7 Diplomatic… Something – 3 (1/2)

(Wolf's POV)

When I returned from Vladmir's fortress, I went straight home with heavy steps, a feeling of regret, fear and anger inside my chest. When I get home, my youngest, Suna, came to receive me with a smile in her face.

I smiled back, trying to hide the sadness. My daughter… I pet her head and walk inside the house.

(Wolf): ”Suna, dear… where's your sister?”

(Suna): ”She's walking with her friends around the town.”

I nod and sit on the simple couch that we have in our living room. After thinking for some time, with my daughter watching me with a confused face, I make my decision. Getting up from the couch, still dressed in the armor that I was using to visit Vladmir's fortress.

(Wolf): ”Suna, please, fetch your sister and tell her to meet me at the town hall.”

As I walk by her, my daughter asks me hurriedly as I walk fast.

(Suna): ”D-dad?! Why the town hall?!”

I stop in front of the door, looking over my shoulder.

(Wolf): ”I'm calling a meeting with the elders.”

(A few minutes later, at the town hall, 3° person POV)

Once again in a short time, the elders of the tribes were gathered in the Town Hall, and once again the only sound in the air was that of murmur. They were silenced, however, when Wolf entered the hall and sat at the head of the main table.

(Wolf): ”I won't beat around the bush. I made contact with the mysterious force that arrived at the forest not too long ago.”

A heavy silence followed. After all, all the elders knew what meant making contact with the mysterious, but powerful force. After a short silence, the elder of the Dog Tribe asked:

(Elder Dog): ”How was it? are they hostile?”

Wolf shook his head.

(Wolf): ”No, surprisingly considering that they are an army.”

(Elder Bear): ”An army?”

(Wolf): ”Yes. They are a military nation and is completely formed by soldiers. They didn't tell me their objective to come here, but they are willing to keep a peaceful relationship with us.”

The elders sighed in relief. However, the eldest of them and known as the wisest, the elder of the Fox Tribe, noticed something in Wolf's grave expression.

(Elder Fox): ”Master Wolf… is there something that you aren't telling us?”

With his fragile voice, the other elders stopped talking immediately, their gazes focusing on their leader. Wolf nodded.

(Wolf): ”Yes. First, I must say that fortunately they are not racists. However, that doesn't change much the situation. They're a military organization, and they seem organized and disciplined. Not only that, they are quite advanced. They have a lot of stuff that I never saw before that could help us big time in almost everything.”

(Elder Fox): ”What's the catch?”

He asked with a suspicious expression. Wolf's expression turned grave.

(Wolf): ”As guarantee, their commander wishes that we send our children of the main families to be raised as one of them.”

Immediately, protest rose among the elders, together with angry shouts.

(Elder): You sold us?!”

(Wolf): ”No! he gave us a month to answer him, I'm planning to use this time to our advantage.”

(Elder Fox): ”What do you mean?”

He asked, the mood of the meeting room turning heavier.

(Wolf): ”We can let the youngster run away with everything that we have further inside the forest. The older generation will stay behind to hold them back as much as possible. We may not last much, but we can-”

(Luna): ”Father!”

She interrupted, walking in angrily followed close by her sister and some of her friends of her age.

(Luna): ”What do you mean running away?!”