Initiative

She followed Speck, Sway, and Swirl into the range with warm pools of steaming water. They landed, slipped into the bubbling water, swam for a while to enjoy the soothing heat, and climbed out, shaking themselves dry before resting on warm mosses.

Speck faced her, looking curious, "Skadi, I heard from the Far-Flier-Helpers that you were telling them stories about two-legs and the above."

"I was. They were asking questions about my life-flight."

"We have to watch for packmates asking too many questions or wondering about the beyond. None can be allowed to… disturb the pack," Swirl said.

She huffed, "Do not fear. First-Hunter was there to listen. He made sure none of the pack-rules were broken. How much do you three know about two-legs?"

Speck shrugged, "Very little. None of us have seen them. All we know is what they have been described as, and what Alpha and our other kin have told us."

Swirl spoke up, "And the dark wing Alphas call the two-legs, get this, ground-kin!"

Ground-kin? Two-legs were not kin at all! Why would they call those things a type of kin?

"What? Why do they say that?" she growled.

Swirl grumbled before answering, "All we know is they think two-legs have life-fires and strong-thinking like we do."

Two-legs and kin were entirely different groups, different packs of life. Having similar life-fire and strong-thinking did not change anything, even if true!

Different packs do not mix or share life-flights. Letting other light wings hear about two-legs as a type of kin was unacceptable! No, kin needed to think of themselves and two-legs as completely different groups.

What was the best way to ensure everyone thought correctly?

Use only words which emphasize the differences in the groups, make all light wings see themselves as part of one group which is opposed to two-legs, and let the different identities push the kinds apart as they should be. Pushing the kin and two-legs apart would make the light wings rightly not trust any two-legs they might meet. Do not let each group take or learn anything from the other kind.

Best of all, telling other light wings the truth that their group is opposed to the group of two-legs would put her in something like a power-place too. She would be like a protector, flight-leader, or Alpha for the light wings she would be protecting. Helping the light wings and other kin would help her get more power and do what was good and necessary. They would have need of her.

She growled again, "Two-legs are not a kind of kin, not even in the liver or life-fire! Of all kin in your pack, I should know. Have you heard what happened to me?"

Sway softly warbled, "Only a little of what Alpha and First-Knower told us, which is not much. What happened?"

They listened attentively as she told them about how she was trapped, thralled, starved, and injured by two-legs above. They each offered sympathies after she finished her account, but none of them appeared greatly moved or concerned.

She doubted that they were convinced of the urgency to act. Much like the Alpha, they appeared mostly concerned with the stability of the pack and their own status in it.

While frustrating, their lack of concern was not a great obstacle. Instead, it was enough that they might express a little more distrust about two-legs to Alpha. Their influence, combined with her own, would help push him to act.

She had a new strategy of helping others see the truth. Reminding others to think in groups which were opposed to each other was probably the best way to convince them. They had to know who they were, their own identity as a group, before they could be ready to act. Further, it was a simple truth that for one group to gain means another group loses.

'What are you doing?'

She spun around and glared at the mass of darkness in the cave-den's shadows. Once again, that hide-tingling feeling of bugs crawling over her was proof she was not alone.

"You again?"

Nameless stretched wide its wings of shadow until they touched the walls of the cave-den. Nameless' eyes were filled with a terrible light. Was there a constant whispering, almost like countless voices were hissing and speaking as one?

'We are always here with you, if you have eyes to see. Look at you, wasting our time.'

"I am not. This is working. It takes time to convince others," she objected.

'You are still blind to what you could be. What we could be.'

"What do you mean? What am I blind to, if anything?"

'You cling to rules and hopes and good and bad even after you heard the truth. The will is true strength over yourself and others.'

Better embracing her own will and acting on it would bring greater strength, resilience, and results. That was all likely true.

'We know far more than you could have ever lived on your own. You are being blind to how powerful we are, together.'

"What?" she growled, confused.

'Tricking and manipulating others with words is not true strength of will. There is another, much better way. Will you embrace us?'

"Why should I need your help? I am strong enough. I know what I am doing!"

'No. You are not strong enough on your own.'

