After their little chat and stroll, Eight and Zen arrived at the trail leading up to the Den's main home. The plateau rose up from the ground like a monolithic beast, the outcropping in the side, it's mouth.
It didn't help Eight's feelings at all to see the Pack's home in such light, especially now that he feared to be reprimanded by the Clan Lead Alphas for some transgression or another. Though it was not certain to him if this was fact, or if his imagination was getting the better of him, each step he took was agonizing and filled is stomach with the chattering of butterflies. Each time a paw hit the cold stone beneath him, it felt like it was biting at his paw pads, nipping at him in a most unfriendly manner.

Zen trailed up before Eight, the wiry, white furred Omega leading the way with his shaggy, shorter Beta companion in tow.
Eight looked around him, there seemed to be no one about on this day, any of the pups and matrons that were normally seen below in the field were nowhere to be seen. An odd circumstance that lead to ever more jitters setting in to the Beta.

Not much time passed before the pair were at the top and making their way into the worn, gaping cave in the side of the mesa where the Pack made their Den.
In from the sun and in the shadows of the day, it grew colder, more uninviting than in previous times. Green eyes glanced around the cave, spying nothing and no one but himself, his Omega friend the Elder Alphas of the Clan, Stern and even Connor, the Alpha in charge of morning hunts.
Eight paused, puzzled now at the sight he beheld, he moved inward and stood before them.
Turning with unsure eyes toward Zen for some enlightenment only ended up in more bewilderment as Zen moved to their side to sit.

The row of the highest ranking wolves sat on the opposite side of the beta, All eyes on him. The bodies and minds behind each decision the pack makes, for better or worse were right here. Benjamin and Otto, the lead hunters, Connor, in charge of the morning hunts, Jayne, Alpha over territorial relations and perimeter patrols, Stern the lead Beta for night patrol of the territory, Dusk who was the lead Matron, Zen, Eight's friend and leader of the Omegas of the pack, and Deogee, Lead Alpha of the ShadeRock Clan.

One could pass out from the thoughts racing through Eight's mind at that moment, and not just the quantity, the speed of them. It was enough to send his head reeling. Thankfully, He wouldn't need to be concerned with keeping his feet beneath him for a moment longer, as Deogee spoke up and asked him to sit before them.
And he did so.

A moment passed and Deogee looked to his right, over each member sitting with him, each member glanced back in silence as though they were convening without speech at all. Deogee turned back to Eight, and the others did the same. Their stares seemed to pierce right through him, even his Omega friend sat in silence along with them. In earnest, except for his slender frame, he could have easily passed for an Alpha at that moment.


"Eight," The silence was broken by Deogee, his larger form sitting tall and proud, "Do you know why you were called here today?"

Eight shook his head, "No sir."

"You are here because your actions have gained the recognition of each member of the pack who sits before you today, as well as many who are not."


Eight gulped at these words, they sent chills through the stone, into his paws and all up his body. His fur stood on end in places as he tried to calm himself.

"But rather than tell you what will happen at this juncture," The old wolf explained, "I am going to pass the topic on to each member here. As they speak, I want you to listen and listen well, each one will answer any questions you have and help you to understand the decisions that have been made here before your arrival."

Eight sat there briefly, what could he do? The only thing he could ever do, He nodded once, sternly and replied,


"Yes sir."