf and run. Everyone follows behind.
We run through the forest fast and silently.
As we near the camp, I can smell the savagery of the rogues. Their unwashed coats and kills stink up the air.
They definitely don't know we're coming.
A faint warm glow and spindle of smoke give away their exact location. They are in their human forms huddled around a fire.
We've slowed right down to a stalk. Our entire cavalry knows where they need to be. These are our woods, and no one else knows them better.
The three phases split up, first to the west, second to the east, and I will come directly up the center.
We crouch low in the shadows. Some wolves scurry up trees without making a sound, without a falling leaf.
We're so silent we can hear their crude jokes and plans for their evening hunt.
As they're distracted, at their most comfortable, the wind in the forest dies down.
It's time.
Kimon pounces first from the shadows.
The Omega rogues shift faster than any wolves Pve ever seen. Their shocked faces quickly change to raging wolves and they block his initial bite. More of our team jump in and soon their urgent cries of pain and various wolves are tackled and pinned down.
Derek leads the second attack from the rear, cornering those who try to flee.
With him is the young sentry whose wolf is obviously much smaller than the rest.
I spot my father's killer. He's trying to sneak away like the coward he is.
They are completely unprepared for this and have been given no guidance on what to do under an attack. It's clear in how they scatter, but any good leader knows a pack of wolves' function best as one.
I drop from a branch above and pin the rogue wolf onto the ground. He's stronger than I expected and pushes me off as quickly as I landed. We met eye to eye and let out a low growl.
I
I make the first move and catch the skin of his neck, pulling him back to the ground.
His claw reaches to my hind leg and creates a deep gash. The pain forces me to release my bite.
Suddenly, two other wolves that are locked on each other fall on top of us. I hear a bone break.
A limp body falls on mine and knocks me away from my prey. I feel my father's killer slipping away from my reach.
Im stuck and glance around. In front of me, I see pure savage carnage as various beasts are engaged in battle.
The dying embers illuminate the continuing blows that are being thrown around. I can see violent swoops and slashes of tails and claws, tufts of fur, flesh and blood splatters fog up the surrounding air
Growls, whimpers, and howls fill my ears.
Finally, I get the limp body off of me and I get up. I see that the wolf who landed on me is the young sentry from before.
His neck is broken. His eyes are closed.
Derek, senses my distress, jumps from behind the fire, cornering my father's killer once again. He snaps at him and tries to claw at his legs.
I quickly recover, unable to deal with the loss in the very moment, as I have vengeance to fulfill.
A few more of my victorious warriors take the tactical formation to catch a prey and we have my father's killer and one of his accomplices trapped.
I jump first.
As I'm about to get the wolf I came for, he turns and pushes his companion in front of him. My wide mouth traps around the first thing it touches and I grab the top of his head. My lower jowls pierce through his right eyeball and crack his skull in one swift move. I flip his body right round.
While he is still in the air, I somersault and land on top of the dead dog.
I've killed the wrong wolf. I see my father's killer getting away.
My team, seeing this unexpected move, tried to protect me and inadvertently let my father's killer go.
He's no wolf. He's a sly fox who would not hesitate to sacrifice one of his own.
We stand around the corpses of the dead rogues. Our training and preparations had paid off. We'd only lost one from our side.
I keep my eyes on the fading figure running deeper into the forest. He got away this time.
My disappointment cripples me on the inside.
In silence, I turn from the scene and look back at the young sentry lying on the forest floor.
We scared them away; we caused a lot of damage. But we lost a good wolf today.