East of the north boundary just outside Echka’s new location, Sino knew he could find a small supply den. Traveling Fae used it, which is why the pack’s council stopped near it a few cycles ago. While there, the wolves kept it well stocked with food, weapons, herbs for wounds and sickness, as well as plants to clean oneself when returning. Inside the carved-out stone cave, the scouts found a small waterfall that was a huge benefit and frequently used by pack wolves upon return from a run or cycles of duty in Sino’s case.

As soon as Sino walked in, he felt the temperature difference. Warmer and humid. After assessing the interior and seeing it was empty, he placed the beige bundle near the fall but out of the way from getting wet. Its contents were currently sleeping from the rocking of Sino’s cadence.

He took a deep breath to prepare himself. He probably should have shifted while on duty, but he preferred his animal form when he didn’t have other weapons. It kept forest creatures from wandering too close, and he was less vulnerable than when he was in his two-legged form.

He tried not to scream as his bones popped out of their sockets. His breath hitched as he concentrated on allowing his muscles to pull away from the bones. In these moments, he cursed at the ripping pain washing over his entire being. He knew it wouldn’t feel like someone was deboning him if he shifted more often. A small whimper couldn’t be held in. He took an extra moment to catch his breath before slowly standing.

The light dimmed as he focused using his other sight. The room felt colder on his bare skin. He moved his muscles to stretch them into new positions. It took his mind an extra moment to remember which muscles were where. Slowly he reached up as if he wanted to touch the sky. Then he twisted and bent towards his feet, allowing the world's weight to push him towards his legs. He breathed through the pose. Feeling the energy of Fae Land centered him as the pain reduced to a dull throb.

Sino scanned a pile of rocks that hid the salve he could rub on his skin to help with the adjustment. He felt it warm at his touch, and the muscles became less tense. He rinsed in the waterfall, allowing the water to wash the sweat and blood of the shift from him. He took long deep drinks from the pale orange liquid. It tasted like fresh rain, like a blessing from the gods.

As a sentry, one must be able to think quickly and uniquely. Sino knew he didn’t want to lose the use of his hands when he approached Echka. Earlier, as he approached the den, he spotted the hawal plant and knew he could weave the long thin orange branches and leaves into something to hold the small child and free up his arms. The weaving didn’t take long; he had a great teacher, after all. However, it did take a few different tries to figure out how to secure it safely. In the end, he decided strapping it across his chest would give him the most movement. It also meant that the child’s pale purple face pressed against him.

The moment their skin touched, he could feel a blast of numerous emotions emanating from the small bundle like a herd of tiny insects impeding his mind. As a werewolf, he was used to sorting out unknown thoughts and feelings from the pack members; after the initial shock, he started the process of quickly categorizing it. The babe’s emotions were complex and powerful; he found it hard not to be overwhelmed.

Impulsively, he uttered a sound which could be called a growl. The rumble from his broad chest only served as entertainment to the infant; he received a small coo in response. Happiness trickled in. That was an easy one. After a moment of meditation, he was ready to open himself to the members of the traveling pack.

He shook his head, making his long black braids fall on top of the child like a curtain. He slowly opened the mindslink block he built carefully around him while on duty. It took some time, but he knew it needed to be done slowly to not overwhelm him. Once fully open, he could hear everyone talking at once. They felt his presence.

Mindslink wasn’t just a form of speaking without voice, but also emotions and knowledge. Each person in the pack had their own, which all needed to be categorized, or else one would go insane from the sheer information. Some werewolves immediately greeted him. More than a few allowed emotions like lust follow in with their greeting. He rolled his eyes at the boldness. Several wolves were leery of him on the other side of the spectrum. They didn’t hesitate to wonder freely why he was there after a duty rotation and not back home with the rest of the pack for relaxation. It was to be expected. He didn’t respond. They didn’t expect him to. He was great at organizing emotions and only allowing certain information to trickle out as needed.

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Sino walked the last mile to the camp keeping his mind, eyes, and ears open for dangers. Echka was the traveling pack that protected the six wolves standing duty as wolf counsel for all wolf packs on Fae Land. As elders, they are in a ten-cycle rotation, and each cycle, the eldest retires while a new wolf comes in. The duty is a tremendous honor for any wolf to be chosen by one’s pack and not voluntary once aged into sexual maturity.

