by Claudia King
"My clan was told the same stories," a second man said as he stepped up alongside Orec, then bowed his head in respect and knelt before Adel.
"And mine," a third, this one of the dark-skinned clan, added, beating a fist against his chest in a similar gesture of respect.
"Word of our vengeance upon Miral spreads far," Adel said. "He was a brave alpha, but a fool who thought the strength of his warriors could equal the power of the spirits."
Orec nodded. "Believe us, Den Mother, our alphas hold nothing but respect for the spirits. Halau called upon us to join him in battle, to drive what he called a great evil from this world, but we refused. Our alphas desire only your blessing, Den Mother."
"You bring a pack of warriors just to seek my blessing?"
Orec looked to his companions, rising slowly to his feet. "At last summer's gathering, my brother sent two of our girls to learn from you. He has no desire to see them come to harm, but he can spare few warriors of his own to help protect you from foes like Halau. So I carried his message to the other clans, and those who stand here with me now are the men and women of the packs who would prove themselves worthy of your friendship."
"Strange, that they did not care for it when Miral threatened me at the gathering," Adel said, prompting a sharp look from Caspian.
"Forgive us, Den Mother, but none of our alphas wished to make an enemy of Miral."
"And now you wish to share in the power that defeated him?"
Orec lowered his eyes again respectfully. "It is yours to share, Den Mother. All we wish is for you to see our clans as allies."
Adel folded her arms, remaining silent for a long time as she considered the man's words. Netya held her breath, praying that her mentor would embrace this gift. With the aid of so many warriors, their pack could no longer be considered small or weak. They would rival many of the other medium-sized clans in strength, holding power that would make even the most aggressive alphas question the wisdom of meeting them in battle.
"My clan is one of seers," Adel said at last. "I will not take so many warriors into my fold, not when you all hold loyalties to other alphas. How am I to know you are not here to learn the secrets of our magic and then turn against us?"
"That is not our intent," Orec said. "You are right, we are no seers, and in truth I have no desire to witness the ways you make your dark magic. Some secrets were not meant for men to know. As you see, we have brought our own supplies. We will never venture into your den if that is what you wish, but allow us to stay nearby, where you can call on our aid whenever you need it. We would share the spoils of our hunts and send our own scouts to keep watch over your territory. Allow us to be your guardians. Our own clan, but loyal to you."
A slow smile spread across Adel's face. This was the kind of strength the den mother had always desired. Netya could sense her mentor's pride. Her fulfilment at having accomplished everything she had ever been told was beyond her grasp. And as much as Netya shared in those feelings, she could not help but feel a twinge of unease as she looked upon a woman who now held the power not just to defend her own clan, but to exert her will upon those who challenged her.
As if sensing her apprentice's thoughts, Adel turned to Netya and curled her fingers around her shoulder. "What do you think, my witches?" she said. "What shall we do with this power that has been gifted to us?"
The Moon People saga will continue in Daughter of the Night, coming soon.
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Claudia King is a writer based in the United Kingdom, she studied Creative Arts at university and continues to maintain a passionate interest in storytelling across many forms of media. She owns a banana plant.
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