She got to her paws and faced Nameless as her frustration bubbled over, "Just leave me alone! I do not even know what you are. You have done nothing for me."

'We cannot give you any strength unless you will it, though you are listening better than you know.'

Nameless faded into the shadows. She flamed at the darkness to make sure Nameless was gone, which it was.

The shadow-kin's twisted words were tail-twisting and liver-chilling. What was Nameless actually doing? What even was it? What was a part of someone's life-fire and which told them what they should or should not do?

She rumbled in amusement when an explanation burned to life after much thought.

It was likely that Nameless was her good-bad inside-voice: the conscience. That inside-voice was an obstacle which tried to prevent her from doing what was necessary. Yes, not only was her conscience trying to obstruct her, but now it was also trying to make her doubt her own strength through direct persuasion.

Ignoring that inside-voice was entirely necessary if it sought to prevent her from achieving necessary goals for the greater good.

She yawned and got to her paws to meet whoever had just arrived. Unsurprisingly, it was Alpha.

He strolled into her cave-den, but he was upset about something, grumbling to himself while pacing.

"Alpha, how are you?" she asked.

He grumbled as he sat down, "Not pleased with those Far-Fliers or their pack."

"Which pack? Did you just get back from meeting them?"

"Fire-Lake-Pack. You have not met them. They made an unacceptable offer, but you should not be worried about it. They are my problem."

She had not heard about that Fire-Lake-Pack. Perhaps it was far away and only rarely interacted with this nameless pack. He was keeping secrets, unsurprisingly.

"Hopefully you can deal with them as they deserve. What is your visit for?" she asked.

He shrugged, "I heard from the Firsts and my mates that you were talking to them about the two-legs. What was that about?"

"I wanted to know what they thought about two-legs, if they knew anything. They also needed to hear my story," she explained.

He huffed, "Do not worry about the beyond. I will make sure we are all kept safe. You worry too much of the danger."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the two-legs have been in that shared-range for several life-making cycles. They have not done us any bad in all that time."

She grumbled, "Have they not? They were already using dark wings as Far-Fliers to go to other ranges. Why would they do that? Do you have any idea?"

"Why do you care so much about them?" he asked after getting up to pace.

"I already told you. They are dangerous to all kin. They wronged me in many ways, as you know!" she growled.

"Maybe so, but they have not threatened my pack."

He sat down beside her and started stroking her tail, probably to trick her into wanting to be with him.

"So two-legs thralled you and hurt you in the past. Just live for now. Be happy here," he whispered.

It was easy for him to just say she should pretend the past never happened. Forgetting all those terrible waking-cycles was not possible. Further, how twisted was he to think that his weak display of interest could spark any interest of hers?

She stepped away from him, "You do not understand. I touched life-fires with one of their Alphas. I learned how tricky they are and how they use thralled-kin! They will not stop."

He grumbled, "And me leading my pack into fighting with two Alpha dark wings and their kin would be wrong. They have dark-lights and other kin in their pack too! Fighting against that pack would end in many of mine dead. They have caused enough problems for me already."

She glared at him, "I could have escaped the two-legs and left the other kin thralled up there, but I chose to stay so I could help save the other kin. I think about more than myself and my own status. The two-legs will threaten you and your pack eventually."

He shrugged, "Then I will act when I clearly see the danger. If I need to threaten the dark wings again, I will do so without delay. That I promise."

"You will threaten them again? What happened before?"

He huffed, "I flew to that range after I learned that the lost Helper was tricked and taken by the dark wings. I let the dark wings know never to threaten my pack again. They understood."

Good of him. At least he could be persuaded to act when he saw the threat for what it was.

"It would be better for you if you not think about all the ranges beyond. Those are not your place."

Not her place? What did he know of her place, and why did he think he could tell her what her place was?

Wait a wingbeat!

She chuckled, "First, I am like my sire, so I must think about all the ranges of kin. I cannot help but think about them. Second, I am not a Helper you can order around."

They glared at each other until he blinked, "Sorry about that. You are correct. I cannot make you obey me, but I am concerned for you."

"I can take care of myself."

He got to his paws and stretched, "I will consider doing more, like having more Far-Fliers watching from outside the dark wings' shared-range. But I do not want to cause any fighting."

