Their howls announced some occurrence even before they got back to the main camp. I could tell something was up, but just what, that remained to be seen.

As they got closer, everyone could tell what was coming - an intruder had been captured at our northern border. I rolled my eyes as that wasn't so unexpected as their pack was dottering after the collapse of their hierarchy.

As I donned my robe and headed to the longhouse, I just sighed and shook my head. Their alpha had been old - quite old. Far too old to fight, but everyone stuck by him anyway. His son was a... Well, even calling him an incompetent ne'er-do-well would be setting the bar exceptionally high. He had the profound habit of using his position to demand whatever he pleased from whomever he could intimidate. The Betas weren't much better - just... nothing worthwhile. None of them were good at strategy, weapons, or tactics. Basically they were contriving against each other as to who would become Alpha once the old man died.

His eldest daughter had fled, and was killed for her trouble. The youngest daughter disappeared - no one knew to where. And so with only one prospect for a natural succession of primacy... well, things hadn't looked good.

And then they got worse.

I couldn't help but smile and fuzzle one of the youngsters hanging around outside as I rounded the large communal fire at the center of camp. There were a number of folks warming themselves, chattering about what the howling could be about, and then they entered the glade. Three Security members and a young wolf fettered with a hobble-rod in the crooks of his arms, hands lashed tightly in front of him, and practically carried by the two trailing members on each end of the staff.

A hush fell over the crowd around the fire as the leader stood before me and raised his head high, calling to the ancestors and the great orb of night. He then looked me in the eye. "Intruder" was all he said.

"So I see." I replied. "Just one?"

"There were two others, older, but they ran off. He.... wasn't as swift," came the report.

I merely nodded, and looked the lad up and down, then questioned, "Is the border guarded?"

"Not at present, but I doubt there would be an incursion at the moment. I intend to return to my post as soon as this matter...." he sneered at the restrained wolf "... is attended to."

I merely nodded. I looked to the Great Orb of Night... and sighed. I looked to him and he nodded in reply.

We both raised our muzzles to the ancestors and the Great Orb and howled out the call to Council. Others started echoing the call from around the fire and elsewhere in camp, and I headed into the longhouse while the captive stood there shivering.

As I entered all rose from their seats - those that were present. I took my place, as expected. Others entered. My Beta, three other Councillors. The local medicine-man. And one old Graymuzzle from my father's time - The Historian. He only had one eye and walked with a noted limp from a long-ago battle, but he was as intelligent as he was wary, and his memory was impeccable.

As soon as all of the Council that could be summoned were present, the captive was brought in, with much ceremony and clanging of weapons. I half-snorted at the sight, as if it were some military parade of a fumbling leader. He was brought to a spot between me and the main fire of the longhouse. "We have captured an intruder! We brought him here for questioning."

"I see, Lotham. Very good," I said. "Captive... what were you doing in my lands, especially at The Time? Expecting to clandestinely succor one of our - my - females to join with you?"

The captive tried to speak but could only squeak out something that couldn't even resemble a word. Lotham smacked the back of his head. "Speak up! He determines your fate."

"No, sir!" the captive managed to squeak out at last.

"What is your name and who is your Alpha?" I asked.

"I'm Ecoos... and... we don't have an Alpha anymore...." the captive said sullenly.

"Ah... you're from the north and what used to be Ectar's pack, aren't you?" I asked.

The captive nodded, and Lotham smacked the pup's head yet again. "Speak your answers!" The captive swallowed hard, "yes, sir."

"What business have you in my lands?" I asked, standing.

The captive sighed and looked down. "None, sir...."

This caused a murmur through the crowd. Words like "Spy" and "weakling" were clearly audible to my ears among the vocal undulations.

One of the Council stood. "Why should we trust what you say? Your Betas have split your pack in a dozen directions, each asserting a claim to the territory and the pack entire."

The captive turned to the councillor. "I know... that's why... I... left. I thought I could at least find some food here. There's none left in our camp. What the betas couldn't hoard for themselves wasn't enough, and they took anything that could be used as a weapon for fear of others using it against them instead of for hunting. We're.... we're starving."

I could see at the dim edges of the firelight the females and lesser ranks undulating to get a glimpse of the intruder, and see what his fate would be.

I rose and made my way around the intruder... young... a noted scar across his left shoulderbade and along his left arm, which seemed to look a little smaller, though that could be an affect of the firelight. Notably shorter than me or any other adult standing. He followed me with his eyes for a bit and then looked down to the dirt as he gained understanding of exactly what I was doing.

"You do know that violating a border is punishable by death, right?" I finally asked, resuming my seat.

"I...." he sighed. "I know. I just... wanted..." he let his thought trail off.

"What was your desire?" The Historian asked, curious.

"Just somewhere to _be_ that wasn't... there." I could tell he was searching for some word other than "home" to describe his former existence.

"He's nothing but a weakling! I'll end him now!" shouted one from the side, and came forward drawing his dagger.

"ASHEM!" I bellowed. "Seat yourself or suffer his fate for him!" I commanded.

The wolf stopped midway between the side seats and the captive, dagger drawn and ready to strike. Ashem opened his mouth as if starting to say something.

"And if you speak another word, you'll be seated in the fire!" I commanded. At which point two guards stepped forward to either side of me. "It is not you but _I_ who decide things. Don't _ever_ forget that!" I said, staring at the stunned wolf right in the eyes as there were snickers among the darkness.

"Uncle..." Ashem said in a defeated tone.

"Don't "Uncle" me, son of my brother. Those who truly have power need not assert it frivolously nor constantly. Seat yourself or be gone," I said firmly, and the duly-chastised Ashem sheathed his dagger and returned to his seat, amid the smirks of the Council and The Historian.

I drummed my fingers on the arm of my seat. "Ecoos..." I started... then thought, rose, and merely walked through the longhouse. The crowd parted before me as I walked out the door.

I exited, much to the astonishment of all, and walked to the fire.

"All over, my lord?" one wolf asked, who was cooking his dinner. Apparently only minorly interested in the verdict.

"No, Accar..." was my reply as I raised my face to the Great Orb and closed my eyes.

"You know, my lord, there is another option... but it would mean doing something I know you dislike," Accar said, still turning his bit of sausage about on its stone, and poking the potatos in the fire.

I didn't open my eyes. "I know, Accar. I know."

"You could offer him the choice, my lord. That would absolve you of the torment. At least that part of the torment...," Accar said, still prodding his dinner.

I sighed and looked up to the Great Orb, and all the twinkling remnants of the Ancestors. "I don't deserve this, Accar."

Accar chuckled softly. "My lord, we don't choose the paths for ourselves. They're chosen for us, whether we like them or not. But still they are the paths we're meant to tread."

I snortchuckled. "I suppose so, Accar."

"I take it you've now decided, my lord?" he asked, looking up to me for the first time.

I smiled. "You know me too well, Accar. Yes. I have."

"Having watched you take your first steps as a very young man shortly ahead of you, I should know you. Your father was gracious enough to allow me to do so, to allow his son a playmate he could trust," Accar said, smiling. "I should know you and all about you having been known by you and often with you from that time to this."

I patted Accar's shoulder. "Enjoy your dinner, Accar."

"Trust in the stars, my lord. The Great Orb always shows the way, even with his eye closed," Accar said as he started enjoying his meagre meal.