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The night came, and to Jak and Airy's relief, Bolt was assigned guard duty again. Bolt showed Jak the mushrooms. They were the right kind, and Jak gave him more instructions as to how to prepare what he needed to execute their plan. The night and the next day passed just as horribly for Airy as the first. On the third day of their captivity, a band of new warriors from River pack entered the village to much celebration. There was some renewed curiosity in the prisoners by the new arrivals, but Jak and Airy were soon forgotten as preparations were made for the upcoming feast and sacrifice.

As darkness fell on their last night in the village, the feast began inside the long house where Airy had tried to kill Blue. The smell of food wafted out and enveloped Airy, who was so hungry even the meat smells brought fresh saliva to her parched mouth. She was ashamed of the reaction, but was nearly beyond caring. As hungry and thirsty as she was, food and water were not her primary focus. Her attention was fixated on her hate for Autumn, who was present along with Bolt to stand guard during the feast. Blue must have decided he needed a truly trustworthy sentry at the end to have assigned her to this monotonous duty.

As Airy watched Jak and Bolt, it began to dawn on her that some vital last minute planning opportunity was being lost due to Autumn's presence. Airy was becoming more alert and understanding of the body language of the Wolves. Jak's near submissive posture and drooping ears meant he was fearful. Bolt was not dancing about as he had the night before, as though he was about to wet his kilt, but he was nervously glancing between Jak and Autumn. Bolt and Jak could not scheme while Autumn was present and alert. Time was clearly running out. The sounds of conversation during the feast had been replaced by rhythmic singing accompanied by drums, flutes, and whatever odd string instruments the Wolves had crafted. She could not make out many of the words, but one was repeated over and over with nearly mindless repetition, 'Ovia.' This had to be the ceremony where new converts found the spirit of their Maker. Airy strongly suspected the sacrifice would follow soon after.

Airy waited until Jak looked towards her, then she attempted to signal her intent by tilting her head towards Autumn and pointing at herself from behind her back. Jak responded with a quizzical one-eyed stare. She dearly loved that lost puppy look, even if it meant he did not fully understand what she was trying to convey. She was sure Jak needed to talk to Bolt, and she was going to give him the chance no matter her own personal consequences.

"Hey, bitch!", she shouted at Autumn. It was not much of an insult considering the audience, but Airy felt that even a compliment to her worst enemy would antagonize her. Autumn turned her head and glared pure hatred at Airy, but she made no move from her post. "You filthy dog cunt!", Airy added just to make sure she had the she Wolf's full attention. "Untie me so I can kick your furry ass, or are you afraid of me?"

"Shut your little mouth, bunny, or I'll shut if for you." Autumn was so tense with anger, she was snarling as she spoke and a thin string of saliva hung from her mouth. All of her body was morphing to an aggressive posture.

She's angry. Good. Her plan seemed to be working. These Wolves with their expressive body language were getting easier for Airy to read. Autumn had her ears laid back and the fur along her spine was standing straight up. Her teeth were barred, and a growl was forming in the back in her throat as she spoke.

"The little puppy threatens, but has no teeth to bite," Airy continued to mock. "I almost killed your stinking imbecile of a leader, Blue. Did I say leader? I meant mentally defective crack pot." Airy could see Autumn losing control as she got even madder at the insult to her demi-god hero, so she pressed even harder. "I only wish some coward hadn't grabbed me from behind, and had let me finish the worthless creep. I beat him in a fight. Does that disturb you knowing that your Maker's whelp almost lost a fight to a Rabbit? It wouldn't be the first time. We Rabbits drove your stinking tribe over the mountains, and we hunt them like the dogs they are to this day. You're pathetic. Even your best isn't enough for one small girl Rabbit."

