The two women were led to another courtyard where they were pushed together with dozens of other slaves. They all whimpered and kept their heads down, moving around as some were added and others were pushed up into large heavy wagons. Nova kept a tight hold on Veka for as long as she could. Thankfully, they were put on the same wagon, huddled tightly with as many slaves as could fit. 

As they bounced along on the road, another young pup squealed and got Veka’s started. All of the women silently worked together to hush the pups when the Dire driving the wagon growled and barked back to shut them up. The hours were long and tense as they wound down the mountain through the trees. None of the women spoke and few dared to look about at their surroundings. Not that it mattered if they did, the road was unfamiliar to them and they had no way of knowing how close to their destination they were. They knew only that they descended the mountains that had held them prisoners for so long.

With each passing hour, Veka grew weaker beside Nova. It was everything she could do to keep the mother propped up even with help from those around her. Her rags were soaked with blood, and she faded in and out of consciousness as the sleepless journey continued through the night. 

It was just breaking dawn when the wagons slowed to a stop. The back panel was pulled off and the faces that greeted the women were those of their own people. The commotion was sudden and intense as soldiers helped the women out, filing them towards buses that waited just a few meters away. General Khade'grr was yelling orders from atop a grand, antlered mount while more wagons rattled in.

Nova stayed, holding Veka tightly, whispering to her that they had made it. They were free. A female soldier noticed them and began yelling for a stretcher and a medic. Though Nova protested, the soldiers took Veka out of her sight, rushing her to another bus painted white that took off as soon as the stretcher was loaded.

Draped in a blanket, Nova sat beside a _Fa'val_ who was whimpering and shaking, like many of the women. It was still a dream to them, some kind of trick. When the bus started up, roaring to life, it made a pup begin yipping in the back. Nova leapt to her paws, recognizing that healthy voice. The woman who had been holding him easily relinquished him. 

“We made it, little one,” she whispered, snuggling the mewling baby. “Yer ommy's gonna be okay.”

The ride to the base was not long. Filed out, the women were led to a large building where only female medics checked each of them thoroughly. A cold, numbing relief flooded Nova when she was told she was not expecting a litter. She had gotten used to the idea, and now, was even a little sad. When they asked about the pup, Nova begged them to find out what had happened to his mother. No one knew and they were too busy to go find out. They gave her clothes and clean diapers and told her to hold onto him for now. 

At the end of the gauntlet, a blacksmith with a cutter removed each collar, piercing, and cuff with great care, tossing iron and gold over his shoulder with the same quiet bitterness, once in a while muttering how much he hated the _Wogtal_. 

Freed from their metals, they were all given food and every pup got a bottle of milk. Despite her hunger, Nova felt too tired and overwhelmed to eat more than a few bites. Around her, many of the women felt the same, looking at their bowls before glancing about as though a Dire would leap from under a table to beat them for considering it.

At last, late in the day, she was given a bed in a large bunkroom. Some could stay awake no longer. Nova`s eyes burned but she could only stare at the slumbering, satisfied pup, her thoughts tumbling madly about all the events she had witnessed. 

Perhaps she had been sleeping, but she had gotten no rest. She yelped awake when she felt something sharp piercing her ear. Snapping up, she realized that the pup had taken a firm grip on her ear and was growling hungrily as he shook his head and then tried to suckle. Still exhausted, she peered around as the other slaves were all coming awake. She was not the only one jerking up, all for their own reasons.

 Several female soldiers at the door were quietly letting them know there was food available and offering permission for the well trained slaves to use the latrines. Sitting at a table with the other mothers, she stared blankly at the pup as he sucked down his bottle and wailed for a second. 

After breakfast, Nova sat on her bunk, letting the pup chew vigorously on her fingers despite his tiny sharp teeth. All she could think about was Anubis and Veka, her thoughts madly jumping between her worry for them both. 

“Nova?”

The soft voice made her snap around. “Jun!” She leapt to her paws and embraced the woman. Shocked, Jun was frozen, her eyes roaming about. “Oh Jun, I'm so glad to see you!”

Taking a moment to gather herself, she looked down at the wiggling, whining pup, and grew forlorn. “She was so weak.”

Gulping, Nova looked at her paws. “They took her away in a white bus. No one knows what happened. I've asked all the soldiers but no one knows. They just told me the white bus goes to the hospital.”

