Uncertain Steps

One evening, as Maya sat on her porch, Fang at her feet, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Elara, her face etched with worry. "There's trouble brewing," she whispered. "A group of Shadowfangs are restless. They miss the old ways, the freedom of the wild. They talk of returning to the fortress, of defying the Alpha's decree."

Maya's stomach clenched. This was exactly what she had feared. The trial period was fragile, easily shattered by fear or misplaced ideals of freedom.

"Who's leading them?" she asked, her voice grim.

Elara's face darkened. "Kael," she replied. "A young warrior, strong and charismatic. He believes the Alpha has betrayed them, that the humans will never truly accept them."

A knot of worry tightened in Maya's chest. Kael, a skilled warrior she had trained with, was a respected figure among the younger Shadowfangs. His dissent could easily sway others, jeopardizing the entire peace process.