“Why are you lot here?” Janine asked bluntly.

She stood in the crawler’s storage compartment, filled with empty crates. The smells of oils and the remains of energy cells gave her a general idea of what this place was used for back when the Army had enough resources to fill it up. The captain has ordered the army to take the barest minimum from their allies, unwilling to deprive the Second of the precious supplies, and Ravager has supported him in spite of Devourer’s arguing.

Their journey back home was uneventful. Packs were grumbling, confined in small quarters. Fights and dominations sparked at the slightest provocation, leading to the military police being pissed even more than usual. Tranquilized darts and electric shots were flying left and right; Wolf Hags were coming along the corridors, beating down any disturbance of peace; and the Warlords drew lots, trying to win in a lottery for today’s patrol.

Janine ignored it, much to her pack’s disappointment. She felt the eagerness to leave this steel coffin in their eyes and shared their desire to hunt small game and bathe all her worries in the insectoid hemolymph. But they were coming into civilized lands now, and they had to look the part. With brutal efficiency, the warlord started enforcing her plan.

Each morning, she would call her entire pack, checking up on ill or wounded members. After that, she allowed her Wolf Hags and scouts to carry on with the training courses, and right after that, Janine sat down with her entire pack and made them read about the Core Lands’ history, inviting the crawler’s officer to lead the studies. She added new rules. Defecation outside the restroom, fifteen lashes. Insulting the crew, thirty lashes. Failure to answer the quiz at the end of each study, a single lash.

Wolfkins were hardy creatures, but even they learned to be afraid of lashes after Janine took it upon herself to deliver the punishment. A hit of the chained whip in her arm easily pierced the skin, leaving lacerated wounds behind, ensuring that no lower rank could enjoy this pain. After three days of strict enforcing of new rules, Janine has earned herself a seething hatred from the medics, who had to treat the wounded, a begrudging respect from the Alpha Pack, who were famous for their iron discipline, and a lot of scarred bodies, who were now huffing and scrubbing on the lectures, taking notes in a fear of receiving a bad grade. Upon seeing that Warlord Alpha had copied Janine’s methods, a spark of pride shot across her pack, and for the past two days, Janine hadn’t had any need to use her whip, much to the medics’ delight.

Thankfully, the ice boys have stayed in their quarters, only coming out to partake during feeding times, when both Warlords and Swords Saints could enforce Ravager’s order of not engaging in combat amongst each other.

With free time on her paws, Janine had called Marco for a personal lecture, only to find the compartment they had chosen for themselves cramped. Ignacy, Bogdan, Impatient One, and Anissa, both of whom had finally healed enough to sit comfortably after all the lashes they got for the poor grades, showed up. Elzada, the only scout who performed excellently with her studies, had come with them, bringing a notepad with herself. The scout with the metal leg and artificial lung seated herself next to Ignacy, almost pushing him off the crate with a casual movement of her hip. And, most annoyingly, Kalaisa and Anji showed up, with Kalaisa angrily sitting behind everyone and Anji coming along with Marco.

“I am still on leave,” Ignacy responded, putting his slightly oversized metal arm on his knee and using a screwdriver to tinker with his limb. His new arm still had the metal color, but her son had plans to color it black, eventually. Bogdan admitted to Janine that Ignacy had already disassembled and reassembled his new arm at least once, always shifting something in it. “Might as well learn something new.”

“And Ignacy had promised to look at my leg,” Elzada purred, hitting Ignacy’s side with her hip once more. On her request, a set of steel claws were added to the new, inelegant but sturdy toes of her artificial leg. She grinned and flashed her natural claws in front of his nose. “The claws that were installed on my leg come out a bit… slowly. Maybe we should check them in my den?”

“Why wait?”

Janine wanted to slap herself across the snout, seeing how her oblivious boy had dropped on one knee and taken a flashlight in his paw, before examining Elzada’s knee. He whistled, took some instruments from his jacket, and started working on the metal limb. Kalaisa and Anissa showed no such mercy; one let out a mocking laugh, kicking Elzada in the back, and the other giggled like a girl, helping the scout sit upright.

His son still had a handsome appearance, even with a metal arm. Ignacy’s fur was always combed free of any parasites, and in his experiments with water and how it affected his prosthetic hand, his fur looked pristine, smelling of cheap shampoo. Barely any scars covered his hide, hinting at his sensible nature and ability to survive without trouble in the tribe. It’s no wonder that the girl has fallen for him.

Elzada herself looked none the worse for wear. Her shattered arm rested in a sling, requiring her to ask for Anissa’s help to dress herself for a while. The skin in place where the metal limb connected with the flesh was clean off of all fur, but a few new hairs of darkness have already started growing up anew. A tight bandage was wrapped around her body, hidden by the jacket, hiding the ugly wound marking the place where a new lung was installed into her body. When Janine came to apologize to her for breaking her legs, the scout looked more embarrassed than angry. The moment the medics allowed her to walk around, the scout rushed to Impatient One, confessing her sin and begging for forgiveness for joining the union of flesh. Impatient One gave the scout some penance but refused to share details with Janine, only promising that this was nothing that could affect the scout’s combat abilities.

