An improbable coalition

"kill me now and get it over if you do not trust me."

Dax had a deep, menacing voice, yet his amber eyes revealed the strain boiling under his calm façade. As he gazed down the scout, his words lingered in the air, laden with frustration and challenge.

"I don't trust you," the scout fired back, his blade glinting in the scant moonlight. You are an outlaw. You certainly as heck shouldn't be with her; you belong nowhere here.

"enough!," I shot, straying between them, my own anger boiling out. We have not time for posturing if we are going to survive this. Either turn around and go or stow your weapons.

The scout narrowed his lips, but he dropped his blade grudgingly. Zaia, I am here for you. Not his either.

Then start behaving like it, I remarked coldly, looking between them. "Right now neither of you is helping."

Tensed quiet drove us over the woodland, the shadows surrounding still flashing with uncanny motion. Every stride seemed weighty, the weight of what we had just gone through hanging to us like second skin.

Dax broke the quiet at last, his voice slanted with cynicism. You pack wolves are very excellent at group projects. very motivating.

The scout fixed him a nasty look. "We wouldn't need your help if you weren't dragging Zaia farther into danger."

"I'm the reason she's still alive," Dax said, his voice stern.

"Stop it," I yelled sharply, my voice cutting over their dispute. "I have no interest in your opinion of one another. Right now, survival long enough to find out what's occurring is the only thing that counts.

We paused to relax outside a little creek; the cold water was a nice relief from the stifling heat of the jungle. Dax bent next to me as I cleaned the dried blood from my hands; his face seemed unusually austere.

Quietly, he continued, "You know he's going to turn on me the first chance he gets."

Looking at the scout, who was a few feet away and facing away from us as he surveyed the woods, "He won't," I answered, but I found it difficult to ignore the worry in my voice.

You really are sure about that? Dax questioned, his golden eyes darting around me.

I paused then shook my head. Not yes. I do not, however, have a choice. Neither does everyone else.

His lips opened to a sardonic grin. "A coalition forged out of need. How lovey?

"Don't get used to it," I replied, unable to suppress the little grin that drew at my lips.

The scout turned back to us at last as we slept, his face taut. "We are not going to survive without a plan."

Dax said, "No kidding," and got another look.

I spoke with the scout ignoring their conflict. "About those animals, what do you know? Early on, you mentioned black magic.

The scout stopped and then groaned. There are tales of wolves corrupted by something old, something that precedes the groups. They claim it relates to the Moon Goddess, sometimes known as her opposite.

Dax sc wrinkled. "Her opposite?,"

"Some call her the Shadow Mother," the scout added, his voice lowering to almost a whisper. "A entity that finds great delight in disorder and devastation. Should these beings be genuine, then...

He trailed off, his mood deepening.

"then what?" then Pressing was difficult.

Then, he added bitterly, this is more than anything we have ever encountered. We also lack readiness for it.

An Unexpected Suggestion

Dax leant with folded arms against a tree. What then is the scheme, hero? Go back to the Crescent Moon Pack and pray they will pay attention to you?

The scout bristled. They will pay Zaia some attention. Whether you like it or not, she still is the legitimate Luna.

I groaned, their expectations weighing down on me. "I can't go back even if I would wish. Still not yet. The Moon Goddess said I would discover solutions where the sea meets the moon. That calls for something.

Shaking his head, the scout said "You're hunting riddles while our people die."

And you believe going back will rescue them? Dax turned around. One cannot resist something one does not know. What is occurring

here beyond the Crescent Moon Pack.

The scout argued not once, unlike usually. Rather, he turned to face me, his attitude uncertain. So, what then do we do?

"We find the truth," I stated resolutely. "Together.."

Dax pulled me away, his voice low, as we got ready to relocate once again. "You're putting a lot of faith in someone who would much sooner see me dead."

I met his look and answered, "I have no choice." And neither does you. You will have to trust me if we are to make it.

His eyes looked longingly at me before he nodded. "Fine." But should he do anything, "

"He won't," I answered, not quite sure I believed it.

Deeper into the jungle, the stifling gloom closed in all about us. The air got cooler, and the odd hum we had heard before came back, louder and more threatening.

Dax halted abruptly, his hand shooting to block my way. Do you think that?

I nodded, my wolf snarling as the earth seemed to pulse underfoot.

The woods opened ahead to show a clearing covered in subdued, artificial light. In the middle was a large stone altar with odd, brilliant markings on its surface.

The scout advanced with shaky voice. "This... this isn't here."

The hum became louder before we could react, and the shadows surrounding the altar started to move to create forms that chilled my spine. Dax said with a hoarse growl. "We are not the only ones."