Dogs of War

Rain had taken his time arriving at the ring of wolves surrounding his granduncle. He hadn’t masked his dislike for the mountain pack or their strange ways, much to his father’s chagrin. As he approached the wolves he could see his father was in a good mood, although the reason why wasn’t immediately apparent. It wasn’t until he took a spot on the opposite side of the circle that he could fully see why. His uncle was here, the last time he had seen Cloudburst his father had been wasting away and he, himself, and his grandmother had all fought to restore him in the hopes that he would live to see another day. That had felt like a lifetime ago, but in realty it had only been a few months.

As Rain came into view his father’s expression went from elated to cold and flinty, his golden eyes locked disapprovingly on his son’s. He couldn’t help but shrink back slightly. He hated it here, hated the way it had changed his father, and hated the doctrine he was told he needed to follow. Sacrifices and demons? Did his father really believe in all that? Could he truly be so ignorant?

Rain tore his gaze away from his father’s glare and surveyed the other wolves. He had missed whatever Acere had said, but the mixed emotions from the gathered wolves told him it would be some kind of test of strength. “Great.” He thought sardonically, noting that he was the smallest of all the wolves that had gathered, save for the londe and brown female covered in scars and horribly maimed.

speaking Thinking   You