The council members were gathered together in the usual meeting room when the sound of rampant feet coming from somewhere outside, and the cries of a terrified girl cut the meeting dead.
Nik could smell the scent of the girl's blood; the scent was easier to detect when it was a Pack member. He looked towards the doors. “Kelda,” he said.
Her mother, Edda, stood up as if her chair had come alive and whipped her head round towards the doors. She composed herself just enough to get a silent look of consent from her Pack Leader and Arik, Head of Council, before she excused herself from the meeting and rushed out the doors.
Arik called for order when voices in the room rose. Everyone quietened down.
Several seconds later Edda was running back, Kelda on her arm. The young girl was panting in ragged, desperate breaths, her hands and face were scratched and bloody. Something had obviously scared her so much she'd been running like a bat out of hell through the thick forest.
Everyone stood, some crowded around her to console her.
Between each breath she said, “Dead. Tree. Pack. Attack. Friends. Still. Back. There. Pack. Coming. Here.”
“You're sure?” Lamont asked. As the Head of Peacekeeping between the Packs, he felt the weight of this more than most. His life was dedicated to keeping alliances between Packs. They all knew him and had a strong friendship with him. Knowing Kain was about to betray that trust made his blood boil. His dark skin took on a red tinge.
Kelda nodded in an urgent manner.
“The land is uphill from there once they reach the golden fields off the forest. We will have the upper hand if we stay where we are,” Nessa, Second in Command of Construction and Land Usage, announced in a confident voice that drew them all in. She had always been a quick thinker. She knew the land and the terrain like the back of her hand, even more than those who'd been living there longer. She'd organized the construction of the new barbecue area alongside her First in Command, Garth. She looked at him now for support and he gave a firm nod of agreement.
“Head Councillor Arik?” Nik said, turning to him.
The old man was the only member still seated. He stood. “You do what you do best, Nik. I do not want this to get ugly.”
Nik bobbed his head in agreement. “Astrid?” Nik gazed at the small, pixie-like creature to his left.
Her brown choppy bob swished as she looked at him. Her hazel, pointed eyes settled on his face.
“Get all the women and children, anyone unable to fight to the Underground. In case anything happens.”
“Yes, Pack Leader.” She bowed and left the room.
“And what about us women? Y'gonna make us hide away too?” Tyra retorted, a smirk on her face.
Nik clenched his jaw. “The available Pack members will follow me. We'll stop about halfway if we haven't crossed their path by then. I don't want to be too close to the village. See if we can sort this out before it gets messy.”
“It seems we were misled about the day Kerk overheard then?” Swain announced.
Kerk leaned against the wall by the door with his arms folded. He shot a menacing glare in Swain's direction. Swain grinned and Kerk's frown lines deepened.
“It would seem so,” Driver replied, glowering at his brother. “But Kerk has never been wrong about what he sees and hears.”
“There's always a first time,” Swain smiled. Tyra blushed as he eyed her for a fleeting moment.
“They may have said Saturday, only to confuse us,” Nik said. “Kerk is very good at what he does, no one can doubt that, but if Kain and the unknown assailant have a sharp sense of smell, they may have caught his scent and played him. I'd appreciate it if you cut the guy some slack.”
Swain only shrugged, and then flashed his brother a grin of truce.
Nik's eyes eventually smiled back but his expression remained stern and authoritative.
“You don't understand!” Kelda barged in, finally able to speak. “I was with Skye and Ronnie, Alf, my sister and Jaz! They've not come back! They might have been caught! Or worse...”
Nik drew in a breath.
“Nik?” Erica, who had been solemnly quiet ever since Jaz denounced her existence in her life, finally found her voice. “We can't attack. Not like this. Not whilst my niece is in danger.”
“I agree,” Edda concurred. “My daughter is there. If she'd had the chance to run, she would have. And would've outrun them all. Something must be wrong if she's not returned.”
“Where did you leave them?” Maria asked Kelda.
“At the Silverback River.”
Before any more could be said Nik marched out of the door, his Pack pouring in line behind him.
Anyone else who was not fighting, and hadn't gone to the Underground yet, held back to let them pass as the Pack made their way outside. Everyone inside and out on the grounds stood watching as their Defence Pack marched purposefully by.
They bowed their heads after them, their hands clenched into fists, crossing their chest in respect. Loved ones turned away before they lost their resolve and then ran to safety.