Coriander walked briskly with the group as they headed towards the Hunter's Moon, which was being hosted by none other than Night Pack. Just everything has to do with Night Pack these days, she grumbled to herself. And I'm smelling their scent far more than I'd like.

They soon reached the designated clearing for Hunter's Moons and waited, exchanging greetings with Storm Pack, who had also arrived. Coriander noticed that any conversations between Wind Pack and Night Pack were either brief with sterile politeness or nonexistent.

Storm Pack, however, either did not notice the tension or did not care. They were just as boastful as ever. "The trainees are doing very well," Kestrel, the Dutch Shepherd alpha, informed Gabriel and Pawnee. "This may be the best batch yet!"

"That's what she said last time," Dakota muttered and Coriander snorted in amusement.

It was not very long before Frost Pack, Lake Pack, and Earth Pack all arrived and the meeting officially began. Lyra, alpha of Lake Pack, told her news first.

"All is well in Lake Pack," she said. "We are happy to welcome a new litter of pups from Jena and Scout. Other than that, Lake Pack has nothing to announce."

Kestrel spoke next. "Our trainees' progress is going exceptionally well," she said proudly, ignoring any eye-rolls from dogs in the crowd. "Hyperion, Solar, Soleil, and Sunlight are almost ready to take on their full ranks. Lindsey and Oak have also given birth to a litter of pups, but we are sad to say that only one of them survived."

A few dogs murmured condolences, genuine sorrow on their faces. The news of any dog dying was bad, but puppies were even worse. Coriander shuddered at the thought of their own dark news.

Martin, Frost Pack's alpha, and Aster, Earth Pack's alpha, reported their own basic news, nothing especially exciting. Pawnee went next.

"Night Pack is fine," he said gruffly. "Nothing has changed since you saw us last."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow but said nothing in reply, merely beginning his own report. "We regret to inform you that Gideon is dead. He was bitten by a snake on our east border. He was a brave defender and a devoted mate and father. We will never forget him."

The gathered dogs bowed their heads in respect, once again voicing their condolences. Coriander sighed heavily, still very much missing the kind, strong collie.

"Other than that, Wind Pack has done well," Gabriel finished. "I have nothing more to say, so let us hunt begin."

The preceptors said the prayers and the dogs began to split up into groups. "Why didn't Gabriel mention the rabbit?" asked Dynamite, one of Hannah and Levi's sons.

Levi quickly hushed him as some dogs began to prick their ears. "Gabriel doesn't want to cause unnecessary trouble," he said lowly. "He's giving Night Pack the benefit of the doubt, remember?"

Coriander shook her head and trotted off to join a group. She spotted one with a long-haired Dachshund from Earth Pack, a Bloodhound from Lake Pack, a St. Bernard from Frost Pack, and Kestrel herself.

"Hello," said the Storm Pack alpha cheerfully when Coriander walked up. "Care to join us?"

"Yes, thank you," Coriander said, entering the group. "My name is Coriander."

"I'm Lacie," said the Dachshund, wagging her tail slightly.

"They call me Carey," smiled the St. Bernard with a dip of her head.

"Filby," the Bloodhound barked. "And this," he said as a red-and-white Irish Setter walked up, "is my packmate, Jayla."

"Hello," she said, taking a seat. "Nice to meet you."

It wasn't long before they were joined by Compass, one of Coriander's own packmates, and Soleil, one of the trainees from Storm Pack. Finally, a black Cane Corso ambled up to the group.

Coriander stiffened. It was Samuel, from the border disagreement. "You," she growled.

Samuel frowned but then recognition lit in his eyes. "I remember you," he growled. "You were the pipsqueak who back-talked me and Baron on the border a couple weeks ago."

"Who are you calling pipsqueak?" Coriander spat, her fur bristling and her teeth bared.

Kestrel cleared her throat loudly. "If you don't mind, we're supposed to be one pack for the night. I assume you can put aside any prior disagreements and hunt without killing each other?"

"She started it," Samuel grumbled. "I just wanted to hunt and she started growling at me."

