What just happened? I ask my raptorcat matriarch mentally. First she was really concerned about whether I was OK, and now she’s grumpy because I told her off for almost getting herself killed. I don’t get it.

Bastet comes over to me and butts at my hip, rubbing her head against me affectionately.

It’s a difficult age, she says to me. She is old enough to start wishing to be independent, but not old enough to truly be so. She must be reminded regularly that her elders are still stronger and more capable than she is.

So, what, beat her into compliance? I ask, more than a little disturbed by the notion. Bastet eyes me.

Humans are odd. Your thought carries strange nuances. No, it is not a ‘beat into compliance’, she sends back the same thought I’d sent her, complete with the nuances of abuse and victimisation which I hadn’t realised I’d attached. It is proving that we still have more to teach. When she can overcome us, or even simply stand against us in defence of her desires, she will have demonstrated her ability to be independent.

I shake my head, not in negation, just in confusion. Going over to the bough, I chop off a length suitable for carrying the long crocodile – nere – carcass back to the cave. Shoving the rest of the branch into my Inventory for later use as firewood, I start tying the crocodile’s legs and body to the stick I prepared.

So what, I didn’t prove that I had more to teach, or something? I ask Bastet who has followed me over, once more taking a vigilant pose, watching the forest around.

No. You were attacked, the only one out of us. You were injured. You admitted that you are not as good a hunter as her mother. I interrupt.

But I didn’t want to be attacked! And I’m not as good a hunter as Kalanthia. Bastet sends me a quelling look and the feeling over the Bond to match.

Do you wish to listen or to speak? she asks me cuttingly. I subside, then wave her on a little grumpily.

As I was saying, those factors instinctually indicated to Lathani that you are weaker. I am sure she did not consciously think this, but her subconscious urged her to test you.

By almost getting herself killed? I ask with some heat.

By discovering how you would react when she disobeyed. I sigh and rub at my face. Realising that my hand is covered in dirt from the crocodile’s skin, I grimace, then rinse both hand and face with the river water.

And? I prompt Bastet. Because from how Lathani had reacted, I hadn’t chosen the right approach. What did I do wrong there?

You sought to use my authority. Not as effective as using your own, but not a terrible choice: to command my authority is to automatically have more of your own. OK, I can kind of see that, if I squint at it sideways. But then you sought to appease the cub, to have her forgive you! Bastet starts hissing agitatedly, moving to her feet and pacing back and forth. A cub had disobeyed you and you apologise for how you phrased your order?

What should I have done, then? I ask, feeling a bit lost. Clearly I really haven’t spent enough time with Lathani recently. Or she’s changed a lot in the recent time. Or both.

Something similar to what I did. Prove your superiority, and why she should listen to you. Then demand she appease you. If you wish her to listen to you in the future, you must do this now. Otherwise, she will only obey you if her mother or I ensure her compliance. She pauses for a moment, and then continues a little tentatively. It is about…respect? The last word is very blurry, mostly a series of images and feelings.

OK, I can kind of understand that.

But why is it only coming up now? And why don’t you seem to have the same problem? I ask her in frustration.

As I said, it is a difficult age. Not quite a cub, not quite an adult. Alright, a teenager, then. That makes sense, I suppose. As for me, it is a different context. You earned my respect long ago, and my cooperation with it. I do not need demonstrations of superiority to recognise that it is better if you are pack leader.

Well, that’s good to know. I suppose if I think about Lathani being a teenager, it makes a little more sense – humans are known to go through an…interesting period of time where they feel a strong urge to defy all types of authority. Maybe it’s the same for Lathani now.

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But how am I supposed to ‘prove my superiority’? Am I supposed to just go up to her and roll her over like Bastet did? Not really my style.

I’d like to ask Bastet for more advice, but I have a feeling that she might tell me to go figure it out for myself. Actually, I should probably do that anyway, otherwise it’s probably just as bad as leaning on Bastet’s authority instead of my own.

Finishing up tying the legs of the crocodile to the branch along with winding a few loops around its body too, I call River over to help me lift the whole thing. It’s heavy, but with the two of us working, it’s manageable for now.

Struggling up the hill, I keep thinking about what to do with Lathani. The nunda cub is moving with the group, but I can tell that we’re not yet settled. It’s a mixture of Animal Empathy and perhaps my new sense of connection to the world around, I think – I can clearly see that Lathani is still being very standoffish with me while being fine with Bastet and River. I definitely need to get this sorted. By the time we’re reaching the plateau, I’ve got a couple of ideas of how to do so.