Sitting close to the rock at the end of the rope to which her wrists were tied, Airy had left herself some slack to maneuver, but when Autumn's reserve finally broke , her charge was so sudden, Airy could barely dodge the first kick. It was enough, though, that the kick only grazed her, and she had room to lock her own legs around Autumn's calves and yank her feet out from under her. Autumn was caught completely by surprise and hit the ground hard. Airy pulled her paws forward under her legs as she had seen Jak do earlier. Paws still tied, she had enough motion to grasp Auburn's thigh with her paws and bite down hard. This earned her a scream of pain from Auburn and a punch to the side of the head. There was not much Airy could do after that except try to protect herself from Autumn's fury. Airy's training in paw-to-paw combat had taught her how to take a blow, but this fight did not even allow her to defend herself properly. Autumn hammered her face and head with her fists. The coppery taste of blood filled Airy's mouth. She still had her legs free, so when Autumn seemed to tire from hammering her head, Airy kicked as hard as she could and connected with the side of the Wolf bitch's head. Pulling both legs back as Autumn tried to shake off the shock to her skull, Airy struck her solidly in the chest sending her over backwards onto the hard rock surface. One of Airy's eyes was already swelling shut, but with the other only half blinded by blood, Airy was rewarded to see Bolt and Jak conferring in hushed tones. Of course, Autumn came back more enraged than ever, and the real beating began with kicks to Airy's side and abdomen. Airy doubted that she could have taken much of this without permanent injury or death. Even so, it seemed to go on forever until Bolt saved her by grabbing Autumn in a bear hug.

"Enough, Autumn. You'll spoil her for the sacrifice. Blue won't like eating bruised meat."

Delivering one last kick that caught Airy off guard and felt to Airy like it may have cracked a rib, Autumn relented. To Bolt she said "I'll ask Blue to let me cut her throat myself." To Airy she said, "Your dead, bunny."

Airy was wasn't feeling well enough to ask for any more pain, so she kept her mouth shut and just lay on the ground hoping she had given Jak and Bolt the time alone they needed. When Airy glanced at Jak again, he was clearly worried for her welfare. Airy smiled to try to allay his concerns, but the blood from her split lip discolored her teeth only making her look worse. "At least none of my teeth are loose or missing, and Jak seems less agitated. He's worried about me but no longer about the plan," she thought as the pain began to establish dominance over her.. "I hope this was worth it."

The music stopped sometime after Airy's beating, and two female warriors came out. Airy thought that her time might have come at last despite Jak's planning, but the guards were there to replace Autumn and Bolt who were supposed to mark the new converts. Bolt seemed to have known he was going to be chosen for this task because he walked into the feast lodge with Autumn with none of the usual agitation or trepidation that he exhibited when he was upset. This gave Airy hope for whatever plan Jak and Bolt had concocted. That hope was not misplaced. Within the hour, all sound within the feasting hall died down and Bolt and six of his conspirators emerged dragging Blue and Autumn with them. The two guards standing watch over Airy and Jak were confused, but dropped their weapons when Bolt threatened to kill Blue.

Bolt cut Jak's bonds and was surprised when Jak shoved him aside and rushed to Airy. Cradling her in his arms, he said to Bolt, "You'll get nothing from me unless you bring some water, and if it's dropped on the ground, I'll kill whoever spills it!" Bolt motioned to one of the guards who quickly filled a drinking ladle from a nearby trough and brought it carefully and fearfully to Jak. Airy gratefully sipped the water through her split lip and did not care how much dribbled down her chin and onto her furry breasts. "Are you alright?", Jak asked with genuine concern in his voice as he gently stroked the bloody fur on her head and moved it away from her face.

"I've been better, but I doubt there's any permanent damage. Just don't hug me too tight you big brute. I think she cracked a rib."

"You are the bravest person I've ever met," he whispered in her ear as he gently began to lick the blood and grime from her face. This was behavior beyond her experience yet it felt strangely agreeable and soothing. She found herself drifting into a pleasant meditative state away from the pain that stabbed at her from all over her body. The world became distant and unfocussed, but she could hear Bolt ordering the other Wolves back into the lodge.