"I wasn't the one poking my nose over the border!" Coriander snapped, thoroughly disgruntled.

"Now, now, pups, learn to play nice or I'll split you up." Kestrel's voice was still playful, but something harder, reminding them of her authority, lurked beneath it. "Would one of you like to find a different group?"

"I'm staying," Coriander barked at the same time as Samuel. She huffed and pointedly turned her back on the Corso.

Kestrel snorted. "Very well then, we'll go." She stood up and began to trot into Night Pack's moonlit forest. "Now, good sir, would you mind telling us your name and where we might find the best prey?"

"Samuel," he muttered, jerking his head a seemingly random direction. "And there's a turkey roost that way."

"Turkey, eh?" Kestrel nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds delicious, lead the way."

The group followed Samuel through the forest, some of them beginning to chat amiably with each other. Soleil walked beside Coriander, head tipped curiously.

"What's wrong between you and the Night Pack dog?" she asked.

"A couple of weeks ago, he and some buddy of his nearly attacked me when I was just collecting herbs on the border," Coriander growled in response. "They probably would have, if one of their own packmates hadn't stopped them."

"You're a healer?" Soleil asked, her ears pricked with interest.

"No, I was just helping our healer out." Coriander jolted as she realized she had never asked Gabriel about his answer, and he had never told her. With all the excitement over stolen prey, she had pretty well forgotten.

"Shh!" Kestrel hissed from the front. "The turkeys have bedded down for the night. If we surround them and rush them, we should get a pretty good haul."

The other dogs nodded and began to slowly circle around the roost. Once all nine of them were in position, Kestrel signaled them with a flick of her tail, and they charged.

The turkeys were aroused in a storm of feathers and raucous gobbling and screeching. Coriander lunged for one, but the turkeys were much bigger than partridges and grouse she was used to. It scrambled away from her, only to be slammed into by Lacie.

Taking advantage of the bird's surprise, Coriander jumped on it and snapped its neck, successfully killing it. "Thanks," she panted to Lacie.

The light fawn Dachshund wagged her tail. "The pleasure is mine," she woofed, dipping her head. "Us small dogs have to stick together."

By now the majority of the turkeys had fled, and the other dogs had their own catches either within their jaws or lying before them. "Wonderful!" Kestrel barked, her eyes bright. "Let's get these back."

The dogs scooped up their prizes and headed back to the meeting place, Coriander and Lacie both dragging their catch together. A few other groups had already returned and were beginning to eat.

Coriander's group sat down and ate also, most of them talking about different things like hunting, patrolling, training. Coriander didn't say much, focusing on eating, but she noticed Samuel giving her sulky looks all throughout the meal. She glared at him once and then ignored him for the rest of the night.

Wind Pack returned to the hollow with full bellies, yawning and chatting about their different hunts. Coriander ran to catch up with Gabriel, but didn't talk to him until they had entered the hollow.

"Gabriel? Could I talk to you?" she asked, somewhat tentatively.

The Kelpie looked tired, but he nodded and sat down. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to know if you had made a decision about my becoming a healer."

Gabriel smiled. "Oh, yes. I must have forgotten to tell you. I did give it thought, even with all that happened yesterday. And I have decided that you are sincere and you won't back out on your decision. You are free to become a healer, and you have my blessing."

Coriander grinned, relieved, and her tail began to wag. "Oh, thank you! Er, is there some special ceremony or something? Or do I just start working with Grace?"

"I'll announce it in the morning, and then you can begin your training," Gabriel said. "But for now, get some sleep!"

Coriander nodded, her tail still wagging. "Thank you so much!" she called as she bounded over to her sleeping place. Tired as she was, excitement fizzed in her paws. She was going to become a healer!

Okie dokie peeps, I'm afraid this is the last chapter I can promise for a while. I had a ton of inspiration leading me to write three chapters but then I started writing the next one and hit a brick wall. :/ I know the story moves a little slow, but THINGS will happen in upcoming chapters so... Sit tight, thanks for reading, and don't forget to vote and comment!