Page 27 of Moonlit Fate

“Split up,” I ordered. “We need every last rogue who values their freedom.”

They nodded, needing no further explanation, and left.

My route led me through the wilderness where many rogue shifters dwelled. Some encounters were cordial, like meeting old friends in the quiet of nature. Each face bore the marks of hardship, exposing a shared history of survival. Their nods of agreement, a silent promise of support, turned them into trusted allies.

Yet, not all were willing listeners. One confrontation escalated swiftly as a rogue bared his teeth inches from my face, emanating an overwhelming sense of ingrained distrust. “Why should we follow you?” he snarled, his stance aggressive and unyielding.

“Because alone, we’re vulnerable,” I answered evenly. His aggression radiated through the air, but my hands remained steady. “If we work together, we’re a force that can hold back the tide of war that’s coming for us all.”

He searched my eyes, looking for the deceit that had tainted our kind too often. He found none, only the fierce will of a wolf ready to defend his pack, rogue or not. “Fine,” the rogue relented. “But if this is a trap...”

“It’s not.” My words were not just a promise, but a vow to the very core of who I was.

As the sun climbed higher, painting the sky with strokes of gold and pink, we gathered, a motley crew tied by the need for preservation. The rogues came in ones and twos, some withsuspicion still glinting on their faces, others with a fire for battle already burning bright.

Standing before them, the role of leader settled onto me. It was a heavy weight, but not unwelcome. It was a role I’d never sought, but one I was born for. I shared with them the threats that loomed over us, the web of deception Larkin was weaving, and the betrayal of the Crimson Fang that crept ever closer.

I stood in the center of the clearing, the air around me thick with tension. “By now, you’ve all heard the rumors,” I began, staring at those before me, attempting to forge a connection with each of them. “But I’m here to tell you, they’re more than just whispers in the wind. Larkin Ranger has betrayed the Silver Claw pack and is conspiring with the Crimson Fang.” I let the words hang in the air. Disbelief lined some faces while others twisted in anger.

With eyes that resembled smoldering coals, a burly shifter spat onto the ground. “That coward. He’d sell his own mother for a scrap of authority.”

His fury infected the crowd, and growls of agreement echoed his sentiment.

“Peace, brothers and sisters,” I said, heat simmering beneath my skin. “Rage unchecked will only lead us to ruin.”

“Ruin? We’re already there.” A younger female, her hair a wild cascade of night, stepped forward. Her challenging gaze met mine. “Some of us have seen the Crimson Fang creeping closer, felt their attention on us. What are we supposed to do? Roll over and bare our throats?”

I admired her spirit, but she needed to understand the stakes. “No,” I answered quietly. “We stand, but not in haste. What we need is a plan. Strategy.”

“Strategy?” A lean shifter laughed bitterly, throwing his hands up in frustration. “While you’re busy planning, they’ll be busy taking. Or haven’t you noticed?”

“Enough!” My command echoed off the trees, silencing the dissent. “I am well aware of the danger, but acting without a plan will only serve their cause.”

A hush fell over the crowd.

“The Crimson Fang won’t expect us to be united,” I said. “They prey on our disarray. But if we show them a unified front...”

“Atticus speaks true.” An elder shifter, his beard frosted with age, stepped forward. “We must be the still water that reflects the stars. Calm, collective, but deep with purpose.”

Reluctant nods followed his words. Not all were convinced, but the seed of unity had been sown.

“We’ll watch the borders, stay vigilant,” I said. “We cannot reclaim lost territory. Not yet. But we can protect what remains.”

“And wait for them to come knocking?” a skeptic called out from the back, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Wait, yes, but not idly,” I answered. “We’ll gather intelligence to learn their activities, their weaknesses. When the time is right, we strike. But until then, we stand strong.” My gaze swept across the group, taking in the sea of faces and diverse expressions, the energy and anticipation radiating from each person. “We’ll form patrols to monitor their movements along the border. We won’t provoke them, not yet. Our aim is to observe and defend.”

Murmurs rumbled among them, and I saw the doubt in some of them.

“Who will lead these patrols?” someone asked, a hint of challenge lacing his tone.

“I’ll take the first watch and follow Larkin,” I said. “There’s more at play here than simple territory grabs, and I intend to find out what.” Pride bloomed in me that these rogues wanted to be involved in preserving our way of life. “Leave your namewith Joren and Hale if you’re interested in participating in the patrols, and they can coordinate a schedule.”

A chorus of affirmations rose, the initial trepidation giving rise to a growing solidarity.

“Let’s use this time wisely,” I advised. “Prepare, train, and most importantly, stay alive. We need every shifter prepared when the moment comes to strike.”

I turned away from the crowd, already plotting the course ahead. The shadows wrapped around me in silent accord.

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