With a deep breath, Jun reached down to tickle his soft ears, which caused him to try and grab her with his tiny pawlike hands. She allowed him to catch her and he promptly stuffed as much of her finger into his mouth as could fit, ballooning his cheeks with her knuckles. It made her smile. “At least he will know a good life. Master Anubis would never let him go, but now he'll have a good life.” She touched a bulge on her belly as her own pups moved about and let out a sigh. “Master Caesar was happy to see me go. He... he told me to give his pups a good life.” Her voice cracked as she struggled with her tears.

Swallowing hard, Nova shook her head. “It's not fair. They didn't want to be like the rest of their pack. I wish we could just... do somethin'. Say somethin'.” Her voice grew even quieter, staring at the ground. “I feel just as helpless as I did there.”

A piece of paper rustled and Nova looked up. In her hand, Jun held a scrap with a great many scribbles. Offering it to Nova, she spoke in a hesitant  whisper as she looked over all the names and more than a few Xs. “Everyone here signed it. But... we... we have... lost our voices. You.. you weren't touched by... by The Maker. Perhaps if the Elders knew what it meant to us....”

Nova was suddenly filled with enthusiasm, taking Jun's hands. “Oh, yes!” she cried out. “Of course I will!” 

The slave tensed, staring at her in horror and glanced around before it suddenly clicked that there wasn't a need. The expression of fear became realization which immediately turned to hot, heavy tears that rolled down her muzzle.

There was a whimper behind them. Then another. And another. Nova's excited outburst had startled all the women in the bunkhouse and they had all looked about in the same fashion. Within moments, all the slaves made the same realization that no one was coming to beat them. There were no _Wogtal_ here. The nightmare was over. The cacophony of broken whimpers and stifled sniffles was causing the female soldiers to wipe at their eyes as well, saddened by the relief and grief that choked the air.

Sucking in her breath, not knowing what else to do, emotion bubbled into her throat and Nova let out a small, warbling howl. Silence met her when she finished. All eyes had turned to her and it seemed as though they held their breaths. Gulping, her eyes darting around, she sucked in another breath and howled again. It cracked so she tried again, imagining how it was going to feel to howl with her own pack again. A strength came to her voice so that it filled the building. When she let out another, Jun began to yip, hesitantly adding her voice. The wave of yips and broken howls brought soldiers from all over the base to stand in silent observance at the doors and windows, hand over their muzzles as a symbol of respect for those who had been made voiceless. Even the General left his office to stand at the door, his head bowed, with a hand on his muzzle and the other over his heart.

After the women had exhausted themselves and quieted, some falling asleep, others milling about, an announcement was shouted through the camp that the trial was going to be starting in the morning because the prisoners were considered too dangerous to keep alive and anyone who would like to testify or just attend was welcome to do so. 

Some female soldiers came in and began questioning the slaves about their packs. It took quite awhile to get such information from some of them. As there were only so many vehicles, they were loading up the closest first and would work out transporting those further away. Some of the slaves were not even wolves. The foxes lived a great distance from the plains, in the grand forests closer to the poles, while the otters lived in the many fjords and tributaries throughout the world.

As Nova lived a full day’s ride inland, she was going to be staying for a bit. Long enough to be at the trial. It weighed heavily on her mind so that she could not eat her dinner. Staring idly at her suckling ward that had no such qualms, she felt a presence and glanced up to find Jun sitting beside her. She smiled down at the pup. 

“Have you heard anything?” she asked softly, ears swiveling.

Nova shook her head. “No. No one'll tell me anything 'bout her.” 

With a sigh, Jun tickled around an ear. “Mistress Terra would've loved him as though he were her own.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Nova changed the subject. “Will ye be on a bus tomorrow?”

“No,” she whispered. “I don't leave for 2 days. My pack is far north. I... I was told there are almost no males left in my pack.” She let out a long sigh. “My son... my brothers, all dead.”

Nova reached out and took her hand. “I'm so sorry, Jun.” They sat in a melancholy silence for a moment before Nova softly changed the subject. “Will ya stand with me tomorrow? Ye... ye don’t have to say nothin'. I just... I need someone there. I don't think I could stand up in front of all those people by myself, but it might be our only chance to save 'em.”

Before she could respond, a female soldier stepped in and peered around. “Is there a Nova in here?”

The soldier approached when Nova responded shyly. “Do you know Veka?”

A short bus ride to another base and some walking through a large white building with many beds, and Nova had her arms around Veka. Though she was attached to many tubes and wires, she had the strength to hold her pup. Smelling his mother, he began to squirm and mewl. Looking down at him, she informed Nova in a forlorn whisper that she had been so torn and infected inside that the doctors had to remove her uterus to stop the bleeding. This would be her only pup.

“I thought of a name.”

