You have a chance here, Djallma. If you are able to pass the tests to enter the Veran initiate now, at only 21 summers, or even in the next two years, then you will almost certainly become one of High Veran Salmar’s apprentices. For that, you simply must put aside your idealistic approach to the conflicts between the Veratocracy and our enemies. Of your age, you are the most accomplished Wavespeaker and Earthspeaker I’ve ever heard of, and though the family might prefer that you marry that Lihle disappointment, I think you stand the best chance among any of the branches to step into the Synod.

In my limited time associating with the High Families and some of the Synod, I can see you succeeding beyond belief there. Just… stop talking about your progressive ideas. You don’t even need to stop thinking them! Just don’t talk about them for now. Then, you can make the changes you want to see in the country. You might even find more supporters of your ideas than you’d think within the Synod and High Families.

-Letter from Speaker Tariel Nahr to his younger sister Djallma

The pack, under my leadership, made our way down the tunnels towards Redael’s personal den. With each step deeper and lower into the den, the more I hated it. I hated being underground, hiding from the sky and my foes. I hated that I had been summoned against my own will. I hated that I still had to submit myself to this weakling. I hated that I was not yet strong enough. Every step reminded me of the pent-up frustrations and anger within me, until I was a barely contained simmering pot of rage. Finally, as we turned the final steps towards Redael’s den, my anger had built to a head and I was only barely keeping myself from stomping down the path.

With my final steps, walking into the final confrontation, the location where I would lay Redael low, I felt the less-than-gentle tug of Sybil and Shemira’s magics on my mind. Immediately, I whirled towards them, but again they flared their influence, and I could calm myself enough to bite a part of my tongue hard enough to bleed. The pain brought me clarity, and after a deep breath and conscious relaxation, I looked at Sybil and Shemira both.

“We’re not ready for that. Not yet. We need more support from the rest of the swarm.”

As if she hadn’t thought of as much herself, Sybil bowed her head, “As you command, Alpha.” Shemira simply bowed her head as well and I fought to control myself further. They were supporting me, my greatest strength beyond my own, and I needed to remember that beyond the anger that simmered within me. To be more calculating. The calculations knew I wasn’t ready to take over the whole swarm yet. Close, but not yet.

I continued to walk forward, and before I could continue to convince myself, I noted the [System] notification that I had come to associate with Redael’s presence.

[Absolute Dominance skill is being exerted on you. Due to your System advantages, possession of the Dominance Skill, and higher evolutionary tier, the effects are nullified.]

The notification was different–no longer did [Absolute Dominance] have any influence over me, and, beyond that, the [System] stated now that I was of a higher tier than Redael. All that remained before me was to solidify my connections and support from the rest of the swarm, and my plans could continue. I’d need to have solid control over the swarm before I led them all in a mass exodus.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

My pack did not have the same benefits as me, and I could feel as much as I saw the stiffening shoulders, lifting lips, and twitching tails. I forced myself to stand tall, looming over most of my pack, and I could feel them be bolstered by my presence and confidence. Redael didn’t leave us to wait for him long, and just as soon as the last of the pack shuffled into the space, Redael came out to look at us.

I knew that I was taller, larger, and more imposing than him, but either from [Skills] or his sheer charisma of being accustomed to being in charge, Redael felt larger than me. I might have loomed over my pack, but he towered. After looking across my pack, Redael levelled his gaze at me. I could feel something in him, something about how he apprised me with his eyes, but he felt something as he looked at me. After looking me up and down for a quarter of a minute, Redael spoke.

“You all have reached adulthood now. That is something… praiseworthy, I suppose.” Arrogance and a sense of superiority dripped from his words as he continued, “Your position as the youngest of the swarm, the weakest, is no more. Now that you have joined the swarm as equals, you will have certain expectations laid upon you. The first of which will be to care for the newest brood. They’ll be hatching before too long, so you will be in charge of watching, protecting, and guiding them for the first days of their lives.

“You will occasionally receive commands from me through your Alpha.” As he continued, Redael’s usual thinly veiled desire for violence spiked in intensity, and I could feel that he was flaring the influence of [Absolute Dominance]. “You will obey, or you will die. Anyone who does not follow the swarm is not of the swarm, and will be treated as such.” Though he said nothing more, none of my pack stirred as Redael let the silence settle over us. His arrogance and strength in equal parts silenced me, and I forced down my frustration with my necessary silence and acceptance. Beyond my frustration, though, I appreciated Redael’s authority, and recognized his leadership.

“That’s all. Veldra here will show you to where the newest brood will hatch. Ashlani, stay with me for now, I have something to tell you.”

With Redael’s direct dismissal, I was proud to see my pack look at me for the true go-ahead. I nodded, and with Took in the lead, my pack stepped to follow Veldra, this male I’d never seen before. Once they had all left, Redael looked up at me, sizing me up. After most of a minute looking at me, Redael nodded, and didn’t acknowledge it any further.

“This pack of yours is loyal.”

“As they should be.”

“True enough.” Redael looked up at me, and though I was most of a foot taller than him, I couldn’t feel like I was looking down on him. “I meant what I said. You or one of yours goes directly against me, and you or they die. Don’t forget it, even if you think you’re the next Swarm Alpha. You. Are. Not. Yet.” When some people get angry, they raise their voices, and scream and yell. They tire themselves in their dramatics and performance. Others grow still and calculating, their rage a chill blade that they leverage to pierce deep and wound permanently.

Redael’s barely restrained anger was the embodiment of permafrost, a chilling emotion that hurt anyone who approached, much less those who were the recipient of it. I fought against my natural desire to fight back, and was able to keep myself from lunging at him, instead simply responding, “No, not yet.”

With the way his bearing changed, I wondered if Redael would throw himself at me, but after a second to collect himself, Redael shook his head and chuckled under his breath before continuing with something that caused my emotions to spike, in which way, I didn’t know. “There’s something out there, different from everything else we’ve run into. We’ve lost three packs, entire packs, to them, and we still don’t know where or what they are. The brood is on the far side of our territory from where the packs have gone missing, so you should be fine, but keep an eye out. Don’t drag anything back to the den, carry it. Leave no tracks.”

I could guarantee it. Humans were close. And they knew we were here.