Gannon ordered that Minerva take the day after the Hunter's Moon to rest up, and early the next morning she set out to find where the wolves had encamped. No one knew for certain, but since they were such a large group she doubted it would be too hard to find.

"You don't have to go alone," Gannon said as he walked with her to the entrance. "I don't think they'll attack you, but if you want to be safe..."

"I don't need another dog to deliver a message," Minerva replied. "It would be a waste."

"All right." Gannon halted and gave her a nod. "The last encounter with wolves was in the southwest, near that copse of elm trees. You should still be able to follow their scents back to wherever they came from."

Minerva nodded. Gannon narrowed his eyes at her. "Be careful, okay? Don't take any unnecessary risks. For your mother's sake."

Minerva said nothing in response. Gannon took a step back and gave her a nod. "Good luck."

She returned the nod and took off to the southwest, settling into an easy lope. As always, she preferred it best when she had something she could focus on single-mindedly, without allowing room for any other thoughts. For now, all she had to think about was moving.

She made it to the south-western border, and to the group of trees that Gannon had described. She poked her nose around the roots, picking up the smell of the last patrol of defenders who had come by. Beneath that there was an assortment of other smells, mostly prey animals, but after snuffling around she located the strain of scent she was searching for. So similar to dog-scent, and yet so foreign--wolf.

It took her some time to find a consistent trail, but once she had she followed it as it led her steadily to the west. The trees slowly thinned out the farther one went, until it gave way to open land. It was hilly and dotted with rocks, which made following the trail more difficult, but nothing could dissuade Minerva from her course.

She came to the top of a rise and saw two forms moving in the distance. They appeared to spot her as well. One turned and ran the other direction, while the other threw back its head and howled.

Minerva started walking again. I guess I'm in the right place.

She hadn't gone very far before two wolves came bounding up to meet her. "Not another step, dog," growled one, a red male. "Why are you here?"

"I have a message for your leader," Minerva answered.

"We need no message from you," said the other, a gray female. "You can leave or meet death sooner than your fellows."

They both advanced on her, but suddenly a third wolf came running up. He said something to them in the wolf tongue, which was similar to that of dogs, but much more flowing and melodic. Minerva sometimes thought she could make out a few of the words, but they sounded muddled and strange.

Whatever the third wolf had said, it caused the first two to slowly relax. The male turned to Minerva and jerked his head. "Our chieftain has chosen to speak with you," he said. "It is an honor. Follow us."

They led the way across the hill, descending down into a small valley. Minerva saw dozens of wolves within--the full strength of the wolves, evidently. They were clustered together in several groups, and some had made makeshift nests. Several of them rose as they caught sight of Minerva, bristling while their eyes flashed with hostility. But their fur smoothed over and their tails and ears instantly dropped as Songan came striding up through their midst.

"Welcome," he said, his eyes glimmering as he saw Minerva. "To what do we owe such a pleasure?"

"I've come to deliver a message," Minerva said.

"A message?" Songan tilted his head. "Have the dog chieftains changed their minds?"

"No. They want a battle, between all of your wolves and all of our dogs. Whoever wins keeps the territories."

Songan raised his eyebrows. "That is a bold proposition. Do they understand the costs?"

"They've considered it."

Songan smiled slightly and then stepped to the side, beckoning Minerva with his head. "Come walk with me, will you not?"

Minerva blinked, slightly surprised. "I just came to deliver a message. All I need is your answer."

"And you will have it," Songan said. "But for now, I consider you my guest. Please."

Minerva huffed slightly and reluctantly took a step forward after him. As long as she was here, it was probably best to humor him.

Songan moved leisurely, leading the way through the dense crowd of wolves. "We were eight packs once," he said in his soft, musical voice. It was almost strange to hear it coming out of such a battle-scarred body. "Living in the woods, in the valley, by the water. Our land was beautiful, do you know? Our ancestors had dwelt there for generations beyond count. But a terrible, terrible famine came, followed by a cruel plague. Wolves died like they were insects. We all lost our hope."

Minerva slowly nodded. "I know what that's like."

Songan gave her a slightly surprised look. "Do you? Then you know what desperation is as well. I had recently replaced my father as chieftain of my pack. I saw that the chieftains of the other packs were weak and incapable, but it seemed I was powerless. Then I received a revelation, from Howahkan himself."

"Howahkan?"

"Yes. Our great sky-father, who established us generations ago. You could not know him."

Minerva said nothing, deciding not to mention Siglitun to this wolf. She doubted Songan knew anything about him, and even if he did, he probably wouldn't care.

"He showed me the way," Songan continued. "How to save my brethren from death. He led me here."

"To take our lands?" Minerva looked at him skeptically. "You seem very confident."

"I am." He leaned closer to her, smiling slightly again. "That is what you dogs do not understand. I have been divinely guided. I cannot lose."

Minerva simply returned his gaze steadily. He chuckled. "You speak of my confidence, but I see no fear in your eyes. Wherefore? How can you be so sure you are not walking to your deaths?"

"We may be. But we'd rather walk to our death than run from you."

He smirked. "Perhaps there is honor in that, even if it is foolish." He paused and then gestured towards the wolves surrounding them. "You see all of them? I say again that I know Howahkan is with me. But it matters little what I believe. They believe it. And they would follow me into deaths most horrific."

His voice dropped into an even softer whisper as he finished the sentence and his eyes flickered back and forth as though he was searching Minerva's face for a reaction. She gave him none.

He smiled again. "You are not afraid. I am impressed. But will you not fear? Will you not fear when we strike down all of your fellows? When they suffer and bleed and die because they could have run?"

He was trying to provoke a reaction again, and Minerva still refused to give him the pleasure. "I fight for my pack," she said. "I gave up on things like 'fear' a long time ago."

Songan stared at her for a few more moments and then stepped back, shaking his head with the expression of one who had given up trying to talk sense into an unreasonable pup. "Very well. You came here to make an offer of battle. It is an offer I accept. But where is the battlefield?"

Minerva briefly realized that Gannon and the other alphas had never decided on such a place. She considered her options and quickly improvised. "There's a meadow. You killed a dog there a few weeks ago. The packs will meet you there."

"Open and beneath the gaze of Howahkan," Songan said. "A good place. When?"

"When the moon is three quarters full," Minerva answered, improvising again. "That gives both sides time to prepare."

"Oh, we are prepared." Songan's golden eyes glittered. "But we shall grant you the time all the same. Perhaps you may yet reconsider." He dipped his head slightly. "It was a pleasure, she-dog. May Howahkan will that our paths cross again."

Minerva said nothing in response, fully aware that he had essentially just said he wanted to kill her. Songan summoned the two wolves from before and they escorted her out of the valley. The sun was now setting and she would probably have to spend the night out in the wilds.

She could feel the wolves' eyes watching her as she set back towards her own territory, but she paid them no mind, once again clearing herself of all thoughts and focusing solely on her journey. Whatever horrific deaths Songan had in mind, she still was not afraid.