Nova gasped, perking up and wagging her tail a little. “Tell me!”

"Parval. Like the story."

"Oh! Parval the Grand! As tall as a tree an' break boulders with his jaws an' drink whole rivers. I know that one. A great name for 'im. He's grown just since we've been here." She then told Veka of the trial and of the paper with all the names she had folded and tucked in her pocket. 

With her ears laid back, Veka sat quietly a long moment. "I... I'll go with you," she whispered. “Mistress would want it."

Licking her between the ears, Nova pressed foreheads with her. "Ye are so brave. Thank you." Promising to take care of her pup, Nova was returned to the bunkhouse just after dark. 

After laying Parval on the bed gently to not wake him, she was surprised to find Jun waddling towards her. With a soft smile, and an even softer wag of her tail, upon hearing the news of Veka's survival, the older woman took Nova's hand. "I'll stand with you."




The morning dawned a dreary grey with a chill breeze that swept down from the mountains. It carried the hint of smoke, with a touch of something foul and familiar. 

A crowd had been gathering in one of the large buildings. Nova and Jun were escorted by several soldiers to sit on a raised platform facing the table the Elders would sit at. Veka was pushed in in a wheelchair still hooked to a bag of fluids. When the Elders entered, all between 50 to 70 years, Veka attempted to rise the way everyone else did, but the Supreme Alpha put out his hands and insisted everyone sit so that there was no reason for her to stand. 

Then the prisoners were dragged in. In chains and muzzles, at the end of control poles, all of the immediate Zaroff pack were dragged, prodded and forced into the open space left for them. Through the crowd bubbled a spiteful growl that Ivan returned with a show of his might only to be shocked into cowardly submission on the ground much to the crowd's amusement and encouragement.

Nova's breath caught to see Anubis. Disheveled, broken and bitten, he gave no resistance and kept his eyes on the ground. She wanted to whimper and go to him, but she felt Jun take her hand tightly. On the other side of the group, another black form with only a white swirl to see him stood hunched down and equally depressed. Caesar's only resistance was that he did not wish to stand so close to his mother. Though her golden satin and fur lined dress was torn, Shiva stood like royalty, dominating the room with her sharp glare.

Despite her short time as a slave, those piercing eyes were enough to make Nova's blood run cold and she found she could hardly breathe much less speak when Khade'grr finished his speech and turned to her.

"For 45 years, Shiva Zaroff, your pack has caused many an _Aroogar_ to tremble in their homes. For over 4 decades, your pack and your pack alone financed, organized and executed a slave trade the likes of which our species has never seen before, using methods not only inhumane but down right evil. Our only disappointment is that the 'Slave Maker' does not stand here with you to face justice for his crimes. 

"To better understand the horrors you brought to our people, only these 3 Honored Free had the courage to join us today. Please, do not be afraid. Tell us what you came to say.”

A female soldier that had been working closely with the freed women since they had arrived rushed to him and whispered urgently by his torn ear. “Eh? Their stare? Of course! Have the prisoners turned around.”

"Even better,” another Elder spoke out, “put 'em on their knees before the Honored Free!” 

“ Yes! Absolutely!” chimed in another. “They are scum. They hold no rank here. They'll not hold any control over anyone here.”

As they were forced about to the cheers and jeers of the crowd, the brothers glanced up, ears perking when they saw Nova, Jun and Veka together. They went easily to their knees, sitting on their ankles and crouching low for good measure.

“Is that better, Honored Free?” an Elder questioned softly.

Though the other 2 women hardly acknowledged him, Nova nodded, trying her best not to stare at Anubis. The room went silent when the Elder again asked for her testimony. All eyes turned down respectfully, but Nova still had to gulp and she had little strength to her words.

“I... I was only a slave for-for a short time. Not, um, not nearly as long as the others. But... I--I saw enough to--to haunt me the rest of my life. I--I can't ever be who I was before. No one who--who saw it--who lived through it, can ever be who they were before. I... I'm sorry, I....” Her voice cracked as she shuddered in memory, panting with anxiety. The Elders gently encouraged that she take all the time she needed and the crowd was silent. 

Feeling Jun's grip tighten a little, she gathered herself. “I can't give ye details. They were simply too many and... too terrible. It--it steals my voice to think of it. But, in all the torture, there--there were some who didn’t--didn’t want to be part of it. The 3 of us,” she squeezed their hands, glancing at them “well, the only reason we can stand here is cuz our masters, they treated us with mercy, an'... we think they should be shown the same mercy they showed to us when it could've gotten 'em in a lot o' trouble.”

