Chapter Four: Part Five

          Jami looked around the clearing. It was silent, eerie, almost. The bonfire was still crackling, but there were no birds calling, no crickets chirping. Everyone was still looking at Scully except for Amaroq, who was staring at her feet. Jami frowned, but didn’t have time to ask what was wrong, because Scully started talking again.
          “Eruba’s death devastated the whole pack, particularly the Elders, and Leo was furious. He was furious at himself, and took all the blame for the loss, so he himself led a retaliation raid back into Chennai territory, and in the struggle, took the life of Kovraii’s oldest son, Ahuna. The Chennai retreated, and it seemed as if we would be victorious in the battle for our packlands. But it was not that simple.
          “While Leo and his party returned to Avilar` territory, Kovraii was gathering his army. Our pack did not even have time to celebrate our victory before our Scouts sounded the alarm: the Chennai were moving our way, and they were ready for battle. No longer were the days of border skirmishes and small raids. Every wolf in both packs, of every rank, from Healer to Warrior, gathered to fight.
          “When the two battle-ready packs came face to face, the Alphas spoke. ‘Kovraii,’ said Leo, ‘stop this. Your father and I made the truce for a reason: so we could live in harmony, raise our families without worry of attack. You cannot avenge death with more death. It creates an endless cycle,’ Leo said. ‘Let us stop this now. We can become the two great allied packs we were once.’ Leo approached Kovraii, who had stopped to consider the other Alpha’s offer. Then, without warning, Kovraii attacked, and the Great War was started.” Jami cast a glance at Amaroq, who had her eyes shut tightly. Her nostrils were flared. But Scully seemed to notice nothing, and kept reciting the story.
          “Kovraii struck down Leo, and at once the two packs rushed into each other, a writhing mass of fur and fangs and claws. They fought for hours, each side taking many losses, every wolf sustaining injuries. When the Chennai finally pulled back, they had been victorious. The loss of Leo had destroyed the attack plan, and disorganized our pack. Before Kovraii retreated, he smirked, gloating, then said, ‘The great Avilar` pack is no more. These lands now belong to me. Any Avilarian wolf I find here come tomorrow morning will be enslaved. If you resist, you will be slaughtered.’”