It had been several weeks since Minerva's trainee ceremony when Draco again assembled the pack beneath the overhang. "It's time to launch another offensive," he declared. "Wind Pack is still in a position of weakness and we need to take advantage of that. Spring is almost here, and I want us to be prepared to reap its full benefits when it comes."

Several dogs voiced their agreement and support, while Desert remained silent. Spring was coming, which she was glad of, but since that was the case, did they really need to press for more territory now? Not that I'm going to bother arguing with him again.

"We're going to press on the south side," Draco continued. "The deer are going to start moving up again since the weather is finally starting to warm, praise be to the Hunter Dog. Arrow, Candace, and Samuel, I want you to scout the area. A group of defenders will accompany you in case Wind Pack makes trouble. Any volunteers?"

Ajax, a young Tosa Inu, and Emma, a Cane Corso, both quickly spoke up. Draco nodded approvingly, then narrowed his eyes in thought. "Desert," he said, "I want you to lead. And take both Minerva and Tinder as well."

Desert noted the hard look he gave her and she knew exactly what he was trying to do. If she challenged him it would cause a scene--not that everyone wasn't already aware of their conflict. Regardless she guessed that Draco partially wanted her to say something, just so that he could somehow make a point in front of everyone. But Desert did not feel like giving him that luxury. "Yes, sir."

Draco's eyes flickered but all he said in response was a small grunt. "Very good. Be off, then, and report to me when you get back."

Desert nodded curtly in response and headed for the entrance, beckoning the others with her head. "Minerva, Tinder, you both go in front of us," she instructed. "Keep your eyes open. A defender must be aware of everything around them at all times."

The two trainees obediently took the lead, although they were still behind the hunters. "How's it been so far?" Tinder asked Minerva. "Do you regret picking defender yet?"

"No," Minerva said, giving him a look. "Why would I?"

"It was a joke," Tinder said. "Probably not a very good one. But I did almost regret it after how sore my legs were at the end of my first day."

Minerva shrugged. "I was just glad to finally be out in the forest."

Tinder nodded sympathetically. "I can't imagine being stuck in the clearing with that many other pups. I'd probably go crazy."

"Oh, that's nonsense," said Emma, interrupting the trainees' conversation. "You're great with pups, Tinder."

"Well, I guess so," Tinder said, "but being around them for that long and unable to leave might get old after a while."

"Then be glad you'll never have to nurse them," Emma snorted. Desert chuckled in agreement, although a small part of her longed for how simple that time had been, just being with her pups. Maybe she was unable to leave or fulfill her duties or anything like that, but they had all been alive.

The conversation faded into silence as the group continued on towards the south, Every now and then Tinder would attempt to strike up another discussion with Minerva, with varying success. Desert was glad that she was at least partially talking to someone else, and Tinder was a kind and polite young dog. It would be very good for Minerva to start really making friends.

At last they began to reach the area where the trees gave way to the meadow. Although its grass was still mainly stiff and brown, it looked like it was finally showing signs of the oncoming spring. The hunters began to spread out, sniffing the air and the ground for signs of prey in the area. The defenders hung back, so as not to interfere with their search but still close enough to act if Wind Pack showed up.

"Now you need to be even more alert," Desert told the trainees. "Don't be fooled by how open it is out here. Wind Pack has several tactical advantages and they can still catch you by surprise. Most of them blend in with the grass, and they've been navigating this territory their whole lives, so even if it seems like it might just be a rustle of the wind, keep an eye on it."

"In case its the other kind of Wind," Tinder said with a twinkle in his eye.

Desert smiled slightly in response. "Yes, in case of that. But no more talk, go back to focusing."

"Can't say I would enjoy hunting out here," Ajax said in a low murmur after several moments had passed. "I feel so exposed."

"If there's food to be found then it doesn't matter," Emma said rather sharply. "We can't afford to be picky right now."

"Maybe so, but if we can't hunt in this territory then we can't hunt in this territory," Ajax insisted. "And if we can't, then pressing for it is pointless."

"Don't doubt our hunters," Emma growled. "They've been successful in catching prey out here before. And no matter what, we have to try. It's either that or starvation."

"Shh," Desert hissed with some irritation. She agreed with Ajax but now was not really the time to argue about it. She had seen some movement in the grass in the distance and was wary of it. "Focus up. We might have company."

Her suspicion was confirmed a mere moment later as four Wind-dogs came rising up out of the grass, charging the hunters. They were barking aggressively but didn't actually attack. "I'll only say this once," snarled the dog in front, a white Smooth Collie. "Leave or we will make you."

