Coriander heard Tassel barking in greeting and padded out to the hollow entrance. She saw Gabriel and his patrol returning and her heart sank as she saw that they were wounded. They must have been challenged by Night Pack while resetting the border, she thought. But the way the walked indicated no sign of triumph. Had Night Pack kept their hold on the territory they had stolen?

"Russell!" she called to her trainee. "Prepare some wet moss. We've got wounds coming in."

He gave a bark to indicate that he had heard and Coriander went to meet the approaching party. "What happened?" she asked.

Gabriel looked at her, his face blank. "The territory is ours again," he said flatly.

Coriander nodded slowly, perplexed by the dissonance between this fact and their mood. "Uh... that's... good. Come over to my den, Russell's getting things ready."

She said similar things to the other dogs as she passed them. Finally, she saw Ranger, trailing behind the rest of the group. She saw blood all over his face and chest and started panicking for a moment. "Ranger!" she barked. "Merciful Siglitun, what did you do? Are you all right?"

He didn't respond, staring at the ground. "Ranger?" she asked again. "What's the matter?" When he still said nothing, she shook her head and began to guide him towards the healing den. He could be in shock from blood loss. I need to take a look at him.

The other five dogs were clustered around the healer's den, where Russell looked slightly overwhelmed. Scanning over the dogs, Coriander deduced that, aside from Ranger, Gabriel had the worst wounds, although it was somewhat hard to tell with his dark red coat. I'll have to check on Torn as well, in case his asthma starts acting up.

Most of the pack was in the hollow, having returned from early morning patrols. Speedwell and Gabriel were conferring quietly, and Coriander saw Speedwell's eyes widen in shock at something Gabriel said. With a glance at Ranger, he backed up and nodded.

Gabriel slowly stood up, barking to quiet everyone and call their attention to him. "This morning we reclaimed a stretch of territory that Night Pack tried to steal from us," he said. "During the battle... Draco and I fought and he nearly killed me. Ranger came to my defense. Now... Draco is dead."

Shock rippled through the crowd. Some dogs exclaimed but most were struck silent, Coriander among them. "What?" she whispered. Ranger... had killed someone? The alpha of Night Pack, no less?

Gabriel sighed heavily and looked almost like he was trembling. "I fear there is no longer a way we can resolve this conflict peacefully, if there ever was to begin with. We will have to prepare, Wind Pack. I think we have many dark days ahead of us."

Then he collapsed.

Coriander switched off the part of her brain that was still in shock at the news and let her healer side take over completely. "Russell, quick," she barked, "we need to stop his bleeding. Focus! If you're not doing anything else, take as much moss as you can carry from my den and wet it in the lake. Be fast!"

The young hunter obediently ran off and Coriander buried herself in tending to Gabriel, doing everything possible to not think about when she would have to face Ranger. She was still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that he'd actually done such a thing, but deep down she'd always known with an awful certainty that something like this would happen. She could still remember over a year ago, just after Sadie had died and Pawnee had declared war. I'm going to kill Night Pack, he'd said. He was only a pup then, but he'd meant it.

After Gabriel had been patched up and laid down inside the healer's den to rest, Coriander approached Ranger. He hadn't moved or said a word, and no one had dared to come up to him yet. "Ranger," she said quietly. "I need to look at your wounds."

He laid down so that she could better reach him, still constantly avoiding her gaze. She worked in silence as she cleaned and dressed his cuts, only speaking to tell him to move slightly or to ask Russell for something. When she finished she sat there for a moment, suppressing a shudder when she looked at his bloodstained muzzle, before she finally dared to ask, "Ranger... how could you?"

He finally looked at her and the sheer emptiness in his eyes made her breath catch in her throat. "I said I would. Didn't I?" was all he said. She could tell that he was trying to sound indifferent but his voice cracked on the last word and he abruptly turned away.

Coriander reached out a paw towards him. "Listen, Ranger, I--"

He cut her off, whirling back around, and now his eyes were blazing. "No! I'm not going to hear you lecture me on how what I did was wrong. You don't understand. You couldn't understand. You weren't there. You're never there anymore."

With a snarl he stormed inside of the healer's den, leaving Coriander sitting there, stunned. She didn't move until Russell's voice made her jump.

"Uh, Coriander?" he asked sheepishly. "I, um, don't want to interrupt, but I need you to help me treat everyone else. Focus just got back with some more moss."

"Right, of course," Coriander answered, shoving away her whirling emotions in favor of focusing on healing alone. But even though she could block her horror and her heartache, she couldn't shake the feeling that something, something between her and Ranger, was lost, and it could never be repaired.

~

"What's up with Wind Pack tonight?"

Coriander pretended not to overhear what the Alaskan Malamute sitting a few feet away from her said. The full moon shone down through the lightly falling snowflakes which had blown down from the mountains as winter returned. Wind Pack was hosting the Hunter's Moon, but there wasn't going to be a hunt, even though the other packs didn't know that yet.

