[Sodium_noir] a Company of Wolves

[Alyson Young]

Chester, Nez, Poe, Korben
Bone Gnawer, Uktena, Raven spirit, Bone Gnawer
The Isle of Crabs

> "There's no need for us to fight," Nez said as she approached Korben,
> still in homid form. "No need to put on a show. We're a pack now. Our
> enemies are out there, not here."
> She stood in front of the Crinos war-machine calmly, neither prepared to 
> attack or defend against Korben. Instead, she held out her right hand to 
> Korben.

Korben stared in disbelief, taken aback by her choice of words, and 
actions.  She had just repeated a lot of his own beliefs... he could not 
disagree.  And yet the wolf, the Rage, cried out for a fight. 
Leadership could not be settled by a handshake, could it?

But in a way, her words were a challenge... and framed in that light, it 
was a challenge he simply could not win.  Certainly, he could pick a 
fight now... but he didn't want to be pack leader, and in order for her 
to win the fight, he would have to fight halfheartedly at best.  On top 
of that, he really agreed with her... and to pick the fight would be to 
disagree.  To fight halfheartedly in a cause he didn't believe in ... 
the Wolf recoiled at the very thought.  And fighting with his whole 
heart would only be worse.

In essence, then, he was already beaten.  The fight may as well have 
already taken place.  The challenge was issued, accepted, decided.  The 
pack was hers.

With a sigh, Korben sank to his knees and his breed form... which 
brought his throat level with her outstretched hand.  Leaning his head 
back, he bared his throat to his pack leader.

[I feel a change ... back to a better tag]