24

You decline Bly's offer as politely as you can while making it clear that you don't believe force of claw alone will allow so few wolves to defeat the human military. "With proper learning, we can use the humans' own rules against them and create a better future for all of us," you say.

Bly scoffs, but Jolon purses his lips in thought. "He does have a point, Bly. With the advantage of numbers the humans have over us, we'll need wolves who can plan and strategize. Keeping Decaarr on our side could still be helpful in the long run."

He waves you off. "You'd better get to your meeting then. But please stop by the dojo in the future. It can't hurt you to train with us, even if you're determined to prioritize book learning."

Elder Ahote's office is a block away from the school in one of the only buildings left undamaged during the Purge. The old wolf isn't the only adult to keep his offices here; most of the instructors and all of the elders have their own space within the squat gray-walled structure. The heavy concentration of adults has long lent the entire block a repellent effect on the werewolf youth, who take every opportunity to keep as far away from the nagging elders as possible.

You raise your hand to give a timid knock on the office door. Of all the elders, Ahote has always been the easiest to approach, but the adults work to instill a mystique about the elders in their pups' minds from birth, and as a result you often feel uneasy when you know you have something to hide from a wolf wizened by age.

"Come in," the old wolf says from the other side of the door. "I promise not to bite."

You push the door open and enter Ahote's office. In truth, the long rectangular room is more a library than an office; bookshelves line every wall, stuffed with musty tomes regarding every topic imaginable. When the pack was first brought to Haven, Ahote spent months scouring the refuge for every undamaged book he could find, eventually bringing the choicest volumes here to his quarters for study.

The wolf himself sits behind an intricately carved mahogany desk, poring over a thick volume through a pair of delicate reading glasses. In human form, Ahote seems frail and delicate, his skin stretched like thin parchment over brittle old bones, but his appearance belies a strength you know all too well. When he changes into his wolf form, Ahote is still a force to be reckoned with. While he might not be able to take down a well-trained adult in battle, many have underestimated him to their peril.

Next

"Sit down for a spell." The old wolf gestures at a nearby chair with a flick of his hand. You do so, unconsciously scratching at a half dozen phantom itches that have suddenly sprung up. Ahote looks up from his book and arches an eyebrow at your squirming as you attempt to get ahold of yourself.

"You're probably wondering why I've invited you here."

You nod in response.

"Let's get right to it, then. I'm aware of an undercurrent of discontent among the youth of the refuge. As you age, you begin to ask questions, and those questions don't always have answers that are comfortable for us adults to give. I gave the go-ahead to Instructor Lonan to begin drawing up the curtain and reveal certain truths to his class.

"Some of the elders advised against this course of action, but I'm of the opinion that any pup on the verge of adulthood deserves to know the full and unvarnished truth regarding our pack's history and current predicament. Wouldn't you say?"

You nod in agreement, wondering where he's going with this. It almost sounds like he's considering telling the whole truth. You wonder just how your young packmates would respond to such a revelation. It probably wouldn't be pretty.

"To that end, I am looking for a protégé. Someone of the youth, who understands them and is willing to learn. Coming to meet me is the first step along your journey to a greater understanding."

You blink. He wants you to be his protégé?

Ahote senses your apprehension and smiles disarmingly. "I understand your hesitation. This likely wasn't your first choice of a role to grow into, but I've talked it over with the other elders, and choosing you was the overwhelming consensus. Even in the areas of study that you have yet to master, you've exceeded most of your classmates. I believe you were meant for something greater, a role of some prominence in the pack."

You ponder Ahote's offer. There is plenty to gain by accepting your role at the old wolf's side: power, influence, and a deeper understanding of the pack's relationship with the humans, but you'd have less time and energy to devote to physical disciplines. You know he won't force you into the role. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

Ahote nods his head slowly, as though he always knew this would be your choice. "Excellent. Your training will begin over the next few weeks. For now, I'd like to learn more about the knowledge you already possess so that we may set a baseline for your education."

Ahote beckons you over to a desk at the back of his library, procuring a small stack of papers along the way. On the same shelf you notice a thin booklet labeled Answer Key, which Ahote leaves behind. You sit at the desk, and the wood creaks under your weight as the old wolf arranges the papers and hands them to you along with a pencil.

"From this point forward, you'll refer to me as Sage Ahote and defer to my judgment when necessary. When we're finished, you'll not only be the most well-learned wolf in your class, you'll be suited to lead them into a better tomorrow. That is my promise to you. For now—" He points to the paperwork in front of you. "—we must begin at the beginning. Impress me with your skills and knowledge."

Ahote walks back to his desk, leaving you alone with the testing materials as he resumes his study of the large book at his desk. You page through the worksheets. It's a fairly versatile set of multiple-choice questions and essay prompts with instructions allowing you to skip sections where your knowledge may be lacking and impress in areas where you excel.

After several minutes you can hear a light rasping sound that you eventually identify as snoring. The sage has fallen asleep!