your Republic, which it has tried by force?”

Shouts of anger and threats came from the surrounding wolves, male and female alike. Korra was jostled from side to side as members of the Orca pack seemed to press forward, threatening to overwhelm the single Imperial wolf and his two escorts. But the Imperial had not stepped back or even reacted to the violent threats around him, through his escorts already curled their lips and showed their teeth threateningly.  Instead he smiled and spoke.

“The Imperial Legions have their eyes and ears everywhere and it has come to their attention that the Human race is expanding.”  His words brought silence to the entire chamber.  “You are what stands between them and the Imperial Republic.”

“How far are they from our territory?” asked one Orca in the crowd.

“No more than a half a month away.”Said the Imperial.

“How many Humans?” asked another Elder.

“Tens of thousands.”

It was like a spark lighting a fire.  Growls and howls of disbelief and threats rang around the chamber.  Korra pondered on what the Imperial had said.  Humans were a strange race who did not walk on four legs and wore skins of other animals on their backs.  She bristled at the thought, sometimes it was wolf skin the Humans wore on their backs.  Humans do not care for any other race but their own.  But they are intelligent too; they created weapons and they used them with dangerous accuracy and deadly purpose.  If they want something, they get it.  It was common law amongst wolves, no matter what pack you were, to tuck tail and run at first sight of a Human.  It was not good news they had begun expanding again. the last time they expanded, the Orca pack had been forced to enter unknown territory, land that happened to be under the watch of the Druid wolf pack at the time.  Before talk between the packs could be done, five wolves were killed: two adults, two adolescents, and one pup.  War was declared between the Druid and Orca packs.  Having known the land better than the Orcas, the Druids had the upper hand in the beginning; however, the Orcas had a gift which made their pack very unique: the Sight.  The Sight was an ancient power born within certain Orca which could freeze their opponent if they made eye contact, make them obey a command, or even kill them on sight.  Many of the Orca had this gift and used it to turn the tide in the Orca-Druid War.  Eventually, the Druids were defeated and the Orca claimed the land as their own.

That had been a year ago, when Korra was in her mother’s womb.  Now the Humans were expanding so it seemed, but Korra was skeptical.  The Imperial Republic’s love forownership of land was legendary. Every pack in the region knew and feared the possibility of the Imperials coming onto their land.  When the Imperials did arrive in the region, a good number of packs joined the Republic. Barely half a year after the defeat of the Druids, the Imperials arrived on the Orca’s territory with two legions of wolves and demanded their land.  They said the Orca’s were weak, that they were savages compared to the Imperials, and they would not survive to see the next day.  Thus began the Orca-Imperial war.  However, the Orcas had the land on their side, just as the Druids did during the Orca-Druid war.  Through guerrilla tactics they outflanked, outnumbered, and slaughtered all but the legatus, the general, of the two legions.  Sparing his life, they sent him back to the Imperial Republic as a warning. 

A week before the Imperial’s arrival Korra had heard rumors of numerous packs being led astray by again, stories.  The details were vague but some of the packs were led to believe that their land was in danger so they sent all their warriors to fight the menace.  They never returned.  A few days later a rival pack or another pack whose allegiance was to the Imperial Republic took over the defenseless pack’s lands.  There had been other stories of packs being slaughtered by the Imperials though already defenseless.

 But it didn’t make any sense.  Why would the Imperial tell the Orca pack about the Humans expansion?  Orca would not move against Humans nor would the Imperials…unless, they wanted the Orca off the land they now lived in.  No, that couldn’t be right.  The Orca was one of the largest packs in the region rivaling even the Imperial Republic of United Packs, they had prospered after the defeat of the Druids in great numbers.  To try to kill all of the Orca was like trying to stop the sun from rising.  

Korra shook her head in frustration.

“Korra?  Are you well?”  The voice came from a black wolf beside her, Damien, a wolf her age.  She liked him, he was kind and mild tempered.  He like was a lot like her, however he was born a beta but he carried himself like an alpha nevertheless.  He did not hound her with flirting and courting like the other males his age and he proved to be an excellent hunter and a trustworthy packmate.  Korra was proud to call him friend.  

“The Imperial causes alarm yet it does him no good,” replied Korra.  She explained her thoughts and when she was done she saw Damien’s ears twitch as if from an itch.  He was about to answer when a council member rose to speak.

“Imperial, we are aware than anyone else in this region, Humans are not to be trifled with.  Yet we are skeptical.  It does not take a year for Humans to suddenly expend onto more land, no, it takes at least half a decade.  Surely you don’t make us to be fools.”

The Imperial’s eyes blazed with fury.  “I hope you are likewise calling me one, such a mistake would be unwise.  To call me a fool would be calling the entire Imperial Republic fools and they will rise to see the insult dealt with!”

Growls and snarls erupted from the Orcas, drowning out the responding growls from the Imperial’s escorts.

“Order!  Order in this council!” cried a Council Elder.  He turned to the Imperial.  “You came to say your words and you have said them, not to anger this pack.  We welcomed you peacefully and you will likewise show that respect!”

“You dare to order a Legionary—“ snarled the Imperial, his ears flattening his eyes becoming slits.

“You will leave now!”  the Council Elder barked back.

“I am Legatus Augustus Centurion of the Imperial—“ began the Imperial.

The Council Elder had enough.  He thrust his muzzle inches from the Imperial's and snarled, “Leave this Council!” 

Silence fell in the Council room. The tension was as tight like a vine burdened with the weight of many grapes; Korra couldn’t tell whose eyes burned with hatred more, the Imperial’s and his escorts or the Orca present in the Council room.

The Legatus glared at the Orcas around him, then smiled knowingly.  He turned to his escorts. "We are leaving." He snapped. As they left, he made as though to follow them but stopped.  He faced the assembly again. 

"You can't say I didn't warn you."  Then he was gone.

"Did you see how the Council Elders confronted the Imperial?  What can you tell me?"

It was late afternoon and the Council had disbanded after the visitation of the Imperial Legatus.  Korra and Damien had slipped out earlier before the other wolves and the wolf-pup Lacion, son of Drappa and Tria, was waiting anxiously for news on the slopes leading to the Council cave; pups were forbidden to enter.  He fell into step beside the two half-grown wolves.

"They came with a warning," said Korra sharply as she walked past, "That is all."

Lacion fell out of step, slowing to a halt, taken back by Korra's words.  He was hurt and confused.  What did he do deserve such a remark? 

Damien sighed and left Korra's side, causing the she-wolf to come to a halt upon seeing her friend leave her to go to the pup.  It was her turn to sigh, she could not stand children and Damien's belief her actions always needed to be explained, and to a pup of all reasons!  As she watched Damien speak to Lacion, she couldn't help but think of what kind of adult he would become.  A good father, always with a heart for pups--he would never deny them his attention. 

She saw Lacion's ears become erect and his curly tail wag at whatever Damien told him and he took off in the direction of the dens. 

"What did you tell him?" asked Korra when Damien reached her side.  "That pup looked as though he had received a gift from above."

Damien shouldered his friend, nipping at her playfully.  "I only told him what he needed to be told," he said, then he yipped as Korra grabbed him by the scoff of the neck and brought him crashing in the dirt.  Before he could recover, she was on top of him, pinning him.

She brought her muzzle close to his. "Oh?  Did you tell him you would play with him in the river with his friends?" she asked, teasing him.

   Damien snorted but grinned, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, you who care not for pups.  You would rather stand sentry guard then watch over them."

"My duty--" exclaimed Korra, but was cut off as Damien grabbed her by the throat with his teeth, his grip tight enough to control her but not enough