The Elders glanced at each other. Khade'grr peered at her curiously. “Which of these dogs were your... captors?”

“Mast—uh, A-Anubis, C-Caesar and... and Mistress Terra,” she spoke the name more softly than the others.

Looking at the papers before them, a tan Elder with large round glasses sneered. “Well, Terra Zaroff was reported killed in action. As for Anubis Zaroff... he was a soldier. Perhaps he was kind to you, but he was certainly not kind to those he stole and sent to this Slave Maker.”

Staring at his back, Nova responded softly, “he never sent anyone to the Maker.” His ears perked up, his back straightening a little. “He... he couldn't. Not after what happened to his sister. She... she was a victim, too.”

Reaching into the pocket of her jumpsuit, she took out the paper and held it up for a soldier to take to the Elders table. “The Maker stole so many voices, S-Supreme Alpha, s-sir. This... was the only way they could speak. We--we all want 'em to know that the danger they faced for their mercy weren’t for nothin'.”

The Elders leaned together and whispered to each other, while Khade'grr looked down at the little scrape in his hands, holding it as though it might have been a snowflake he was trying to keep from disappearing.

“Honored Elders!” called out a female soldier, stepping forward and saluting. “I would like to share a story of the battlefield that may be relevant.” She continued when given permission. “My squad was captured up by the north slope about 6 weeks ago, and after the dogs murdered the men, they took me and put me in a cage with some girls from the packs around there. When we were stopped for them to rest, there was a big, black Dire that came over, and we thought for sure he'd pick one of us to torment but he... he left us some sharpened bones. I was able to pick the lock of the cage, and we escaped. I can’t tell you for certain that this is the same one, but he was black as the night and all I could see of him were his eyes, that bright gold. If this is him then I... I owe him my life.”

The Elders decided to call for a short recess to discuss what to do with the new information. During their absence, the crowd began to get rowdy with the prisoners, throwing paper at them and calling names. The guards did nothing to stop them until the door opened once again, quickly shushing the crowd as the Elders returned to their seats.

Once there was silence again, the Supreme Alpha stood so that his smooth voice could be heard easily. “Shiva Zaroff. You have called the _Aroogar_ 'weak,' 'lesser beings' and 'worthless.' All because we are small and because we are compassionate by nature. Well, I intend to enlighten you in these last few hours of your life.

“The pack I Alpha lives beside the ocean, and we trade openly with the _Fa'val_. We are a prosperous and bustling port. One of my sea faring brothers” he idly indicated the Elder sitting beside him, “told me of a small fish that lives along the bellies and among the fearsome jaws of much larger and aggressive fish. And yet, they are not eaten and they are not hunted. These bigger fish defend their weaker, smaller friends. Why is this? Because those small fish are _helpful_. Because they are _valuable_. They do a job that other fish don’t. Their value does not lie in their size or their strength but in the efficiency of their duty. They stay with the bigger fish so long as they are not eaten and they perform their duty. Those fish that do eat these small helpers are sickly, infested, and starved, much like your troops, who were oh so eager to offer us their assistance for full bellies and better conditions than you were offering them. We sent them home with blankets and medicine and tools, which they told us was more than you offered them. Some have even stayed behind to assist us in our rebuilding.

“So, much like this small and 'weak' little fish, it is through our gentle, helpful nature that we amass allies who have much greater strength than ourselves. That mercy you spit at has been the greatest strength of our species.”

There were cheers and agreements through the crowd, strangers patting each other on the shoulders. The noise quickly died back down as he continued.

“That said, before I became the alpha of my own pack, I grew up in a pack that was regularly abusive. I did not share their values but to openly defy was to be punished. While their violence created control, it did not create loyalty. In the end, it was through mercy and kindness I amassed many loyal packs, and it was that same 'weakness' of mine that has helped bring you, oh great Bitch of the Mountain, to your knees before us! The Zaroff have fallen and the Khade'grr Allegiance has prevailed!” 

He had to wait for the jeers, hoots, and howls to stop. The crowd reluctantly grew quiet again when the other Alphas loudly drummed the table together. Slowly waving the sheet of paper, the Supreme Alpha eyed the only two Dires who were not trying to resist. “You know what I see in this little scrap of paper? _Loyalty_. You don't get loyalty through control and violence.” He focused on the paper, quietly reading the many names to himself before slowly shaking his head. “So many victims. So many of our people, our women, our families destroyed by your insanity. But this little scrap, as torn and crumpled and battered as those who put their names on it, this tells me that there were some who saw strength in mercy and gave that strength to these women to endure. We would be remiss to justice if we looked past this and sought only to quench our desire for your blood. 

