It looked like Snake Ink wasn't going to make good on his threat to feed any jaguars. The smallest child in the group would refuse to walk until her older sister tried to pick her up, but she would kick and scream until left alone. Snake Ink stomped up to her and demanded that she keep walking but she only increased the intensity of her wails. She ignored his fierce looks and when he realized he wouldn't make any progress with her he picked her up and carried her. Immediately she quieted down and enjoyed a victory nap. He looked down at her little face on his shoulder and wondered how something so small could be so defiant.

It took his thoughts back to Zero Wolf. If Zero Wolf wasn't too preoccupied with mourning his son's death to overlook Snake Ink he was a dead man himself. If he successfully sold the children he could hire mercenaries to fend off any attackers that Zero Wolf might send. Not returning to the city wasn't an option. The warrior society made no obeisance to cowards.