We Will Rebuild

The journey back to the pack took two long, exhausting days. My body was sore from all of the fighting I had to do to get there, and every step was a reminder of the battles fought and the demons I had faced. As I approached the familiar territory, my stomach began to hurt, and anticipation and anxiety gnawed at my insides. The taste of victory from Dan and Leon was bittersweet, because I had emerged from the forest a changed person, my revenge seemed to mark me.

Finally, I stepped into the boundaries of our pack, the place I had called home for so long. But as I walked through the familiar pathways, a strange aura hung in the air. Whispers followed me, carried by the wind, and I could feel the gaze of every pack member who had sighted upon me. Some people hurried into their homes, and I wondered why.

Children pointed with curious eyes, their innocence unaware of the battles I had fought and won when they weren't there. I smiled weakly at them, trying to muster the strength to face