Airy was dimly aware of Jak carrying her into the building. What little she could see through her one open eye was unexpected. The tables and benches had been moved away from the fire and Blue's throne dais to create a large open space. Many dozens of Wolves including pups sat in a semicircle facing the stage, but they were all immobile like statues, motionless yet alert and calm. Over half of them had the mark of the Maker and many of the marks were fresh. If she had not hurt so much, her skin would have been crawling in reaction to the creepiness of the scene. Of the audience, only their heads and eyes moved, following them as the rebels and their two captives walked through the crowd and, except for Jak and Airy, mounted the stage where two more of Bolt's mutineers were waiting.

Bolt took front and center stage. Before he spoke, he prepared himself for this piece of theater that Jak had proposed. It had seemed like pointless nonsense at first, but Jak had persuasively explained his reasoning. The people of Winter pack needed to believe that otherworldly forces were at work here to convince them that the end result of tonight's contest was binding by powers that could not be questioned. Whoever won would have an unshakable foundation upon which to rule. That was the risk they had to take. It was either this or kill Blue outright and hope to not be killed in turn by the mob when they recovered from the hypnotic effects of the mushrooms. Bolt was certain he didn't have enough support to prevent that, and he wasn't willing to kill off half the pack to prevent it. No. He would rely on Jak's wisdom and play his part.

"People of Winter pack," began Bolt, "you are all under a spell; a spell cast by our ancestors, the very spirits of the earth and even Ovia, who all sit in judgment of us. Winter pack has long and successfully lived with the honored traditions of our ancestors. These traditions have recently been cast aside out of fear and confusion. We have allowed a leader to set himself up to rule over us in a manner against our ancient tribal law. Invoking the name of She whom we forsook, he has proclaimed himself divine." Jak was surprised by Bolt's eloquence. He might make a fine leader if the fight tonight went well. "I say a claim to divinity is not enough. If Blue is truly ordained by Ovia to be our leader as he claims, then he should be able to defeat any warrior who comes against him.

"In the very first pack, when Wolves still worshiped the Maker, there was a challenge. This is tradition steeped so far back in time that none dare question it. There has always been a challenge and there always will be a challenge. We are not Wolves without it. Here in Winter pack there has been no challenge. There has been no fight. Blue has not proven himself to the spirits, our ancestors, the Maker or us. Those who watch over us from beyond our mortal realm are angry and demand the challenge. Tonight he must prove himself in the manner that has been our tradition for all the generations that have come before us. He must fight a challenger."

Auburn was defiant. "Who would dare challenge, Blue? You, Bolt? Ha! I could beat you in a fight, and I am no match for Blue. None of you non-believers are challenge enough for him. Go ahead and fight him, so you can lose, so Winter pack can get back on its righteous path."

Blue did not share Autumn's confidence, but was working hard not to show his unease. Suspecting that Bolt was not stupid enough to challenge him directly, he looked to Jak and inadvertently laid his ears back but not in anger, but instead with a trace of fear borne of understanding. In an attempt to stop what he perceived as Bolt's plan, Blue said, "Don't be a fool, Bolt. There is no need to fight when Ovia's intent and purpose is so clear. It's not too late to turn back from this..."

"Shut up, Blue! We will do things the traditional way. We will have this challenge."

"This isn't tradition, it's..."

"What, Blue? What is it? An abomination? You like to throw that word around for anything you don't like. I say you are an abomination. You want to bring back the eating of other people."

"The bunny is not people, she's an animal."

"An animal? What does that make us? You've seen her weapons. Can we make weapons like that? Can we stand against an army of animals like that? The Maker created us all. We don't have to like each other, but we are all people."

Blue tried to say more, but Bolt put a knife to his throat. Autumn tried to move to intervene but was held fast by two of Bolt's allies. Speaking so the audience could not hear he said, "Not another word, Blue. If you say anther word without my permission, I'll kill you. You will fight or you will die. If you win the fight, you become the leader, and we will obey you. If you lose, then you are dead. Choose now." Blue stayed silent. Bolt spoke loudly again for the benefit of the audience, "Very well. Let the challenger come forth."

