Territory

I stand there, struggling to find the right words, the weight of everything I’ve just learned pressing heavily on my mind. How can the lycan king be so blind, so detached from the struggles of the wolves in his own territory? My frustration burns deep within me. I disagree so strongly with his mindset—this idea that the wolves are somehow beneath his notice, that their survival isn’t his concern because they live outside his kingdom’s walls.

Worse still, I’m outraged that he hasn’t even tried to help. How could he stand by and allow the ravens to slaughter an entire pack within his claimed land? And what about the forests? They belong to the wolves as much as the lycans. How could he let the ravens ravage the land, desecrating it with their brutality? Does he even know what’s happening here? Or has he truly been that blind to the suffering outside his castle walls?

My heart aches for the wolves, for Nathan and his fallen brother, and a fierce determination builds in my chest. If the lycan king has turned a blind eye to all of this, I think, I’ll make sure he opens his eyes now.

“If your brother is captured,” I say, locking eyes with Nathan, “I will bring him to you. That’s a promise. I don’t know how long it will take, but I will make it happen.”

Nathan’s eyes flicker with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. I continue, my voice steady and sure, the weight of my words pressing through. “I will visit the lycan king and make him aware of what’s happened to your brother’s pack, and the atrocities the ravens have committed in his territory. He needs to understand what’s going on here. He needs to act.”

I pause, considering my next words carefully. “I would appreciate any advice you can give me about requesting an audience with him. If he won’t listen to you, maybe he’ll listen to me.”

Nathan studies me for a moment before giving a slow, resolute nod. “Thank you, Queen Lenora. Your words mean more than you know. All species should be able to live together in harmony, while still honoring their traditions. That’s the way it should be.”

I feel the fire of determination settle deep within me, solidifying into a resolve that strengthens my purpose. I will make sure the lycan king understands that we all deserve the right to live in peace, and that the ravens have gone too far.

“Thank you,” Nathan says again, his voice carrying a tone of finality, as if a weight has been lifted from him. “We are ready to assist you in any way possible.”

He turns and moves toward the table at the center of the room, unrolling a large, worn map. The parchment is covered in lines, markings, and symbols, detailing the various regions and territories that lie ahead. Nathan runs his finger over the map, tracing a path as he begins to explain.

“This is the lycan king’s territory,” he says, drawing a line along the edges of a large, outlined region. The territory is vast, far larger than I imagined, spanning miles upon miles of woodland and hills.

He continues, moving his finger across different sections of the map. “These,” he says, pointing to several red crosses scattered throughout the lycan lands, “are the known werewolf packs that still exist within the territory.” I count the crosses—twenty-six in total, each one representing a group of wolves fighting to survive amidst the chaos.

Nathan points to the lowest cross on the map, circling it with his finger. “This is the Red Rock Pack,” he says quietly, his voice full of sadness as he marks the place where his brother’s pack once stood. The weight of the loss still lingers in the air, even as we focus on the task ahead.

He trails his finger upward to the next red cross. “And this is where we are now,” he says, indicating the current position of his pack. It’s not far from the Red Rock Pack, but the distance feels insurmountable when I think of the ravens who still roam those lands.

Finally, Nathan moves his finger much higher, to the very top of the map, where a large circle has been drawn around what I can only assume is the lycan kingdom. “This,” he says, his tone more serious now, “is the lycan kingdom. It’s massive, and there’s a large river that runs around the entire kingdom, acting as a natural barrier.”

I study the map, taking in the scale of the lycan’s domain. The river is a powerful line of defense, wrapping protectively around the kingdom like a fortress. The only way in or out is through a single point of entry.

“There’s one place where you can enter the kingdom,” Nathan explains, pointing to a small entrance drawn on the map. “It’s heavily guarded, day and night. That’s where you’ll need to go if you want to request an audience with the lycan king.”

I nod, absorbing the information. If I can make it to the lycan king, I’ll ensure he listens to what I have to say.

“Thank you, Nathan,” I say, grateful for his help. “I won’t let you or your brother down. I’ll make sure the lycan king hears the truth.”

Nathan inclines his head, his respect for me evident. “I have no doubt you’ll succeed, Queen Lenora.”

As I look at the map once more, my resolve hardens. The path ahead will be treacherous, but I’m ready. The lycan king may be oblivious now, but I’ll make sure he can’t ignore the wolves any longer.