“Anubis and Caesar Zaroff. This council recognizes you as sympathetic parties. We shall consider your punishment later. 

“As for the rest of the Zaroff... your graves are already dug. By nightfall, you will all be lying in them. For all those who did not make it back; for all those who will never be the same, you will all hang! Take them! And keep Shiva for last! Let her watch her pack fall to 'lesser beings'.”

There was a great commotion when Shiva, Ivan, and the other members of the Zaroff attempted to use their size and strength to break their bonds. Nova, Jun and Veka found themselves being briskly led by some female soldiers they had come to recognize out of the building back towards the bunkhouse. 

As they collected Veka's pup from one of the freed slaves who had been a wet nurse just a few days ago, Nova heard a familiar voice call her name. Her head snapped around and her body followed, bounding into the arms of a brother and an uncle. “Oh, White Toe! Iron Gale!”

They both held her tightly. Her tail was wagging rudely in her joy but no one cared. 

“Oh, Nova!” White Toe wiped at his eye. “When they said ye didn't come back from trainin' I was so furious! I told 'em field exercises were no place for an omega! We searched for days!”

“Yeah, we was followin ye for days all over the mountainside,” continued Iron Gale, stroking her head with a hand that was missing a finger. “We ended up stumblin' on the big force that would've caught us by surprise. But instead, we caught 'em dogs by surprise!”

“Wait... w-what?” Nova stared at him with eyes like saucers.

“Yeah! We wouldn't've ever known 'bout it if we hadn’t been lookin' for ya!” White Toe licked her lovingly. “I'm just glad yer back. Omma woulda killed me for losin' ya and I'd've let her! Hey, are you alright?” 

Licking her nose and panting heavily, she felt sick and unsteady. “Uh... uh. J-Just, um, ah, a little... overwhelmed.” Sucking in her breath, she thought of the first thing she could to change the subject. “Um, th-this is Veka and Jun. They, uh... Veka? What's wrong?”

She was slumped in her chair, a morose expression pulling her face down. She had been trying to hold her self together but when Nova insisted multiple times, she began to cry. “It-it's just… s-seeing your pack. I-I was hoping. I prayed... every day.”

Jun's ears laid back, squeezing the younger woman’s hand. 

“My... my pack is gone,” Veka continued with hardly enough strength to be heard. “They... were close to the border. Everyone... they're all gone.” A shudder ran through her and tears dripped from her snout. "I... I have nowhere to go.”

Whimpering, Nova fell to her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around the softly sobbing woman. “Then yer comin' with me. I'm yer pack now.” Veka twitched, peering at her with wet astonishment. 

“Now hold on,” Iron Gale chastised her. “Ye forget yerself, Nova. Omegas don't make choices for the pack.” White Toe and a nearby soldier who was close enough to overhear both glared incredulously at him before Nova could whip her head around to do it, and the older, buff, scarred male laid back his ears and stammered sheepishly. “B-b-but, uh, i-in this case, uh, I-I think the pack would agree with ya.”

Baring a fang at him, White Toe got on a knee, softly introducing himself and agreed that she was welcome to join the pack. “As a Beta, it would be an honor to count ye among my packmates. Our new Alpha'll be happy to accept ya and yer plump pup. Such bright blue eyes. He might be our Alpha some day.”

“N-New Alpha? What... happened to papa?” Nova gulped.

The two men glanced at each other with grim expressions. Clearing his throat, Iron Gale’s gravelly voice was heavy like the growing pit in her stomach. “Uh, well, about 2 days after ya went missing, Wild River were, ah, attacked by a _skaowl_. The pack drove it off but... he bled out. I got a letter that 3 days ago, uh, Jack from West Hammer Pack were voted in.”

Once again Nova began to pant. She didn't know how to be happy or sad right now. Every moment had jerked her every which way and she just didn't know what to process. Iron Gale hugged her tightly so that she didn't fall. “I'm sorry, Nova. He was my brother, yer pa, and a damn good Alpha. We're all mournin' 'im.”

As they embraced, White Toe looked at Jun. “Do you need a new pack, too?” Ears back and eyes glued to the floor, Jun shook her head silently. “Oh, well I'm glad ye've got yer family to go back to. If yer pups are like this one, might eat our pack out of all it's food 'tween 'em!”

Jun attempted to relax, giving him a ghost of a smile. 

Sniffling, Nova wiped at her eyes, gathering herself as she recalled what was at stake. Turning to Jun, she took her hand. “We-we've gotta talk to the Elders! 'fore they make a decision.”



