309 : On your side

VERENA

I sit at my desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. It's a few hours before the full moon, and I'm trying to make sure that everything is in order. The fate of our pack rests on my shoulders, and I know I can't afford to make any mistakes.

I look up at the leaders of the squad divisions that are in charge of protecting the borders of our pack. They're all sitting around the table, their faces etched with concern.

"Have you secured the areas that come near the borders of the pack?" I ask them. "Have you evacuated the people around those areas to the building where we will be keeping them safe?"

One of the men, a grizzled veteran named Marcus, nods. "We have," he replies. "We've also hidden weapons in the borders, just in case the Ashwalkers try to sneak in."

I nod, appreciating Marcus's foresight. "Good work," I say. "We need to do everything we can to protect our people."

Marcus smiles. "We will," he says. "We will fight to the death to protect our home."

I feel a surge of hop