chapter seventy six

The air was thick with tension, the anticipation of battle hanging heavy in the crisp mountain air. Before me stood a formidable line of warriors, their faces etched with determination and their bodies clad in the familiar hues of the pack. They were more than just soldiers; they were family, bound together by a shared purpose and fierce loyalty.

"The war is upon us," I declared, my voice echoing through the ranks. "It will be a fierce one, a test of our courage and our resolve." A hush fell over the gathering, broken only by the soft rustle of armor and the nervous shifting of feet.

"If any of you doubt your ability to see this through," I continued my voice firm but gentle, "know that I hold no ill will against you. This battle will claim lives, and I cannot promise that we will all return together."

A murmur of dissent rippled through the crowd, but it was quickly drowned out by a resounding chorus of agreement.