A couple of hours later, there was a call for everyone to come back to the building where the trial was held. This time, only Anubis and Caesar stood among the much smaller soldiers who were already acting gentler with them, though they were still restrained and at the end of control poles.

Stepping up onto the platform behind the table made of a polished tree trunk while the other Alphas gathered, Khade'grr's presence was intimidating. It wasn't in how big he was as he was certainly not the tallest or most muscular there, but in the deep wisdom upon his scarred face, and his eerily reflective black gaze that seemed to pierce through ones mind. 

“Anubis and Caesar Zaroff. This council recognizes you as sympathetic parties. The pleas of the women you showed mercy to were... touching. Hearing some of the stories in private, they moved us to extend that mercy to you. It saddens us that your sister, Terra, is not here to share in your fate, but also to accept our gratitude. And understanding how Mustava died, it is worth not getting the chance to hang him ourselves. Fucker is dead, and that's what matters.” 

There were howls and whoops and cheers. This time, the Elders impatiently beat the table to get quiet again. “For the crimes you committed, you will watch your pack perish. Then, you will be released to the packs of the women who so _insistently_ begged for you, but you will hold no rank among our people. You will know what it's like to be under the heel of others.”

Putting his hands on the table, Khade'grr leaned over to glare straight into their eyes with a focused and dangerous intention worthy of the _Wogtal_, and his voice came from the graves he had already dug for them. “And should you ever resist in any fashion, ever attack anyone, even bare a fang, there will be no corner on this continent that you will find refuge from our wrath. Now, I've been assured that the two of you are very intelligent, so it is my assumption that you both understand the gravity of this promise.” 

Both Dires lowered themselves, slouching as low as they could submissively, and nodded.

Standing straight with satisfaction, the Supreme Alpha continued. “As for Terra. After hearing some first hand accounts, this council was moved to honor her memory as a fellow victim of the Slave Maker and considers her pardoned. This is the decision of the Khade'grr Allegiance council. Hangings will begin in 1 hour.”

The brothers glanced at each other before willingly being led out to the area where the grisly event was to take place. There was no emotion on their faces as they stood silently in the frigid drizzle that had threatened the whole day. Some of the wolves said it was the spirits of the dead that wept for the justice of this day, a sentiment that flourished and was uttered by every mouth to be agreed with by every ear. 

Several of the Zaroff fought against their deaths, but it did not help them. When the noose could not be tightened around their necks, a great axe ended their resistance with rivers of blood.

As the day grew late and dark, the final noose was slipped around the neck of the Bitch of the Mountain and a great crowd had gathered. Many cried and cursed at her while she stared up at the sky as though she did not hear them.

Khade'grr stepped forward and held up his hands until an angry silence fell. “This is truly a moment in history. This day will be known as a grim, but glorious day for centuries to come. Even the spirits weep this day. It will be marked upon every calendar, even among our many kinds and kin, that on this day, the greatest enemy of our peace was brought to heel!”

Looking directly at the brothers as the crowd cheered, he spoke to them. “I'm sure there are things you have wanted to say. I grant you the chance to say your final words now.” 

As their tight leather muzzles were released in many jingles of buckles and chains, Anubis took in a shuddering breath for he had had been shivering in the rain for hours, but now his tremble came from a different place. “You called me soft all my life. Told me I was weak no matter how I proved otherwise. You made me feel like there was always something wrong with me.” He glared up at her, his muzzle deeply wrinkled, teeth bared to the gums. “But look what it got you, and look what it got me, and now I know which of us was wrong!”

Caesar growled and turned away. “I have nothing to say to you, Dealer with Devils. Killer of sisters. It would simply be a waste of air. Might as well be talking to your statue."

Detached and elegant, Shiva glanced between her sons. “You shall carry on the Zaroff name, my sons.”

Anubis snarled dangerously before standing tall, ears up high. “I am a god. I need no last name. I stand alone.”

Caesar glanced at him, a corner of his mouth as amused as he could be in this somber moment. “Ha! And I am a king! I'll make my own path.”

With the pull of a lever, the bloody reign of terror was over, but there was no rejoicing on this miserable day. The bodies were dumped unceremoniously into a hole in the ground. In the coming months it would be marked by a monument, a great memorial to all those who were lost to the slave trade. For now, it was a mound of dirt that the wolves spat at as they went by.



The following morning dawned in a cold, melancholy mist. Several buses had returned from their voyages and were being serviced by a few grease slicked officers while the base came awake. 