"I understand. Neither do I," she relented.

He spun around, dashed out the cave-mouth, and took flight for his ledge. Once he was gone, she started pacing, lashing her tail and grumbling out of frustration with how unconcerned he was about the danger beyond.

What if everyone just sat around on their waste-ends and waited for others to act? No one would ever act in that case. Better to act against the two-legs while they were still all in one place.

Alpha clearly did not want to involve himself or his pack, all because he was afraid. He was afraid of loss, either of his packmates or his own status. He did not understand the danger.

The pack needed an Alpha who was willing to stand up for them, fight for their good, and-

The pack already had several pack-role leaders and customs which would not allow a female to lead them, even if her being a mixed-kin was not a problem.

The packless light wings, while having customs she preferred in many ways, did not have a single Alpha they all bent their wings to. Rather, each family-group was like a pack of its own which made pack-peace with other family-groups to respect territory and boundaries. That made it more difficult to lead them or command them. They were not a good option. Neither was the other light wing pack she had heard mentioned, since that pack was much farther away and apparently just as solitary as this one. The free dark wings similarly did not want to act, preferring to stay on their own. The other kinds of kin could perhaps be led, but they were not as dangerous as a pack of mostly dark wings or light wings.

No other pack could be useful against the two-legs or had any dealings with that fouled range, as far as she knew. It had to be this one.

Alpha had acted in the past and somehow warned the dark wings to not threaten his pack. He was willing to act if there was an actual threat. Clear-thinking arguments and pointing out reasons to act did not appear to be convincing him. How to get through to him and make him see the need to act?

He was clearly still interested in her as a possible mate. Being with him for fun might push him to act, but that option was completely unacceptable.

The dark wings threatened his pack by taking or tricking a Helper to leave with them. Alpha would act if the dark wings threatened his pack again, or if he thought the dark wings would threaten his pack. The dark wings competing for food or occasionally flaming at packmates beyond was apparently not enough provocation.

The two-legs could only live in that fouled range because they were growing plants and prey-animals for food. That much was certain from what Far-Fliers had related of what they had seen. All it would take to make life impossible for two-legs in that range would be for sneaky kin, such as a couple faded light wings, to fly into that range and kill the prey-animals. Doing that would force the two-legs to leave or starve. The two-legs might have to leave these ranges peacefully without any actual fighting. The dark wings might be a problem, but that plan had a chance of working.

Further, if anything went wrong, if the light wings were killed or captured, that might provoke the dark wings to attack or threaten this pack in retaliation. Them threatening Alpha could be just the push he needed to see the danger of two-legs and the dark wings and respond with force.

Provoking and agitating for an incident could spark the action which was needed. She would never need to show that she was behind it. Staying hidden would let her keep her place of influence if anything went very wrong.

There had to be a way to make sure no one, not even the light wings that would fly to attack, could point a paw at her as being the one who planned the incident. Further, she needed to find a light wing or pair of light wings, certainly Fighters or Far-Fliers, who would be willing to do this or simple enough in their thoughts that they could be tricked into doing it for their own good.

Yes.

She spun around and stared at the shadows, suddenly feeling as though she was not alone. Had a shadow whispered approvingly? Did someone say they agreed with the plan?

"Are you there?" she hissed.

Nameless did not answer or speak up.

She rested outside the Fighters' ledge, waiting for more of them to return or become available.

The plan had flown together. First, she had to find males which were ambitious, slightly willful, gullible, and not smart. She could tell them that she overheard someone else mention that Alpha was looking for a pair of brave packmates to do something about the two-legs in a fouled range. Specifically, he wanted them to kill the prey-animals while ignoring all the kin and two-legs. The first two packmates who volunteered and did this would get more status and rise in their pack-role. But no one had yet been brave enough to volunteer.

Then she would ask if the two of them were going to do that. The right questions and suggestions could easily get them to stay silent, so as to not let anyone else know about the mission and do it before anyone else could claim the status instead. The male light wings' greed and wants would do the rest.

