New Beginnings (Olkhon Island | Baikal Lake, Siberia)

[Tenzin]

For a moment Sierra was all spikey, and Tenzin felt her chest lift with relief to see it. The scent of anxiety parted for assertiveness, and Tenzin understood that Sierra had taken the role of mentor to someone new to their connection. That was a luxury afforded few kin, whose wolfish teachers were sometimes unable to communicate how easy it was to fall entirely to feral instincts. Many were lost that way, and it was the reason the Atharim counted them among the monsters. She thought of her own change. The steadfastness of the monks when she had been a creature of tooth and claw. She had not been kind to them then, either.

“Good. Am glad to know,” was all she said, genuinely relieved to know that whatever caused Sierra to doubt his return, she did not blame herself for it.

For the question, she pondered how best to answer, settling for: “Not for. Because.”

Thornpaw was not the only wolf to speak of dangers, just among the oldest of them she had met. In the dream it seemed they knew what she was and supported her snarling defence against things of darkness, some of them talking of a time when they had run alongside man against a great evil. Memories like that were reigniting, for most packs had still never encountered a two-leg in the flesh who could understand their language. Tenzin’s journey to Moscow itself had been at Silver’s guidance, for it was where the Apollyon made the heart of his kingdom, but wolves remained impartial unless they had a good reason to flash their teeth. There were others who were also watched closely, though at a distance. The world was changing, and rapidly. It was a time for vigilance.

“The old wolf worries. Not just doesn’t know the ways, Wildefyre refusing them. What he says anyway. Wildefyre in danger. Or is danger. Not understanding all.

But Chase is wolf asking, when all hear the dream’s call. Wildefyre is gone, or does not listen, or is lost – but not dead. Long Eye and Never are alone. So I go.”