“Huh?” The Wolfkin mumbled, tinkering with the sharp-looking claws on the metal foot. “It looks like they were restrained on purpose. Look here once I remove this and this…”

“I literally have no idea what else to do,” Elzada whispered to Anissa, rolling her eyes, and the other woman grimaced sympathetically.

“Ignacy likes pancakes,” Bogdan advised, leaning against the crate behind him and earning himself a confused look from his brother. “I am here for moral support, Warlord.”

“There is no need for any payment…”

“Oh, but I like cooking! Dad always told me I have a knack to…”

“I refuse to fail my studies again! Studies or no, I am a shaman, and on my honor, I will meet any challenge head on and win!” Impatient One cut them off mid-sentence, slamming her paws against the crate.

“Well, Ygrite gave me an order to stop beating the crap out of my family and get myself useful. I tried the kitchen and infirmary, but no one had any need for me, so…” Kalaisa started explaining, leaning back on her crate.

The girl was big. Janine was willing to admit that. Aside from Janine, Kalaisa and Anji were the only Wolfkins here who were solidly taller than three and a half meters, standing half a head taller than either Anissa or Impatient One. Both had muscles that looked like ropes, but where Anji sat relaxed, smiling, and gesturing about something with Marco, Kalaisa looked nervous and on edge all the time. Anji’s gorgeous white mane of hair was tied up into countless braids, while Kalaisa allowed her short and messy hair to lie loose. Where Anji preferred to wear a pristine button-down white shirt and elegant green pants, Kalaisa wore torn cargo pants and a dirty-looking sleeveless shirt.

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

“Can’t imagine why.” Bogdan laughed, shrinking down at the sound of claws snapping behind his back.

“What was that, flea? Speak up; I can’t hear you! Going mute on me all of a sudden? Stay that way before I pull out your tongue,” Kalaisa smiled wickedly, looking back at Janine. “As I was saying, once I saw this little pipsqueak in the company of two Wolf Hags, I followed after in curiosity…”

“Just say the truth. You don’t have any friends and want to socialize,” Anissa yawned, ignoring Kalaisa’s angry hiss.

“Anissa and Anji are here because of me.” Marco scratched the back of his head. Seeing Janine’s raised brow, he quickly started explaining. “Anji showed me how to sew! Then I sort of got lost in this maze, and she led me here.”

“It’s Wolf Hag Anji, Marco. And you shouldn’t have bothered Wolfkins from other packs,” Anissa said worriedly, moving closer to her brother.

“Oh, it’s quite alright, Ani!” Anji pressed a paw to her mouth, containing the laughter, and patted Marco with another. “We are off duty, anyway. Marco, it’s been a genuine pleasure to teach you. Warlord Janine, your boy is truly a pleasant little gentleman.”

Should I be worried? Janine returned the smile. Wolfkins were fond of toying with cubs, and Marco was still young... But she felt freaky for a moment. Anji was too pleasant for her ranks; all other Wolf Hags, Anissa aside, treated Marco with cold indifference, seeing no reason in him being this close to the Warlord.

“Whoring yourself before the males. Is there a limit to your false modesty, Anji?” Kalaisa snapped her jaws, letting out a mocking laugh.

“Don’t worry, Kalaisa. I do not have any aspirations of taking your place.” Still holding her paw against her mouth, Anji smiled.

“Yeah, as if you could… Wait, what?” Kalaisa jumped to her feet, raising her fur on the back of her head.

Hearing Bogdan chuckle, Kalaisa whirred in place, aiming to land a kick at the back of his head. Anissa acted ahead of her, grabbing her brother and rolling to the side with him, while Impatient One stopped the kick, groaning from the force behind the blow.

Janine kept her cool, breathing through her nostrils and fighting against a barely contained rage. This wasn’t her place to step in, not right now, not until claws started flashing. Her reckless behavior has brought shame to her pack; there is no need to involve Ygrite’s pack in the mix.

I can keep the situation under control. Her paw found a crate nearby, running across the steel lid with her fingers.

“If you dare to try to touch our soldiers ever again, I will murder you in your sleep, Kalaisa!” Impatient One snapped.

“A peculiar offer, but I am not swinging that way, shaman.” Kalaisa tore her leg free, jumping on the crate and beckoning the shaman with a finger. “Feel like stepping up to me?”

“I feel like walking all over you,” Anji said icily.

The Wolf Hag stopped, seeing everyone turning to her. Anji came forward, shielding Marco and Impatient One with her body and cracking her knuckles in a silent threat. Ignacy pushed the complaining Elzada toward Bogdan and pointed his metallic arm at Kalaisa. The steel fingers of his hand bent back, taking their places in recesses along the mechanical frame. His palm came apart, showing a dancing flame within.

“What’s this?” Kalaisa sang sweetly, smiling all the way to the ears. “A little pest has forgotten his place in the pack and tries to play a hero? Shall I play the part of a monster and tear off your lighter to beat you up with it?”