And if they were to subsequently accuse her, she could deny asking them to do anything. Instead, she just overheard whispering from somewhere else, and asked them if they heard anything about the rumor. If they chose to act on their own without any orders, it was not her problem.

She even thought of a possible original source of the rumor, though using that would be far more difficult and risky, since it would require more trickery.

Several Fighters returned, but none of them had the ideal combination of traits. They could not be blindly loyal, suspicious, or content.

Two of the Fighters who it seemed were like friends returned, so she hopped to her paws and went to them.

Sixth and... Fourth?

"Skadi, how are you?" Sixth-Fighter asked, yawning.

"I am well. You both?"

"Not too bad. We got back from long flights outside our pack's territory," Sixth-Fighter answered.

Fourth-Fighter yawned, "Now to meet a few of our favorite Helpers, and then get some sleep. We have several waking-cycles ahead with few duties!"

That was perfect. These two having time they would not be missed would help if they took action. They were both strong enough, but she was unsure if they would be willing to act.

She stepped closer to them and whispered, "Before you go, did you hear the rumor?"

"What rumor?" Fourth-Fighter softly hissed.

"I heard that Alpha is worried about the rotted range of two-legs. Are you?"

Fourth-Fighter shrugged, "Not too much, but this one does not know much about them."

Sixth-Fighter huffed, "Same here. This one only saw the dark wings there one time, though that was fun to watch! Alpha showed them!"

Gently touching their life-fires revealed what she hoped to feel there: a mix of amusement and pleasure. They were glad that they had an Alpha who was strong and willing to fight for them when provoked to do so. Further, they did not seem like the smartest light wings, though they were strong and ambitious enough to want to act.

"Well, he is worried that the two-legs will threaten your pack. The rumor is that the first two packmates who fly to that pack and force the two-legs to leave, maybe by killing their prey-animals, will get more status and rise in their pack-role as a reward, especially since only the best could strike in that pack's territory."

'Yes! This is a very good opportunity! Unless someone else already did it-'

As she expected, both Fourth-Fighter and Sixth-Fighter leaned closer after quickly looking around. No one else was in hearing.

"Has anyone flown there yet?" Fourth-Fighter hissed.

He had fallen for her trick. He heard her thought-voice and thought it was his own. Everyone always wanted to benefit themselves.

She shrugged after a few wingbeats of apparent thought, "Others were talking about it, but no one was brave enough to do it, as far as I know."

Fourth-Fighter grumbled after glancing at Sixth-Fighter, "If we were to fly there, would you tell anyone?"

"No, of course not. Think about it, you get to rise in your pack-role, and this helps keep your pack safer. Alpha would approve of it, I am certain," she answered.

Sixth-Fighter purred, "We should tell him that we will fly!"

She started, briefly alarmed before recovering herself, "You could do that, or you could fly first and give him a surprise after it is done. It might be best if you keep this a secret so no one else flies first or competes with you."

Fourth-Fighter snorted, "Good point. We will sneak out on our own."

She purred, "I can tell First-Fighter and anyone else that you heard about a danger, if they ask about you."

Fourth-Fighter shrugged, "That would help."

"One more detail if you go. Alpha probably would not want to let the dark wings know this pack is responsible. No need for questions and tensions, obviously, if anything goes wrong," she added.

"We understand. You have our thanks," Sixth-Fighter purred.

Together, the two males strolled into the cave to get their rest before flying for the fouled range. She left them and flew for her cave-den.

The plan was now in flight. Either they would succeed and make the two-legs want to leave, or they would fail and be stopped, either captured or killed. Either of those two last possibilities would make the dark wings want to strike back at the pack, forcing Alpha to finally act.

She lay on the edge of her cave, staring aimlessly into the distance while letting her thoughts wander.

Fourth-Fighter and Sixth-Fighter had been gone for a pawful of waking-cycles. In that time she had helped catch fish, spoken with more packmates about the dangers of the two-legs, listened to reports from all the Far-Fliers who knew anything at all about the fouled-range, and had dropped hints of rumors about a secret flight to threaten the dangerous pack of rotted kin and two-legs.

With any luck, the rumors would reach enough ears and be repeated enough times that they could not be followed back to her. She had another plan for if someone, such as Alpha, learned the rumors started with her, which was very unlikely.

