The mountains were quiet that morning, the kind of silence that pressed against your ears and demanded attention. Mist clung stubbornly to the valleys below, curling like smoke through the jagged ridges. My legs ached from the previous day’s patrol, every step a reminder of the relentless grind, but my mind buzzed with anticipation. Today, Sera promised, would test more than just endurance, it would test intuition, courage, and leadership.
We gathered at the cliff’s edge before dawn. Sera stood at the forefront, her silhouette sharp against the dim sky. “There are movements in the valley,” she began, voice clipped and precise. “Tracks that do not belong to our pack, nor to known neighboring packs. Some of you will investigate. Others will provide cover. Timing, silence, and observation ar