I head straight for Kalanthia, River following with the other end of the pole.

Your visit to the river was not so relaxing, I take it, Kalanthia says in amusement. The corners of my mouth curl up in a slightly shame-faced smile.

“Not exactly,” I respond. “But it’s a Tier two beast so should have a Core. I’d like to keep the hide, but you can have the body, if you want.”

To count against the weregild your Bound owes my cub?

“Exactly.” The nunda stands up and moves over to inspect the body.

A strong beast. I suspect you were lucky to survive.

“Pretty much,” I agree with a sigh. “I didn’t even see it until it bit me while I was washing.”

Common among these – their ability to hide themselves is particularly powerful. It’s fortunate you were able to get free.

“Teamwork,” I agree with a smile, then continue by directing my mental voice at her. I hope that Lathani won’t be able to hear me that way. I had a problem with Lathani and Bastet seems to feel I need to do something to…uh, establish my authority? I eye her nervously, not sure how she will take it.

She surprises me a bit when she seems to take it completely in stride.

Indeed. Do you feel you need my permission or some such? My eyebrows raised, I fumble a little with my response.

Kind of, I suppose. We do have the agreement about not offering violence, after all.

That is true, though I suspect that your aim is in fact to prevent harm to my cub, Kalanthia points out. I nod unconsciously.

She almost had a branch drop on her head today because apparently she was trying to test what I would do if she disobeyed me. Bastet almost had to intervene because she wasn’t listening to me.

Then it seems like establishing your authority is overdue, Kalanthia answers very seriously, the hint of amusement that frequently laces her mental voice completely absent.

Alright, I answer, a little taken aback at her sudden focus. And if she is injured?

Assuming you do not cause any damage you cannot heal, pain is the best teacher.

Huh, is all I can say, feeling like I’ve just been given a carte blanche which I didn’t actually want – if Kalanthia had required this to be kept to only minor cuts and scrapes, that would be one thing. Having only the requirement of nothing I can’t heal…by this point, that basically means keeping her alive.

Go make things right with my cub. I shall ensure that the hide is saved for you – it would do Lathani no good to eat it anyway.

“OK,” I say, returning to audible conversation now that I’ve discussed the most sensitive topic. “Actually, I’d like to see if I can get the hide off with one of my Skills, OK?”

Very well, Kalanthia responded. However, if it spoils either the meat or the Core for Lathani’s consumption, then I will not count it towards your Bound’s debt.

“I understand,” I acknowledge. The conversation done for now, I walk over to where Lathani is prodding at a beetle. I’m reminded of the time when she poked at a beetle while I was digging my firepit and was bitten by it. The memory of her panic when this tiny thing wouldn’t let go brings a smile back to my face even now. It puts me in a better mood for what I apparently need to do.

“Right, Lathani,” I say to her. She sends me a glance and then returns to what she’s doing, still clearly huffy. “Let’s have a bout, you and I.” She looks at me again, this time more interested in what I have to say. “First to be pinned or to give up loses. Do you agree?”

She looks at me calculatingly.

You are much bigger than me. It isn’t fair.

“Are you giving up just because of that?” I ask with my eyebrows raised. “Are you saying that your teeth and claws are not capable of making up the difference? That I am automatically superior to you because of my size?” I feel stupid saying it, but I can’t think of any other way.

Lathani looks at me again for a long moment.

Hunt-leader says you are pack leader. If I win, am I pack leader? I’m taken a little aback by her question.

“Not automatically,” I say slowly. “I am, uh, pack leader because I have come to an agreement with…or proven dominance over all the members of my group.” Again, I don’t like really talking about the ‘dominate’ bit of Dominate, but I can’t ignore that it was a major feature of my battle with the kiinas and Fenrir. And apparently a significant one of my battles with Bastet and River too, though those were more negotiations than the others. “You would have to come to your own arrangements with each individual to have them consider you pack leader.”

She appears to think that over for a little, looking around at my Bound curiously.

Then if I win, I can tell you what to do, yes? I can’t help chuckling, finding her negotiation more cute than annoying.

“Let’s compromise. If I win, you accept my position as leader of the group, regardless of who else is present. If you win, I will leave orders to Bastet and will not presume to offer you instruction. Deal?”

Deal, she replies, crouching down, ready to pounce.