Chapter 8-Guidance

With the howling concluded, I have but one question on my mind; "why did we do that?"

"To stake our claim to this territory, of course."

"But... uh, isn't it the Etiord's territory?"

"For now, but we're never rescinding our claim on it."

"Won't they realize?"

"That we howl: yes. But not why: no. They're not very smart."

"I... guess? I mean, they do pretty well..."

"Do they really? They only gain by taking; they are unable to do anything else. And eventually, they will be unable to take, and will die off, but everything else will remain. Those who can build and craft and create - they are the ones who will remain."

"I suppose, it just doesn't seem to be working now.

"Do you feel lost right now?"

"What? No! Maybe... yeah. What am I doing here? Who do I follow? I know I shouldn't follow Him, but he keeps getting in my head."

"Well, to answer your first question; you're surviving. As for the second: your heart. We have a pack of sorts here, though, which you can join if you want. We come from all over the place, a couple are even from other regions."

Is that even a serious question? All shifters need a pack, of course I want to join!

"Yes! I'd love to be in a pack again! Who is the Alpha?"

"Glad to hear it, kid. And I'm the Alpha. If you don't mind me asking, though, what's your name, and which pack are you from?"

"I'm Eneipe, and I'm from the Central Pack."

"Ooh, tough break, kid. Just remember; no one can take happiness from you. You control whether or not you have it, and no one else. We used to have someone else from Central Pack, and you kind of look like him... oh. Ooh. Yeah, he was your... well, ehrm, sorry, kid. Uhh, he was a great one. We'll look after you for him, though; we all owe him for one reason or another."

It doesn't really surprise me that he was able to help others, even when he was down. I just wish someone could have been there for him. Well, I was there, so maybe I could have done something.

I just need to stay alive for now, I suppose.

"Hey, Alpha?"

"Yeah, kid?"

"How do I stay in a decent state of being?"

"Do what they say, but don't."

"Uhhh... what? How does that... How does that even work?! Sir."

"You do what they say to so that they keep you around, but disobey enough to tick 'em off and stop 'em from forcing you into combat or anything of the sort. If you follow orders... well, say hello to the frontlines."

Wait, so obedience to Him gets you killed?!

"So disobedience keeps me alive?"

"As long as it's not too blatant, yeah. Make sure they don't deem you ready, but not a lost cause either. You need to find the middle ground, the Ecnim Nimehc."

(Narrow Path)

"Alright, I think I can do that."

"You just need to try, fate will see that everything else falls into place. But adapt if it doesn't give you what you need."

"Also, what did you mean by frontlines?"

"Well, people fight back when you take stuff from them. Over the mountains, to the North, there is a council of packs which they still fight. We were from there. Beyond the forests at the base of the mountains, in a hidden vale, lies the camp. To the East lies the main road, which cuts through the forest, and leads to a city of those who cannot shift. They, too, fight the Etiord. As for the South and West, I am unfamiliar with those regions, and do not knows what lies beyond. Though whatever it is, we would have to travel through the heard of the Etiord's lands, and I prefer to not burn at the stake.

"Thanks! Though there used to be a forest North of Central territory-"

"Just North of here, wait, used to?"

"They killed most of that off."

"Hmm... the council used to send hunting parties there from time to time, when other food was scarce. Ah well, there's nothing we can do about that now. Just get some shuteye;, you'll need your energy for tomorrow."

"Alright, goodnight Alpha."

"Good night, young Eneipe. Good night indeed."

Well, time to get some shuteye. But there's nothing even remotely soft! Just this splintery wood... Maybe I can claw at it?

"Oh, and I know you will want to, but they get mad if you claw the wood. Just a heads-up."

"Just in time, Alpha. Thanks!"

"No problem, pup. Hehehe. Goodnight."

Alright, might as well lie on my side and try to get some sleep. Woah... I'm more tired... than... I... thought...