"Merciful Hunter Dog, you Frost Pack dogs really are isolated, aren't you?" said an Anatolian Shepherd who was sitting next to them. "You haven't heard?" He lowered his voice. "Draco's dead. He was killed in a border fight with Wind Pack. Wouldn't you be a little tense if you were hosting the election for the pack who's alpha you killed?"

The malamute's eyes widened and he leaned in closer, then they began to speak too quietly for Coriander to hear. Not that she minded; she really didn't want to hear all these dogs gossiping about Ranger. I'm glad he stayed in the hollow. Things could get ugly if he was here.

Night Pack was the last to arrive, which wasn't too surprising. They were led by Pebble, Draco's beta. He nodded his head in greeting to the assembled dogs. "As some of you know," he said with a pointed glance at Wind Pack, "Draco is dead. It is time to select a new alpha for Night Pack. Desert and Colt, please step forward."

The two dogs came to the front. Coriander remembered the isabella Doberman, Desert, and she also recalled seeing Colt, who was a fawn and white Bull Terrier.

"What about you, Pebble?" asked Gabriel. There was an undercurrent of barely disguised pain in his voice from his still-healing injuries. Coriander had tried to convince him to stay in the hollow and let Speedwell lead the Hunter's Moon, but he had refused. "Are you a candidate also?"

The Bulldog shook his head. "No... I am content with my position as beta. I do not think the role of alpha would suit me."

"Very well, then." Gabriel nodded. "Proceed."

"These are dogs you know," Pebble continued. "Dogs you have fought beside and against. Make your choice carefully, and may the wisdom of the Hunter Dog be with you."

The packs clustered together to discuss the candidates. Gabriel closed his eyes. "Well? What are your thoughts?"

"I know Desert to be reasonable," Coriander said. "I think she would be willing to negotiate with us."

"She's also Draco's sister," commented Levi. "I agree that she's always been reasonable, but her judgment might be askew during this time. It wouldn't be a wise decision for us."

Coriander slowly nodded. She hadn't thought about that.

"Then Colt is our only option," Picasso said. "I can't say that it's much for our benefit though; I've hunted with him before and he's incredibly stubborn."

"I'm afraid our choices are rather limited," Gabriel said quietly. "Remiel? What do you think?"

The preceptor looked thoughtful. "The Hunter Dog has left me some messages regarding this. I believe that no matter which one we choose, their leadership will be brief. This is but a transitional phase. The leader who comes after them... will have a very large impact on not just the destiny of Night Pack, but all the packs."

"Ominous much?" muttered Atlantic. Hannah quickly shushed him.

Gabriel nodded. "Thank you, Remiel. Under the circumstances, I think I agree that Colt is a better choice. Do any of you have any objections?"

His words were met by silence and so the pack turned to face everyone else. "Wind Pack has made its decision," Gabriel announced.

All of the other packs were finished as well, except for Storm Pack, who didn't take much longer. "Which dogs do you vote for?" asked Pebble.

"Frost Pack votes for Colt," said Martin.

"Lake Pack's vote is for Desert," said Lyra.

"As is Storm Pack's," Kestrel barked.

"Earth Pack votes for Colt," Aster said.

"And so does Wind Pack," Gabriel put in. He sounded so tired.

Pebble nodded. "Night Pack will now make its decision, taking your votes into consideration."

While the Night Pack dogs deliberated over their new leader, Coriander came up next to Gabriel and whispered, "Gabriel, I'm serious. You need to rest as soon as we get back. You look like you're about to fall over."

He gave a stern look. "Thank you for your input, Coriander. Don't worry. I'll survive."

Coriander grumbled under her breath but said nothing more. How am I supposed to do my job if these dogs won't even listen to me?

Finally, Night Pack turned to face the other packs. Pebble cleared his throat before declaring, "Night Pack has made its choice. Colt will be our leader."

The packs who had voted for him voiced their approval, although Wind Pack was primarily silent. Colt moved to stand before Tansy, Night Pack's preceptor. "The position of alpha to Night Pack has been bestowed upon you. Do you accept it?"

"I do," Colt replied solemnly.

"Then lead, well, strong, and fairly," Tansy barked. "The grace and blessings of Siglitun be upon you until the end of your time. Who do you choose as beta, to assist you in your leadership?"

"I wish for Pebble to be my beta," Colt said after a brief moment of thought. "Will you continue to serve us as you have?"

"It has always been my honor," Pebble answered, looking pleased.

"Behold, the new alpha of Night Pack!" announced Tansy. The other packs cheered but Wind Pack held their piece.

"Thank you for coming," Gabriel said after the cheers had died down. "Since there is no hunt tonight, we bid you farewell."

As Wind Pack turned to leave, Colt suddenly came up to Gabriel, saying, "I see your trainee isn't with you tonight. Good for him." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. "I know what happened, Gabriel. Gannon was right. This isn't over. Not by a long shot." He took a step backward and nodded. "Goodnight."

This isn't over. Coriander felt her blood run cold as she thought of the dream she'd had, months ago. Was it foretelling this?

Gabriel made no response, turning away again. Coriander saw him close his eyes and lower his head, looking pained. "Come, Wind Pack. Let's go home."