Coming out of the mess hall after a barely touched breakfast, Nova slowly pushed Veka and Parval towards the loading area. Jun waddled with them, along with several other freed slaves. There were more than a dozen women who had no pack to go back to. As a previous delta for her own pack, Jun had agreed to take a few back with her. Other packs had taken the displaced women eagerly.

The enormous black silhouettes were unmistakable even through the fog. Nova swallowed her whimper as she got closer. The brothers had not slept. Slouched low with the weight of their chains and buckles, they stared at the ground in a surreal daze. Their once lustrous pelts were now shaggy and damp. Several soldiers were standing around them, along with White Toe and Iron Gale.

“M-Master...” Jun gasped softly, hurrying a little. 

Caesar barely acknowledged her with a tilt of his head. “Jun,” he murmured matter-of-factly through his muzzle, “you're my Mistress now.”

“Of... of course,” she stuttered uncertainly.  

Two soldiers went with Caesar, squeezing him into the back row where he could be shackled but also fit his legs down the aisle. None of the women showed any fear of him, though they glanced nervously at the soldiers. A couple gathered the courage to express relief they were going with him.

Looking out the window, it was the last time he locked eyes with Anubis. They had said their goodbyes during the night with the expectation of never speaking again. Roaring to life, the bus rattled and creaked as it lurched forward. 

When Anubis let out a big sigh, Nova reached out to touch his arm. “Ye can send letters,” she offered reassuringly. He looked down at her, doing his best to muster a positive reaction.

“Nova!” She cringed, snapping her hand away. Iron Gale glared at her, coming to stand between them and prod Anubis into the bus that had pulled in front of them. “Don't talk to 'im. No one should be talkin' to 'im unless they gotta. He's the slave now.” 

With another soft sigh of acceptance, Anubis sat at the back as he was prompted, spending most of the ride staring blankly out the window at the many rolling fields, neatly rowed orchards, herds of various penned animals, and sparse woodlands until he fell asleep without meaning to. Opening his eyes again as the noise level in the bus grew eagerly, he realized it was quite dark outside. The large moon shone off metal roofs in the near distance, fields vanishing into the blanket of night.

The bus had just halted and opened the doors, but a lookout of her pack was already howling excitedly, dashing among the bunkhouses and small cabins with cries of joy and delight. The first to put their arms around her were her middle brothers who had been keeping watch in the fields and came running the instant they heard. Holding her close, their tails rudely thumped everyone nearby, but it was easily forgiven as more members surrounded her and there was just no more room to avoid a wagging tail. Slumping into the arms of her family, her tears hardly had the chance to form before they were licked away by a dozen loving tongues.

A dark grey woman with a large braid and a heavy frame growled at everyone in her way. “Where is my pup? Yer all in my way! Move! Move! Oh! My sweet Nova!”

“See, Omma? I told ya I'd bring 'er back.”

The woman glared at White Toe while she smothered Nova against her ample breasts. “I would have _ended_ you!” she growled with no hint of a bluff.

White Toe chuckled nervously, stepping back so he was slightly behind Anubis who had been observing the joyous reunion in captivated silence. When the woman's green eyes locked on him, he could feel the magnitude of her wrath wash over him like hot ash. “This is the savage who stole my pup!? Why ever would ye bring this animal to my pack? What were ye thinking?”

“Uhhh, that he could... plow the fields since the tractor's been broke?” Iron Gale offered.

“What is that!?” came a great exclamation that caused all heads to turn. Another dark grey and black male approached the crowd that parted for him, looking at Anubis though he went straight to Nova to rescue her from being suffocated and hugged her.

“A filthy beast!” the woman snarled. 

“Ommy...!” Nova tried to protest.

“What, ye don’t know a Dire when ya see one?” White Toe teased the new man, who flipped him off with the hand behind Nova's back.

Shaking her head, the female Alpha turned her attention to the mewling pup and his mother still quietly sitting in the wheelchair. “Enough 'bout that thing! Oh, what a sweet pup! What's yer name, sweetling? Veka? Ah, Veka, ye are most welcomed here! I’m Alpha Cloud. It is an honor to consider ya a Radkial. Cedar! Soot! Come, take lil... Parval and get him fed. Ye both must be exhausted. Now, off with the lot of ya! Take Nova and Veka to eat and back to bed! Fern, go get Jack. We need to figure out what to do with that... _thing_!”

Though Nova tried to explain that he wasn’t dangerous, she was sent inside with most of the pack. The other man had trotted off quickly.

Cloud glared at Anubis head to toe. He kept his eyes submissively on the ground at her feet. This was his new Alpha, whether he was their slave or not. Sniffing the air rudely, she bared her teeth. “Filthy animal! Why didn’t they hang him, too?”