Janine saw her body twitching, her pupils dilating in response to the release of adrenaline within her body, her paws closing and opening, and her fingers releasing the tips of her claws. Pissed. Pissed off beyond any reasonable measure, she was angry enough to maim a soldier for a situation that she herself started. Janine inhaled the air, tasting Kalaisa’s scent and catching in it an urge for domination. It surprised her. Wolf Hags were not gentle leaders, but they were also not fools who started fights over nothing. There wasn’t an honor here; any other Wolf Hag would’ve turned the situation around, playing it as a joke and gaining comradery with another pack.

What is wrong with her?

“T-tr-try m-me,” Ignacy stuttered, trying to look calm, nervously sniffing the air.

Never before had Janine felt as much pride for her son as she felt right now. Ignacy was hurt recently; no doubt his flesh and nerves were still healing, causing him, at the very least, a moderate itch in the area around his horrid wound. And yet here he was, standing his ground against an immensely more powerful opponent, afraid but unwilling to abandon his friends. Kalaisa sniffed the air, first nervously, then with more infuriation.

For a male to stand up against a female… For someone like Kalaisa, it has to be inconceivable. Blessed with every possible gift since birth, not unlike Janine, she felt infuriated at the mere thought of meeting opposition from those she deemed lesser. In a few years, she might grow and pipe down a bit, but right now, this annoyed teen… dangerous for her kin.

Janine knew why Bogdan, Anissa, and Impatient One stood by Ignacy, but she was surprised to see Anji refusing to back down. Anji wasn’t of the pack, and like Kalaisa, she too had every reason to be infuriated at the males who dared to stay up against the righteous domination. Yet… here she stood, releasing a scent of comfort and assurance toward Janine’s pack.

She is going to jump. Janine saw the fear in Kalaisa’s eyes and guessed the reason for it. Never had the girl had a pack turn on her. She was strong enough to break free, even should they attack her first, but now, upon sensing fear, there was only one path for someone as immature as she. Kalaisa has to prove herself; she thinks that she has to quench her fear in the blood of her opposition. Janine knew this feeling and acted first, fully intent on not allowing Kalaisa the satisfaction of saving her pride. Fear, like all emotions, has its uses, after all.

The screeching sound of metal made everyone freeze in place. Almost lazily, Janine had torn away a crate’s lid and cast it like a projectile at Kalaisa’s head. At the last moment, the arrogant woman noticed the incoming projectile and ducked, ending up with the top of her hair being bisected when the piece of metal got buried into the wall.

“Tch. I wanted to have a haircut anyway, thanks, granny.” Kalaisa gulped nervously, tearing her hair free from the metal.

Janine heard thankful notes in her voice, for once not filled with venom. She wasn’t too crazy after all. But she also had no idea how to diffuse the situation without causing a bloody brawl with members of two packs and starting a blood feud between the packs. And now, since a Warlord stepped in, she felt relaxed, submitting to the superior and weaseling out of a problem. Young. Too young to become a Wolf Hag. She can’t even control her urges, much less be fit to lead a pack. And Ygrite, in her typical fashion, did jack and shit to direct Kalaisa on the right path.

Janine understood the call to cause pain and suffering at the slightest offense. The shamans had beat this into her, forcing the young cub to crash with the others back in the pits. But she learned, through the blood of a person dear to her, that a Wolfkin had to control this desire, mastering it and wielding rage like a weapon rather than letting it wield you. And she refused to see anyone here make the same mistake as she did.

“Try it again, and I’ll make you shorter on the head,” Janine promised Kalaisa. The Wolf Hag snarled, turning to leave, and Janine stomped on the ground. “Sit. You came here to learn, so sit and learn. Everyone. Sit.” She added a growl to the last word, and everyone returned to their places, with Anji seating Marco on her knees, not exposing his back to Kalaisa.

Kalaisa herself hesitated for a moment, and Janine locked eyes with her. She half wanted to dominate the woman, to break an arm or leg, and to leave really deep bite marks upon this insufferable neck. And Kalaisa saw it; she saw the hate and rage borne in Janine’s eyes, and her nose sensed the drool coming from the Warlord’s lips. Clenching her paws, Kalaisa slammed her butt on the crate, folding her arms and looking stubbornly at Janine. Anissa sat right next to the idiot, behind Ignacy, and Impatient One flanked Kalaisa from the other side.

“I get the general picture.” Janine decided against dominating Kalaisa. Perhaps a more cautious approach would be better to fix her behavior? “Be silent, everyone. I had plans to educate only Marco, but I may as well extend the same courtesy to all of you.”

Janine coughed, taking up a small terminal in her paw and turning it on, calling her notes about Houstad. It felt… nice to spend a night without worrying about being attacked or needing to walk around a perimeter and check up on the guards. Instead, she had warm tea and a dry meal for dinner, reading up on a city that the Blessed Mother and the Wolf Tribe have helped to build.

“Our destination is Houstad, a city in the Core Lands,” Janine snorted, seeing confusion in Bogdan’s and Kalaisa’s eyes. “How could you… Marco, would you do us the honors and explain the terms?”