Unsettled at the possibility of news this waking-cycle, she flew to the hunting ranges to keep herself busy. Being deep underwater and away from the light wings was always calming, not having to worry about problems involving all the ranges, packs with twisted ceremonies, and Alphas who refused to see obvious threats or just did not care.

Her fish pile was just over ten when a Far-Flier arrived and sought her out by the shore.

"Fast swims and good hunts, Skadi," Third-Far-Flier said in greeting.

"Warm flights, Third-Far-Flier. What is it?" she asked.

"Alpha wants to speak to you soon in his range."

Perhaps something had happened after all. It was entirely possible that Alpha had just been greeted by Fourth-Fighter and Sixth-Fighter, now expecting their reward.

She bent her head to him to dismiss him, called over a known Hunter to distribute her catch, and took flight. There were no signs of a large flight of Fighters preparing for combat. Everything appeared normal.

Finally at Alpha's range, she found him upon his preferred light-rock. He was alone except for one of his guards in the distance. She landed and strolled to him.

"Warm waking-cycle Alpha, you wanted to speak to me."

He hopped down from the light-rock and walked beside her, "Yes, I have a question for you. Have you actually seen the range of dark wings and two-legs?"

She blinked and stepped back, confused, "What? What do you mean?"

"Unless I am wrong, you returned from the above with other kin, found my pack's Far-Flier, and flew straight to us. Yes?"

"I did."

He continued, "In all the time the two-legs have been there they have not done anything bad to us. The dark wings are a different matter, as you know, but I am not sure if the two-legs are at all bad."

She grumbled, looking away from him, "You have had Far-Fliers fly in that range. They must have told you what they saw."

"They did."

"Did they see two-legs destroying forests and changing the range? Did the two-legs make false-dens?"

"Yes."

"Do the two-legs make kin work for them: digging up ground, carrying rocks, or other work?"

He hesitated before answering, "The kin did look like they were working for two-legs."

She hissed, "Did those kin have carrying-things on their backs? Were the two-legs using the kin as their own wings?"

He grumbled, "There are… sitting-on things the two-legs put on kin."

That was all as she knew it would be. Those two-legs were no different from the ones above. They were all in the same guilty group. There was no need to go there herself to confirm on her own what she already knew was true.

She directly faced him, "That is what I saw with the trapping, thrall-making two-legs above. Do you now see the danger?"

"I do not understand why the dark wings would keep anything that dangerous, if they truly are what you say," he said.

He had not answered her question. Maybe he was onto a valid point. The problem could very well be the dark wings, somehow. Could they be working with the two-legs to thrall other kin, or were the dark wings themselves thralled and thought-rotted?

"Who knows their reasons?" she huffed.

He smirked, "I doubt the dark wings will threaten me again. Anyway, you are still being twisted and worrying too much about the beyond. You will be warmer if you do not worry about all the ranges."

She did not agree with him on that, but there was no reason to openly disagree, not when disagreement would not help at all. He was being very frustrating.

"At least the dark wings are leaving your pack alone. Are the rumors true?" she asked.

"What rumors?"

"I heard rumors that a Fighter or two could get your favor if they forced the two-legs to leave. It did not sound like something you would want."

He started pacing, not looking at her as he grumbled, "I never ordered anything like that! This explains where those two went. They probably flew there because of the stories you have been telling everyone. This is your fault!"

She hissed, "It is not my fault the stories are true. I always reminded your packmates that they should stay here and trust you to make the decisions for the pack. If two of your Fighters flew off on their own, that is because they did not obey you or they thought too much of themselves. Not my problem. They would need to be disciplined."

He stopped pacing and stared off the ledge without saying anything for a long time. A cautious touch of his life-fire showed his frustration, anger, and confusion.

He finally faced her again, "Discipline might be lacking among the Fighters. I wonder if my son is being firm enough with them. When did you first hear this rumor?"

He apparently did not completely trust his son, First-Fighter, in that pack-role. Perhaps that could be used to her advantage somehow.

"Four… five waking-cycles ago. The whispering could have started before then. Sorry about not telling you earlier. I did not think anything of it at the time."