Hearing his prompt, Jak gently laid Airy down on a table and leapt onto the platform with the others. There was no reaction from the drug-addled audience, which continued to sit in eerie, rapt silence compelled to watch and not interfere. Judging by the expressions on the faces of Autumn and her two loyal warriors, they had clearly not anticipated that Jak would be the challenger. Blue gave no hint of surprise, having already guessed. Forced into silence by Bolt, he brooded over his strategy to defeat Jak.

Bolt had more to say to further prepare the hypnotized crowd. "The moon is full, and who has come among us but White Paw, one of the longest reigning leaders and fiercest warriors of all the packs, very much like Blood Paw of old." Bolt paused as if expecting a reaction from the audience, but was met instead with expressionless stares and neutral body language. Wondering what thoughts and emotions were roiling behind their blank masks he continued, "Whether he is White Paw in the flesh or Blood Paw's spirit returned to help us, it is no coincidence that he is among us tonight on this full moon to invoke the sacred words of the challenge and determine the rightful path of Winter pack."

Though long since he had said them, Jak spoke the ritualistic words of the challenge, altering them somewhat to fit the circumstances.

"Strong leaders make strong packs.

Only the strongest among us made lead Winter Pack.

I invoke the right of challenge to determine who shall lead.

Does my opponent accept my challenge?"

As if compelled by the words, the other Wolves who were free from the mushroom's effects all backed away, forming a loose circle at the edge of the stage with Bolt, Jak and Blue in the center. Bolt searched them both to make sure neither had any weapons, and then backed into the circle with the others. Blue looked to Bolt with a shrug. Understanding the unasked question, Bolt nodded. Freed to speak, Blue said, "I accept." He instantly began to circle around Jak, who moved just enough to stay out of reach for the moment and gain the measure of his opponent. "Is this desperation, Jak? Do you want to save your little bunny? Come try and win her freedom. I will try to make your end easy."

Jak wasn't fooled or intimidated by Blue's goading prattle. Having fought many challenges and survived numerous fights with other packs, he knew the mental games that opponents tried to play against each other. Blue was trying to make Jak angry so he would be reckless. Jak was angry, but he would not let that determine how he fought. Suppressing the emotion, he analyzed his opponent and what he knew about him. When Airy and Blue had fought, Jak saw how fast and nimble he was, managing to evade Airy's sword and even to inflict hits on her when he only had a stick for a weapon. He had a fighting style that Jak had never seen before. Perhaps Blue had trained elsewhere when he had traveled alone as an adolescent. So far, he had only seen him fight with a stick, and he was impressed. How would he do with just his paws and feet? Something unexpected, no doubt. He was crazy, but he was not stupid, and he likes to use deceits and illusions. Dirty tricks would likely be part of his attack. Jak suspected Blue would try to gouge out his one good eye to blind him completely. It was a weak spot for Jak that also left his left side vulnerable to attack. Admitting to himself that he would do the same in what was set up as a fight to the death; Jak would feel neither respect nor revulsion if his opponent chose that strategy. Instead, he would anticipate, observe and use caution to discover his opponent's capabilities.

But what were his weaknesses? Blue had swooned from Airy's sword cuts, which were superficial at best. She had pressed him hard and relentlessly, and Blue had responded with an apparent lack of stamina. Perhaps that was his weakness. If Jak could get in close and pound on Blue, he might be able to wear him down. Jak was confident he could outlast Blue if they traded blow for blow. The trick would be to make sure he did not let Blue's speed allow him to inflict more damage in return than Jak could deliver.

