Chapter 49 The First Strike

• *Chet*
• The alliance with the Chyara has been a blessing to our pack. Over the past several months, we have learned valuable lessons from them—about the land, the migration of game, and the dangers that lurk beyond our borders. The knowledge they have shared has made us stronger, but it has also opened our eyes to the reality that we are not alone in this vast wilderness.
• Tonight, we have invited them to join us around our fire. One of the elders, a small woman with long white braids, sits behind Alice, weaving her hair into a similar braid while sharing wisdom about the land.