That’s a lot of werewolves. The thought was comical, and he almost smiled. The sheer numbers of the group surrounding the den entrance was awe inspiring. There must be at least forty or so werewolves lining the edge of the small clearing. William’s eyes were drawn to the massive form of his teacher. He couldn’t help but glance sideways towards Charles standing next to him. He wasn’t as tall as Ares but he came within inches.
There were so many werewolves that he didn’t recognize. He let his gaze flow over the group from one side to the other. There was a pack that demanded some space between them and the rest of the surrounding werewolves. For some reason he knew that these people were important, but he could only guess as who they might be until he spotted Derceto among them. Those must be the Elders. He could have slapped himself for not seeing it sooner but then he had never seen most of them in werewolf form, so he cut himself some mental slack.
As for the other werewolves he made himself try to shift through the different smells of the surrounding group. After a few moments he was able to locate and recognize Efraim Goldstein. He found the black and white calico standing among his pack. The six of them were off to left side of the Elders. Ares was standing with his pack off to the Elders’ right. Physis was standing close to her mate with another black werewolf standing with some separation between them. William found himself focusing on the all black. There were fine striations of grey throughout his fur. From a distance he would have appeared to be completely uniform in color, but with his wolf sight he was able to pick up the fine coloration changes.
William watched as the three greys took a place behind Derceto and the rest of the Elders. Once they had taken their place six other werewolves separated themselves from the massive gathering. The first and only werewolf to do so that William recognized was Ares. The Elders didn’t move and the six only stepped forward about five or six steps. They stopped, forming an almost perfect semicircle facing Aceso’s pack. William guessed that these other werewolves were probably the teachers of the rest of his pack.
Three Elders, not including Derceto, separated from their pack and strode forward to place themselves in front of the newly formed semicircle. William wasn’t sure who these werewolves were. The three stopped and looked over William and his pack mates.
The werewolf in the center of the group spoke. “Your test is over. The simulated combat exercise could have gone better.” The werewolf looked at each one of them as he spoke. When he locked eyes with William, he felt the power of this werewolf. He wasn’t as susceptible to the crushing effects of time and knowledge from a werewolf’s stare like he was in his human form but the gaze was difficult to meet evenly. William surmised that this silver furred werewolf was, in all probability, Huan Li.
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“But you performed admirably well in other areas,” Huan Li continued. “Your den construction is inspired and your ability to work as a team even though you are not a true pack yet speaks volumes of your individual character and the trust you have in each other.” Huan Li focused a look at Charles. “I am however surprised that your tracker was either incapable of or neglectful of the use of his abilities to hide the location of your den better than he did.”
William couldn’t stop his head from turning toward Charles. He had dropped his head in shame. His tail hung between his legs and his narrow shoulders dropped. He knew that something had been bothering Charles and now he knew what it was. He wanted to reach out and console his friend in some way, but he felt it better to do nothing until this whole thing was over and all these werewolves had gone back to wherever they had come from.
“Overall, I am impressed with your performance.” Huan Li said. “Aceso, step forward.” Aceso stepped away from her pack and strode up to Huan Li and his surrounding company. “Aceso, do you swear to uphold the laws of the City under the Mountain?”
“I swear.”
“Do you swear to protect and honor your brethren and this city?”
“With my life, Elder.”
Huan Li took a step toward Aceso. “Then return to your pack as Alpha. Through you, your pack will be held by the oath you have given here today.” Huan Li stepped away from Aceso. She turned and rejoined her pack. When she had turned back around Huan Li addressed the rest of their pack. “This day is yours, enjoy it. But on the morrow, we have work that needs to be done.” Huan Li turned and walked through the semi-circle of teachers and rejoined the rest of his pack. The large werewolf standing to his left followed after him but the one on his right hesitated for a moment.
The werewolf was female. She had deep rich brown fur with some interesting highlights. Her golden eyes were just as deep and penetrating as Huan Li’s. She hesitated looking at William. He didn’t know who she was but as an Elder than narrowed things down and he was pretty sure he knew who she was. There was something about her scent that was unmistakable. She let a small smile touch her lips but she turned before William could make any gesture or respond in any way. She followed Huan Li and the other werewolf back to rejoin the larger group.
Huan Li walked past the larger group of werewolves and the rest of the Elders followed in step. As the Elders disappeared behind the gathering of werewolves and back into the tree’s, the rest of the large mass of werewolves also turned and faded back into the forest.
Soon the only werewolves that were left in the clearing were Aceso and her pack and the small semi-circle of six teachers facing them. The teachers waited for the last werewolves to exit and as a group they all walked forward to their respective students.