When Blue attacked, he went for Jak's left side as predicted. Jak let him connect with a kick to make himself seem an easy target. He kept retreating and letting Blue land his less forceful punches and kicks on his left side. Each kick, jab and chop was rapidly and precisely delivered. Jak had to admit to himself that not all of the strikes hit true because he let them, and some had really hurt. Blue's fighting style was very different from what was traditional in Wolf society. He relied more on kicks than was usual, and his kicks were strong and effective. Traditionally, the opponents slugged it out and wrestled until one could no longer fight or was immobilized. Jak could see how this new fighting style could rattle an opponent used to the old ways. Jak had always honored the old ways, but he knew there was a time for tradition and a time for change. His experiences with Airy had taught him how flexible the rules in life could be. He was becoming adaptable.

Waiting for the right moment, when Blue looked to be fatiguing, he reached out and grabbed Blue's jabbing right forearm with his left paw, and leapt up spinning to hit him in the head with a round house kick that sent Blue staggering sideways. Closing the gap quickly, he charged Blue and punched him repeatedly in the abdomen trying to drive the wind from him. Surprisingly Blue took the assault and returned a series of rapid blows to Jak's head forcing him to retreat. Blue followed trying to press his speed advantage. Knowing he would only be taking punishment while on the retreat, Jak dropped and spun his leg, sweeping Blue off his feet and onto his back. Before Jak could try to tackle and pin him, Blue had sprung forward to the balls of his feet and renewed his attack.

Jak was forced to fight a defensive retreat again as Blue attacked his left side relentlessly and with remarkable speed. No doubt, Blue was faster than he was, but Jak could tell these bursts of speed did not last long. Jak adapted his strategy to outlast Blue. Whenever Blue would show signs of tiring, Jak fought back hammering him as best he could with paw and foot. Exchanging blows with their paws and cuts with their claws back and forth, the fight was nearly becoming routine until Blue made the anticipated strike for Jak's face trying to scratch out his eye. Prepared for it, Jak caught Blue's outstretched paw between his own two paws. Surprised, Blue was unable to counter Jak pulling his face down while simultaneously driving his knee up into Blue's snout, which was followed by Jak's clenched fists hammering into each side of Blue's head. A stream of blood erupted from blue's nose and he reeled backward. Jak's fist drove hard into his chest and something cracked. Blue lurched farther backward and fell in to Autumn's arms. She supported him long enough for him to stand upright again and circle quickly away from Jak.

The fight was nearly over. Jak was covered in cuts, aches and bruises, but he knew he had just given much worse to Blue. Another close attack would take him down for good. Jak decided Blue's speed advantage was eliminated now that we was clearly in pain from a possible fractured rib, so he moved in to beat him down before he could recover. Unexpectedly, Blue lunged at him with a sideways motion that could not possibly inflict much damage. Jak had not consciously discerned the reason, but some instinct born of decades of combat warned him of the danger and caused him to jump back from this seemingly clumsy blow. Still, Airy's steel blade that had suddenly appeared in Blue's paw cut across his chest, deep enough to draw blood. Blue pursued the advantage, and Jak was hard pressed to avoid the knife. Only the injuries that Jak had inflicted on Blue were slowing him down enough that Jak was allowed to keep his distance from the flashing blade. Bolt and the others did not step in to interfere. Though it was against tradition to use weapons in the challenge, it was also tradition that no one intervene in the fight for any reason until it was complete. Autumn had likely slipped Blue the blade when they made contact, but if she had, it was a well concealed act, and unseen by anyone else. In this fight, Blue could simply claim that the Maker had given it to him, and who could argue with that since Jak had insisted on so much spiritual posturing surrounding this challenge. If one of his allies were to provide him a blade, the fight would tip back in Jak's favor, but he could not spare the attention to check if anyone was offering him a blade of his own.

