The Fuse is Lit

FABIAN

I wasn't supposed to be here. Dad had tried to shield me from this part, but I refused to hide. Not when our people needed hope.

Standing on the hastily constructed platform, I gazed out at the sea of faces—battered, bruised, but unbroken. Pack members from all territories huddled together in the clearing outside the emergency medical tents. Some leaned heavily on each other. Others sat on the ground, too exhausted to stand. All of them looked up at me with the same haunted expressions.

My hands trembled. I clutched the small piece of paper where I'd scribbled my thoughts. The words suddenly seemed inadequate.

I spotted Mom at the edge of the crowd. She stood tall despite the bandage wrapped around her arm, her eyes never leaving me. She gave me a subtle nod.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped up to the microphone.