Every Night-dog's eyes turned to Desert to see what she would say. "We can't back down," Emma murmured to her. "We should show these Wind-dogs whose territory this is."

"Going once," the collie called again. "Last chance to leave without losing any limbs."

Desert set her jaw and closed her eyes. She could feel Emma's gaze boring into her, and she knew what Draco would say, but she was the one in charge and Minerva had only been training for a few weeks. Besides, the hunters hadn't even reported if there was any prey in this area. "We're leaving," she called back at the Wind-dogs. "Don't get your tails in a knot."

"What?" Emma growled but Desert gave her a warning look. The Cane Corso reluctantly backed down, but suddenly Desert heard a yelp of surprise and turned to see that Samuel had tackled one of the Wind-dogs, a young Border Collie.

"Merciful Siglitun, Samuel, stand down!" Desert shouted, but it was too late. The Wind-dogs instantly sprang to their packmates' defense and Candace and Arrow quickly joined the fray. Before Desert could act further, Emma and Ajax also charged in. Cursing under her breath, Desert ordered the trainees to stay back and ran to join her packmates.

The Smooth Collie came onto her so suddenly that she didn't have a chance to react, and he quickly pinned her to the ground. "Your packmate doesn't possess much self-control," he snarled. "I suppose Night Pack's fabled discipline isn't as great as you claim."

"Then let me discipline him myself," Desert snarled in response. "We can still end this."

"It's too late for that," the collie snapped, and then he lunged but Desert kicked with her hind legs, hitting him in the stomach and causing him to stumble off of her with a low whuff. Desert quickly turned to the greater tangle of Night- and Wind-dogs, diving in to grab Samuel and drag him out. "What in Siglitun's name is wrong with you?" she shouted. "Night Pack, fall back! Retreat!"

Ajax, Arrow, and Candace obeyed, and Emma did as well, but not before landing a vicious bite on the Aidi she was tangling with. Desert sent a last glower at the Smooth Collie, who she might have enjoyed injuring in spite of herself. "Don't get any smart ideas about following us. It won't end well for you."

"Bold words from the one who's running away," replied the collie with a rather infuriatingly smug expression.

"I'm not the one who started this," Desert retorted.

"And you'd better leave before it starts again. You dogs clearly respect your authority."

Desert swallowed the name she was thinking of calling him and turned to leave before Samuel or Emma could do something stupid again. She waited until the entire party was well within the trees to direct her fury at the former.

"Do I need to repeat my question from earlier?" she snapped. "What on earth were you thinking?"

"I smelled deer," Samuel answered without a shred of remorse. "We couldn't afford to give up that territory, like we just did."

"Oh really, you smelled some?" Desert asked with mock-interest. "So maybe you should have listened to what I said, told me after we were safe within our own territory, and then we could mount a planned attack with a fully equipped group that didn't include hunters and trainees! You could have gotten someone killed, you idiot!"

"Back off," Emma growled, coming to her son's side. "You don't know how it would have gone, because you called retreat so quickly. We could have driven them off and taken that territory today."

"And maybe lost a hunter in the process," Ajax interrupted. "You know Desert is right. What Samuel did was stupid and reckless."

Emma opened her mouth to say something and then turned away with a scowl. "You know how those Wind-dogs are," Samuel muttered. "They're going to be laughing at us now, because we ran away."

"Forgive me but I can't be bothered to care what Wind Pack does in their free-time," Desert snapped. "I'm far more concerned with whether or not my packmates are alive. I'm done arguing with both of you. Regardless of anything else, you disobeyed a direct order, Samuel. Draco and Pebble will deal with you."

Samuel finally showed the slightest sign of abashment and neither he nor his mother said anymore. Desert looked over everyone, and thankfully there appeared to be no serious injuries. Finally she turned to the trainees. "Are both of you all right?"

Tinder nodded. "We stayed back, like you said. Although I have seen a battle before. I might have been able to help."

"It should never have started in the first place," Desert said with a shake of her head. 'What matters is that you listened. Sometimes trainees have more sense than fully ranked dogs, surprisingly enough." She looked at Minerva, her gaze softening. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Minerva answered. "I couldn't really tell what was happening at first."

"Well, I'm glad you're safe," Desert said with a slight smile. This would have been Minerva's first battle, and truthfully Desert was glad she got to see it from a distance first. With a shake of her pelt she turned back to the rest of the group and jerked her head in the direction of the clearing. "Let's all get back and tell Draco what happened."