The camp was in a small clearing of a forest. The main path had small foldable structures scattered about made from woven plants. Werewolves were communal in nature; it wasn’t odd to gather in a pack member’s structure. However, since he was a sentry and not on duty to protect the council, everyone was curious about who he was here to visit. That intrigue was not mitigated by the small being strapped to his chest. With news of his arrival, some wolves exited their structures, and some followed him cautiously. He didn’t vocally greet anyone but gave a slight nod to Magdalene, a friend when he saw the tall bronze she-wolf. She smiled at him and nodded back, then returned to her structure. He would stop by to see her before he left camp, and she knew it. Everyone’s eyes were wide, and he could feel their questions.

Why didn’t he stop to see his friend?

Who was he there to speak with?

The council could too. A tall lumbering ware exited a thatched hut at the center of the camp blocking the entrance, and waited for Sino’s approach. Sino did not hide his irritation once realizing who held the duty of Council’s Voice.

“Deek.” Sino’s voice was scratchy from non-use, but he wasn’t ashamed. He noted the positions of all approaching Fae, their body language, their emotions, and all exits.

“Sino.” Deek’s voice projected a false sense of authority. He knew he had protection because of his duty, and he also knew if Sino chose to, Deek wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight against him. Deek pursed his painted lips but didn’t say anything further. He waited patiently for Sino to advise why he approached, as was etiquette.

“May I enter?” Sino tried to keep his voice respectful and emotionless, but he wasn’t happy about being blocked.

“Not with that,” Deek stated plainly, keeping his eyes on Sino’s as they studied each other. Deek was also good at blocking his emotions and thoughts, which is why he was a good choice for this duty.

“It stays with me,” Sino responded.

“The counsel will not allow it to enter the temple.” Deek didn’t budge.

Sino expected this. Without skipping a moment, he responded. “Then have the counsel come out of the temple.”

Deek looked at Sino like he had grown a second head. “For what purpose?”

Sino’s teeth ground together as he tried to maintain his composure. Nothing was more irritating than explaining something that should be obvious. He was here to speak with the council. That should be enough as an active member of the pack.

Wondering how much he should allow known publicly, he chose a static picture from his memory of the purple-skinned woman to Deek.

“This wasn’t in your watch record when you were relieved from duty. Why would you keep this from them?”

“Counsel. Now.” Sino growled, his patience now gone.

Deek appeared to want to press further but instead updated the council. Six elders with wearied faces emerged from the thatched room a few moments later.

Sino’s eyebrows raised. All six came out? Custom dictates that only one council member as representative exits the structure, and Deek should relay any decisions.

Recovering quickly, he asked his main question. “What is she?” Sino asked.

They stared at him, and then as if on cue, all six inhaled at once. The only person who could hear the council's thoughts was Deek, whose face lost all color. Their body posture was nervous and closed off.

“Deek? What is she?” Sino repeated.

“Give them the full memory.” Deek’s voice should have been calm. It should have been arrogant. Instead, it was almost a whisper.

Sino pushed the full memory towards Deek. The six visibly trembled. Without looking back at Sino, they scurried back to the safety of the temple.

“Where are they going? I have more questions.” Sino yelled. The other wares that had gathered were all just as confused. This wasn’t how the council acted.

Deek nodded. With renewed confidence, he finally spoke. “You have been banished from Echka, and all known Fae Land packs as long as you have that infant. Leave immediately for the safety of the council.”

“What did I do?” Sino could feel his wolf fighting to come to the surface, and he struggled to keep calm. A tiny chubby hand grabbed a piece of Sino’s black hair. Like a small conduit, he could feel calmness. “Deek.” He tried again. “Please explain to me what is going on. I need information.”

Deek’s lips remained tightly pursed, and a wall of silence slammed before Sino’s mindslink. A small group of wolves from Sino’s supposed pack had shifted and slowly surrounded him. He didn’t need to be in their heads to know they were trying to make him feel claustrophobic so that his wolf would naturally keep them from putting him in a threatening, cornered position.

He raised his hands. “I’m leaving.” They stopped their approach. “Deek, can you give me anything first?”

Deek looked at Sino not with anger but almost sadness. He shook his head. As Sino turned, he noticed an earworm of an idea, The Lore Estate.