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You cycle throughout the crowd of wolves, stopping here and there to counsel the more aggressive of them to hold their ground but not attack.

Following your example, Ahote does the same, as does Jolon who appears by your side as if out of thin air. By the time the pacification squads reach your group, a line of wolves at the front have locked arms in solidarity, refusing to be moved but not lashing out in aggression either. Ahote joins the line in the center, calling out to the human troops.

"We will not be brought to violence, and we will not be intimidated! We are not chattel to be herded and disposed of!"

Colonel Williams grabs a wolf and rips him away from the line of linked arms without a word. The two wolves who had been holding him gasp at the strength and ferocity of the officer.

"Have your gathering," Williams snarls. "But know this." He lifts a pistol to the frightened wolf's head and pulls the trigger. A thin red mist covers the colonel's face as the wolf's body slumps to the ground, unmoving. "Further displays of disobedience will be met with lethal consequences."

Ahote screams in feral anguish and leaps forward to the fallen wolf, cradling his head in his hands as though he could somehow heal him if only he possessed the strength of will. The elder stares up at Williams, hate in his eyes.

"You will not break us. You hear me! You're the monsters, not us!"

Williams turns his back on Ahote. It's all you can do to keep yourself from rushing forward and striking the colonel down from behind.

"You just keep telling yourself that, Ahote," Williams says. "Maybe one day you'll actually believe it." He disappears into the assembled pacification squads, signaling for them to retreat.

A wave of confusion and quiet whispers filters through the crowd as the soldiers fall back toward their base. You hear one wolf behind you say hesitantly, "Did we win?" You wish you could answer her. You faced off the soldiers, but after Williams's act of savagery, it doesn't taste like victory. It tastes like ashes.

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