“I don’t imagine you simply left the creature to die for no reason.” I said, tilting my head to look at the contorted body.

“Of course not.” Vefir’s tone was slightly offended. “After I began to heal it, though, I quickly realized that there was something more than just the wounds to its flesh. The magic of those monsters continued to destroy the poor thing long after its jaws finished piercing its flesh.”

“Was it venomous, then?”

“I don’t think so. Though I don’t have much experience with anything venomous or poisonous, this toxin seemed to be more magical in origin than mundane. It mostly served to destroy the heart and lungs, though it spread to most of the rest of the hyena’s organs before it died.”

“Do you think you could have destroyed, healed, or otherwise overcome this toxin?”

“Perhaps.” Vefir’s tail whipped back and forth in an irritated pattern. “It simply wasn’t worth it for me to exhaust myself for one insignificant member of our herds when I could soon be called on to heal one of the true members of the swarm.”

I flared my frills in agreement. “And do you think that, if you or Shemira were suffering in this same way, you could overcome it?”

“I am the peak that casts the long shadow. A mere beast that hides in the shadow I cast thinks a brief bite could overcome the whole of my power?” He scoffed and flicked his tail in dismissal.

“Very well. See if the rest of your healers would be able to assist as well, should we run into these creatures again.”

“Of course, Alpha.” Vefir bowed and turned and began speaking with Etra and Sakkit while I turned away to watch the swarm’s reaction. My almost carefree reaction to the creatures’ appearance and disappearance seemed to mollify and calm the vast majority of my subordinates. At least, the least intelligent. The hundreds of keelish had quickly resumed life as usual, and the herds, long since accustomed to dwelling among creatures that instinctually terrified them, also returned to slowly plodding along in the general direction the Kou’Tal directed them.

Maybe half of the khatif seemed to blindly agree with my statement, while the oldest, strongest, and most intelligent of the swarm pretty obviously understood my posturing for what it was. Sybil came up to me and waited until I was out of earshot for any possible eavesdroppers.

“We are at the opportune time to find and hunt those beasts, Alpha.” Her voice was measured and calm, though severe.

“Yeah, if it was evening, I’m sure they would be lurking right nearby, waiting for the suns to set.”

“Then should you not organize a pack to locate and slay the monsters?”

“No, not right now.” I clacked my fangs both in frustration and denial. “Silf was right when he said that pursuing them is immensely dangerous. After Vefir’s words, it’s doubly so, since even a single bite could mean death. They simply aren’t our priority, Nievtra is. That is what offers evolution to us, and, if necessary, I would imagine that we can simply, if not easily, thwart the shadow beasts’ approaches. They don’t seem to be especially intelligent, though they’re working together.”

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“Why do you think they are unintelligent? They seized on an opportunity to hunt when it was presented to them and retreated when shown the possibility of finding too strong of a resistance. Everything they have done seems to communicate greater intelligence than the weakest of our kind.”

“That isn’t much of a qualifier for intelligence.” I retorted, remembering the lethargy that’d plagued my mind for several evolutions. “But my main point is that a more intelligent creature would have waited, stalked, and prepared for longer. Maybe these shadow monsters are more intelligent than I’m giving them credit for, but if they are, then they’re too accustomed to a virtually untested reign over these lands. We’ll respect their strength, but we won’t fear them as prey.”

“Understood, Alpha. Shall I call Solia and Hala for you?”

I grinned widely and nuzzled at Sybil’s neck. With a tender nip at the soft flesh above her collarbone, I chuckled. “Yes, of course. You read my mind.”

“No magic necessary, Alpha. Merely wisdom and experience.” Her voice paused and inflected experience in a way that again made me chuckle. Before I could retort, she continued walking and whistled three distinct notes. Two seemingly unimportant Kha’Tal stepped out of their packs and towards Sybil, though before they arrived, she gave commands with one word and three gestures. Both split away to different locations, and I again was struck with just how frightening my mate would be as an adversary.

Less than two minutes later, Hala nearly sprinted towards me from the other side of a pack, bowling over an unprepared keelish in her haste. She hissed something at the weaker keelish as she continued her rushing pace until she stood before me.

“What is it, Alpha? What can I do for you? Do you need me for something specific, or do you just want to talk to me?”

“Hold still, calm yourself, and wait for Solia to get here.” I offered no more information but I slightly bared my fangs, and Hala drooped a little with my chastisement. We walked in silence as we followed the path of the swarm, and Hala kept her head down at each step. Not more than another two minutes passed before Solia made her much more reasonably paced way towards me.

“Hello, Swarm Alpha. How can I help the swarm today?”

“You two should know about the shadow beasts that attacked.” Both flared their frills, “Great. We’re not worried about them, at least not for a while yet. The more the suns rise, the less mobile they’ll become. On the contrary, the later the day gets, the more dangerous they’ll be. Once night falls, I would imagine that they’ll be at their most threatening, and active. It could be that their little hunt of us today was mere happenstance, and we won’t see them again. I’d prefer to prepare under the assumption that they’ll return once night falls, searching for vengeance. If we’re incorrect, then we’ll have sacrificed nothing. If we’re correct…” I trailed off.

“Then we’ll keep the swarm at its current strength.” Solia flared her frills. “You want us to do something with our magic?”

“Perfect.” I replied. I have something I’ll want you two to do tonight, and I need you to coordinate. You two are our best, and possibly our only, unless something has changed recently, members who can use fire. There’s no other way that we have available to us to keep a ring around us without shadows.”

“Oh!” Hala gasped. “You want us to keep a ring of fire around the whole swarm? I… don’t think we can do that.”

“Not a solid ring as much as a loose but consistent pattern of torches and fires. You two would be assigned to ensure that the torches remain lit throughout the entire night, without any part of the perimeter compromised enough to allow their unseen passage.”

“Of course!”

“Very well, Alpha.”

“Great. You’ll need to decide how frequently to change shifts to ensure that the flames do not go out at all through the whole night. You have my permission to give assignments to any member of the swarm in ensuring that we don’t give the monsters an easy entry and exit point.”

I dismissed the two females and though Hala remained excited and excitable, Solia guided the younger female to a more reasonable course of action with each word. Their conversation’s specifics didn’t matter to me, and I allowed the day to pass in relative peace.

And then, night fell.