Page 34 of Game of Destiny
“Do we know where they are located?” I asked.
“Not specifically, as we aren’t allies. But we know the general area,” Finlay told me.
“Let’s look it up on a satellite map, see if there is anything we can deduce from it,” I suggested. Martin connected his laptop to the big screen on the wall and searched for the area Finlay gave him.
“Oh,” Medow said as she saw it.
“That explains it,” Sam agreed. The map showed an area of mostly grass plains with rocky terrain popping up like islands. The few trees in the area stood spread out. As we moved over the map, we found some villages and some smaller cities, but nowhere did we see any forests or land that looked unoccupied by humans.
“It has to be difficult living there as a wolf,” Finlay remarked.
“They have to be on the constant lookout for humans,” Medow said, there was a lot of compassion in her voice.
“They are looking for a way to get out of the situation,” I concluded.
“Then we offer to take them in, under our current Alpha and our pack,” Martin suggested. Both Finlay and I shook our heads.
“It won’t work. We won’t inherit their rank just because we take in their members. The only way to get the protection of their rank is for us to join them,” Finlay explained.
“That sucks,” Sam said.
“But won’t it be a deterrent?” Martin asked.
“How do you mean?” Finlay wanted to know.
“If we take their pack into ours. Won’t other packs know it and see it as us increasing in strength? Which would make them less likely to want to fight us,” Martin explained.
“That is a good point,” Finlay told him.
“But do we want these wolves in our pack?” I asked. Everyone looked at me. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t be willing to help others. But I don’t think we have explored their motives deep enough. Yes, we know they need new land. But why get it through merging with another pack?”
“Because they are a decent pack and don’t want to attack us?” Medow suggested.
“Sure. But why do they need another pack’s land at all? They are a mid tier pack. According to them, they are a stable pack. They should have the finances to buy new land. If their pack is living on land like that, why don’t they pool their resources, sell the land and get new land? When you left your old pack, you had no notice, no time to plan, and you managed, as a new pack, to buy this land. Heck, we have managed to save up so we can buy a couple of more acres in spring. How long have they lived on that land? How many years have they had to save up to move to a better place?” I asked. There was silence around the table.
“You suspect there is trouble in their pack?” Finlay asked.
“I don’t know. I just know that there is a reason why they are still on that piece of land. Until I know what that reason is, I’m not comfortable letting them into our pack. And I will vote no on us joining them. My wolf won’t accept a new Alpha,” I told him. He chuckled.
“I should have expected as much,” he said. “What about the rest of you?”
“A definite no on us joining them. We have a good pack, a strong pack in so many ways. I’m not willing to risk us going back into a pack which doesn't have the right values. I’m open to letting them join us, but I agree with Amie, we need more information,” Martin said.
“I agree. No to join them. Maybe to them joining us,” Sam agreed. Medow nodded.
“Maybe we can arrange a meeting and get to know them?” she suggested.
“That is a good idea,” Finlay said. “I will call Alpha Jackson and turn his offer down but suggest we find another solution.” Everyone agreed.
“Do you want to join me for a beer?” Finlay asked, as everyone got ready to leave.
“Sure,” I said. I got the feeling he had something he wanted to talk about. “How about we get some dinner to go from the pack kitchen?” I suggested.
“Great idea, I heard we are having pizza today.”
“Pizza and beer, that’s a good combo,” I told him. We got our pizza from the kitchen and headed over to Finlay’s house.
“Take a seat on the couch,” he told me as he put his pizza box on the coffee table. As I got comfortable, he lit the big fireplace and got us beer. From the windows of either side of the fireplace you could see his snow-covered garden and beyond that the brook. It was cosy sitting on the sofa with him, eating pizza and enjoying the fire and the view.