Against Blue's diminished yet still impressive speed and the blade, Jak could not hope to avoid the knife for long. A quick resolution was his only prospect to avoid losing this fight. Blue was still attacking Jak's left, which was an excellent strategy except that Jak wanted him to do just that. Pivoting on his right foot, he turned his left side away making Blue reach farther to attack what he thought was Jak's easier flank. When Blue predictably thrust with the knife aiming for Jak's heart, Jak blocked with his open and highly visible white left paw. It was a distracting target and Blue was diverted by it, missing the slight twist of Jak's body that moved his chest farther away from the thrust. Blue's aim deviated toward the new flashy target as Jak hoped he would. The pain of the blade piercing through his paw was excruciating, but it immobilized the blade long enough and gave Jak enough control over it that he could follow through with his right fist, which was already in motion towards Blue's right elbow. The result was a sickening cracking sound. Blue howled and released the blade. With no delay, the back of Jak's right fist arced back around and clobbered the side of Blue's head. A kick to the chest sent Blue backward hard against the wall of the feasting lodge as a warrior jumped aside to avoid being hit. Ripping the blade from his own mangled left paw, Jak drove the blade hard through Blue's outstretched left paw pining him to the wooden wall. Blue howled again and futily clawed at his pinned paw.

A shout of alarm from Bolt alerted Jak to an attack from behind. Autumn had produced another knife, this time of obsidian, from somewhere and was running towards Jak. Where she had hidden these knives, he did not know, but suspected Blue and she probably had many things concealed on this stage of lies and deceit that they used to confuse and cajole the members of Winter pack to do their will. She had a knife now and Jak did not, but Autumn was a poor fighter compared to Jak or even Blue. Jak simply waited for her to get close enough and stepped forward and sideways as she stabbed for his torso. Grabbing her wrist with his right paw and pivoting his left leg between her legs, he let her momentum carry her down to the ground. Following with her while keeping the blade away by bending her arm painfully upward, he drove his knee into her back pushing all the air from her lungs. Catching the blade as it slipped from her limp fingers, Jak caught it before it hit the ground and in one fluid motion leapt up to his feet and drove the blade through Blue's right paw crucifying him against the wall.

As Jak put his right paw around Blue's throat to end his miserable life, Blue spoke through clenched teeth. "I yield. I yield. Mercy."

Jak held his paw a little tighter, silencing Blue. Blue's eyes bulged, his ears laid flat and he squirmed as much as he could caught in Jak's grip and with both paws pinned to the walls. Holding him long enough to make it clear that his life was Jak's for the taking, he let go leaving Blue gulping and gasping for breath. The rules of the challenge were strict, and Jak felt honor bound to obey the laws even if he was not a member of a pack anymore. He was adaptable, but he was not willing to give up the very foundations of Wolf society.

Jak turned his attention to Autumn, who was still on the floor trying to regain her breath. A violent kick from Jak sent her tumbling away, and Jak followed it up with several others until Autumn was gagging and retching on her side. Not finished, Jak grabbed the long fur on the top of her head and dragged her up to her knees. None of the Winter pack warriors moved to intercede. To Autumn Jak said, "You have broken the sacred circle of the challenge. Your life is forfeit. You know this don't you?" Autumn only replied with ragged breaths and a groan.

Speaking to Bolt and the others on stage, Jak pointed at Blue. "I shall not kill him. I honor the old ways as established by Blood Paw. Blue has yielded and I am victorious. Banish him." Turning his attention back to Autumn he said, "As to this one, I shall let Airy decide." Seeing that Jak was victorious, Airy had risen from her resting place on the table and now stood unsteadily at the edge of the stage. Dragging Auburn by the hair, he threw her face down in front of Airy, pinning Autumn to the ground with his foot between her shoulder blades. Airy and Auburn were now face to face. Airy stood painfully holding her ribs, still naked above the waist but too overwhelmed to care. Autumn looked up to meet Airy's eyes. The lodge was silent, even Blue had ceased whimpering and groaning and, of course, the audience sat transfixed and soundless. Airy met Auburn's gaze and saw the hate that had burned there transformed into fear, knowing that Airy now held the power of life and death over her. Warring within Airy were feelings of vengeance and hatred, yet there was also pity. A few weeks ago, she would have cut this creature's throat herself, but she was not that Rabbit anymore. Jak's influence was changing her attitude and character; for better or worse she did not know, but the terror in the eyes of her enemy was enough for Airy. Here in front of her was a person, a broken person, but a person nonetheless. She would not needlessly take her life. Besides, knowing that Autumn would have to live with that fear for the rest of her life was more satisfying to Airy than her death would be.