"No worries. I forgive you. This is concerning news. If they provoke the dark wings-"

She interrupted, "You should have nothing to fear. Your pack is strong enough to resist them."

He stepped away and stretched his wings, "Hopefully. I need to do something about these rumors."

She perked up, "Let me help with that. I can try to find where the rumors started, since I can do that better than anyone else."

"Please do."

He jumped from the ledge and flew off. She purred to herself after his departure. The plan was flying smoothly so far. There was little more to do except wait. Further, what he revealed gave her another possible way to deflect any suspicion.

"Pack! We must speak!" Alpha roared from atop his rock in the part of the living-range where the pack held group meetings.

She sat beside four of his mates and looked around at what had to be almost all the pack except for a few Fighters as guards. Even the young fledglings were present. It was not common that so many of the pack gathered for a ceremony.

All the conversation and muttering died away as everyone looked to him. Alpha had his Firsts and a couple Fighters sitting around his rock.

All was silent.

Alpha broke the silence after glaring over everyone, "Pack, I have heard that twisted rumors are flying among us! Some of you are talking about the beyond and the two-legs out there! This is not good! I will always keep you safe! The pack will keep you safe! It is not your place to fear the beyond or think about it! You should trust in the pack!"

"Yes!" "Great Alpha!" "We do!" "Always!" "For the pack!"

Curious, she closed her eyes and felt the life-fires of as many packmates as she could, trying to learn how many of them were only pretending. It was very difficult to feel many life-fires at once and differentiate them, probably like it would be to listen to an entire pack with everyone speaking at once.

But beneath all the confusion was a mix of simple-minded devotion to the pack, defiance at rules they hated and had to live with, loathing of the pack's leadership that controlled them, fear of everyone around them as none could be trusted, and apathy toward their life itself.

Many of the light wings, though there was no way to know how many, were secretly defying the pack's ceremonies, hated the rules and leaders they had to live under, and were afraid of their fellow packmates. That last one was easily the worst, since it prevented any type of change from growing. Only the Hunters and their Helpers, or the Far-Fliers and their Helpers who were secret pairs could trust each other.

Alpha roared, silencing the approving roaring, "I and my kin will lead you! Only we can keep you safe against the rotted dangers beyond! You do not need to fear the two-legs or the dark wings. Talking about them will only make fear grow among us. Fear will break the peace we all enjoy. Because of that, we now have a new pack-rule!"

He paused for effect before continuing, "From now on, the words 'two-leg' or 'two-legs' are wrong-words which are not pack-correct! Hearing those words can make your packmates feel fear and discomfort! There will be no more talking about the two-legs or their ranges beyond. Watch each other and let me or the Firsts know if you hear anyone using these wrong-words. Anyone who breaks this rule will lose status in their pack-role and need to be disciplined! Those who bring news of other's wrongs will be rewarded! We must do this together, my fellow packmates, to keep us safe from fear and rotted thought! For the pack!"

"For the pack!" they roared.

Everyone dispersed after the end of the ceremony. She flew back to her cave-den while considering what he had done. Prohibiting any talking about two-legs was a problem and an obstacle, since it was not as easy for her to inform others about the real dangers. She could not openly speak to groups of packmates about two-legs.

But he thought he had to take action to keep his control over the pack. That opened up new possibilities. There had to be ways to get around this new pack-rule. The light wings would probably just use other words or ways of describing two-legs.

Further, making that word not pack-correct would probably make packmates more curious about it. Banning others from talking about a topic would only make them wonder what was being hidden.

Far from being an obstacle, this actually was an opportunity. All she had to do was listen for anyone breaking this new rule. Anyone who still talked about two-legs or asked questions about them or the strange new life beyond was a potential ally if this pack had to be completely changed, which was looking more and more likely.

And there was still the inevitable provocation from the two Fighters who had flown to the rotted range. Either they would succeed or, more likely, fail in their mission. Success would drive the two-legs out of the kin-ranges forever out of necessity. Failure would provoke an incident which Alpha would have no choice but to respond to.

Author's Note – Future chapters will remain slow in posting as more has come up for me in real life.