White Toe and Iron Gale had time to explain some of the verdict, unfurling an officially stamped parchment before another man came into the light of the lanterns. His brown hair was smooth and straight, tied back in a loose tail while his braid was full of delicately carved pack story beads with a few precious metals, and was dressed in some coveralls with only one strap over his shoulder.  Many shades of brown, his sleepy expression became alert upon making out the great void in the darkness. “Great dog in the sky, that's a _Wogtal_? He's massive! What were ye thinkin'?”

Again, Iron Gale scratched his head. “Well, ya know, tractor's broke so thought he'd be useful.”

Eyeing Anubis closely, the Alpha rubbed his shaggy chin. He wasn't much older than the Beta who stood beside him, though he was a bit shorter. “Well, Fern, what d'ya think?”

“I think White Toe made a good call. He's hot as hell.”

Jack's head spun so fast, his neck cracked. “For fucks sake, Fern, get a hold o' yerself! That's not what I meant!” He groaned and rubbed his eyes when White Toe winked at his brother, making a heart symbol while mouthing “just for you.” “There hasn't been a day ye two haven't made me question why I wanted to become Alpha of this pack.”

“For the pussy, of course.”

“Fern!”

“Sorry, Omma. Well, he looks like he could do the same work load as any ox I could buy 'round here, and he's free! Only problem is, uh, how do we even, ya know, treat a slave? Only pups have no rank and he's clearly not a pup.”

Glancing at Cloud who was glaring up at Anubis with bared teeth, Jack pursed his lips while everyone else peered around uncomfortably. “Well, Queen? I defer this to you. Fern's got a point, but I think it’s the women that'd have the most problem with 'im being here.”

If only looks could kill he could be put out of his misery. Cloud glowered at him as though she could burn holes through his flesh. After a few heart beats, she looked at Iron Gale. “What'd ye say 'bout a note?”

“Uh, not a note, really. A piece of paper, and all the Honored Free signed it. General Khade'grr showed it to everyone. Even put it in a glass case to be displayed with the monument.” Handing the parchment to her to read, he looked up at the giant inky blob beside him. “He, uh, he hasn’t given us any problems. I honestly don’t think he will. Khade'grr said he’ll send someone to make sure he's behavin' 'imself, but, honestly, seems he’s resigned 'imself to this.”

Reading through the elegantly written letter, Cloud glared up at Anubis again before shoving the paper into Jack's hands, growling “fine" as she stomped away.

Jack watched her go, then looked at the paper in his hands. Skimming it over, his brow cocked and he glanced up at Anubis again. “A gift!?” he barked. “We give food and bodies to this war, and Khade'grr thinks this slaver's a _gift_ to us?”

White Toe shrugged. “He _is_ as big as an ox.”

Frowning thoughtfully, Jack nodded. “Yeah, okay, ya know what? I’ll answer yer question, Fern. We'll treat 'im like livestock! Shift, dog! I want ye on all fours, wrapped up in chains helpin' to plow the fields. I hope ye put as much enthusiasm into that as I’m sure ya put into plowin' all yer helpless slaves.” 

Anubis glared down at him as enough of his restraints were removed to let him shift. Grabbing his collar, Jack jerked him down to look the Dire in the eyes. Instead of feeling dominant by the action, his heart leapt into his throat at the predatory intensity of that molten gold glare until Anubis forced himself to look away, so he grit his teeth and growled. “Ye've no rank here, dog, so don't even think about touchin' any of the bitches, or I'll rip yer throat out!”

His dark scowl became an amused little smirk, and he muttered, “You couldn't rip my throat out if I stood here and let you.”

First growling, Jack then gave him a toothy grin. “I've one question 'fore ya shift. There's 99 dicks in a row, how many do ya choke on?”

Blinking in confusion, he recovered quickly and smiled. “None,” he drawled sweetly. 

“Oh, so yer that good at suckin' dick, then?” 

Anubis' grin was brilliant and sharp and directly in Jack’s face behind the thick cage muzzle, locking gazes with him again. “No,” he drawled like honey, “because I bite the first dick off and the rest run away.”

There were a couple snorts of laughter despite themselves, while Fern utterly lost it. “So he _does_ put dick in his mouth! This is great!”

Jack snickered and backed away, shaking his head. “Yer gonna be a problem, dog, but I like excitement. Now, on all fours. When he's done, take 'im to the animal barn. Ye better get some sleep, mongrel, cuz we work with the sun.”