Gathering what moisture she could from her parched mouth, she spat bloody spittle in Autumn's face. "Let this pathetic, misguided bitch wander with her halfwit idol. She's beyond the need for my justice. I care not what you do with her, but if she moves against Jak or me again, my justice will be swift and merciless!" Jak smiled showing Airy that he approved of her benevolence, a positive affirmation that meant more to her than the defeat of her enemy.

Jak roughly hauled Autumn to her feet and pushed her towards Blue. "He's yours to care for now. Take him down or leave him there to die. No one will stop you either way."

Bolt dropped to his knees and bent his ears forward in submission to Jak. The other warriors including the two who had been on Blue's side and Autumn followed him in submission. "White Paw," said Bolt, "we will follow where you lead."

To Bolt only Jak said, "I cannot be your leader. Airy is my leader and I am of her people now. Rikifur is my pack, and I won't forsake it."

Bolt was aghast. "But, White Paw ... who will lead us?"

Jak leaned in close to Bolt and whispered in his ear. "As we agreed all along, you will, Bolt. Airy and I are going to disappear as we agreed last night. Are you ready to make it happen?" Bolt seemed uncertain and unwilling, his ears back and his tail slack with sadness, but he strengthened his resolve and nodded. Walking to the edge of the stage, Jak offered his uninjured paw to Airy and hauled her up onto the stage. Maneuvering her to stand over the trap door at the center of the stage, Jak motioned for Bolt to come forward and stand just beyond the edge of their escape route. Jak put his bloody left paw on Bolt's chest, wincing from the pain as he did so. To the silent, staring audience he intoned, "You shall lead them, Bolt. It was your wisdom and tenacity to hold to the ancient traditions that has freed your people from this charlatan. Only a true leader would have risked so much for his people. Only a true leader would understand the meaning of the signs and portents around us." Jak removed his paw from Bolt's chest and all the warriors gaped at the red paw print that stood out boldly on Bolt's cream-colored fur.

Several muttered, "It's the mark of Blood Paw."

"Could the intent of the spirit world be any clearer? You even bear the ancient mark. The ancestral spirits approve." Jak backed away and the other warriors turned and gave obeisance to Bolt. Surprised at first, Bolt quickly recovered and assumed a dominant pose with his tail and ears erect. He looked very much the leader to Jak. Stomping on the trap door three times in rapid succession, Jak signaled the time for his and Airy's escape. A violent flash of colored flame and smoke erupted around Jak and Airy concealing them completely as they fell down beneath the stage.

A friendly she Wolf warrior with the old healer were waiting for them. Jak's injured paw was cleaned and wrapped. Airy's ribs were wrapped and her cuts covered with salve. As previously negotiated with Bolt, they were loaded with as much provisions as they could carry and given back all of their gear except for Airy's knife, which was still in Blue's right paw. Even the steel spear tip had been affixed to a new shaft. Though they could use a long rest, Jak would not risk staying in Winter pack another day. He was confident that Bolt would be accepted as leader, but felt that his own presence could only work to undermine his new authority.

Jak and Airy chose to move east along the river, not yet ready to enter Cat territory. The sky was clear and the full moon lit their way. It was a beautiful evening. Bats whirled about catching moths and other insects. They saw more than one owl gliding silently to land upon some unsuspecting rodent. Being badly injured and tired, they were unable to admire the tranquility of the nocturnal tableau, only managing to put about five miles between themselves and the Winter pack village before exhaustion forced them to find a place to rest. In a deep thicket of shrubs and brambles under a copse of deciduous trees not far from the river Elv, they crawled into the densest part of the thicket and made camp.

[End of Chapter]