let Dash finish the last line, then he spoke again. "You may now rise Dash, Alpha of the Talbourne, and leader of her Defense Force."
Dash stood up.
Shadow smiled slightly. "Congratulations Sir."
Dash nodded at him. "Thank you Shadow."
Shadow sighed. "That's all I have... the floor is yours sir." He walked down the steps and made his way to the back of the crowd.
Dash watched his friend, wishing he could do something to aid him... but he didn't know what he could do. He stepped forward. "Thank you Shadow." He said. He turned to Timbre and nodded.
Timbre stepped up next to Dash. "Ami, Exectutive Officer of the Second Unit of the Talbourne Defense Force, center!" He called.
Ami stepped out of the ranks of her unit and walked up the steps to stop in front of Timbre and Dash. "Executive Officer of the Second Unit Ami, reporting as ordered sir." She said crisply.
Dash nodded at Ami and turned his attention to the member's of the Defense Force gathered at the front of the crowd. He cleared his throat and began. "Good Evening my brothers and sisters. I have several things to address here tonight and I know you all want to get back to your families..." Dash paused and glanced at June, who sat just behind the Defecse Force. "...at least I know do."
June smiled at him, and Dash smiled back as he continued. "...so I'm going to get started. The first thing is a military matter, but it's good you're here to witness it. As most of you know I have been the Lieutenant of the Second Unit for quite some time. Almost two years ago I had the priviledge to meet the wolf that stand before you now. When I first met her I knew she was destined for great things, though she was only a trainee at the time she had set herself apart from her fellow trainees. However, she didn't only excell and stand out from them, she mentored and led them. Ami was the first trainee I hand picked to come to my unit. Once she was part of the Second Untt it didn't take me long to appoint her as leader of the third quarter. There she continued to impress me and almost a year later I appointed her Executive Officer of the Second Unit. As Executive Officer she was second in command of the unit. She was also responisble for the personal aspects of the unit, both of these she performed exceptionally well. There have been several times in the past that I have had to leave her in command of some or all of the unit; I have never thought twice of doing this. I always knew they were in good hands. Recently I had to leave the cave alone, and Ami was in charge of the Second Unit when Lytion and the Shadow Clan attacked. Though I wasn't here I am told that she led them very well, and that even in the fane of total dfeat she never called retrear and never deserted her unit... this is the ultimate test of a leader and I'm extremely proud of her. Since I have assimed commant of the Defense Fore as a whole I will be unable to carry out my duties as Second Unit's Lieutenant. When thinking of a replacement there really was only one wolf who cmae to mind. One wolf who I feel competely at ease with giving command of my unit to... and she stands before you now.
Dash paused and shifted his gaze to Ami, who was doing her best not to smile. Dash couldn't help letting a little grin slide across his face as he remebered how he felt when Shadow appointed him a Lieutenant. he fixed his gazze on Ami's brown eyes as he began. "Wolves of the Talbourne Clan, let it be known to all those present that on this forty-fith day of the winter quarter, I do hereby appoint this wolf, Ami of the Talbourne, to the rank of Lieutenant in the Talbourne defense force, and do hereby charge her with the responsibility of commanding the Second Unit of said Defense Force. I, as leader of this Defense Force and acting Alpha of the Talbourne Clan, do charge others of lesser grade to show heir obiendience to lawful orders that she may give from time to time, and do charge her to follow such otders as I may give."
Dash smiled. "Lieutenant Ami, do you have anything you wish to say?"
Ami's eyes were clouded with tears and she shook her head slwly. "...not at this time Sir." She said. "My words are for my unit Sir."
Dash nodded. "Very well Lieutenant Ami, take charge of your unit, and make sure you take good care of them."
"Yes Sir," Ami said. "I will Sir."
Ami turned and walked to the front of the Second Unit.
As she made her way down Timbre stepped forward. "...Second Unit, ten-hut!" He called.
The wolves of the Second Unit stood up and stared straight ahead. Ami stopped and centered herself on the unit. "Second Unit, at ease." She said. The wolves sat down and relaxed. Ami looked over the wolves assembled before her and smiled. "...my unit." She thought. She turned around and sat down.
Dash sighed. "Now, as you all know, Lytion and the Shadow Clan are still a threat to us. It is undoudedly clear that they will attack us again. The last time we were ill prepared and caught off guard. That won't happen again, I assure you. Saba was a good leader, but one must face the facts.. her tactics were flawed. When the Shadow Clan attacked they found one of our units nearly exausted from constant patrolling, and the other three asleep. The only wolves on duty were the sentries. Our Defense Force was mobilized quickly... but not fast enough. In light of these tactical decisions I am making the following ammendment to our procedures. As Alpha of the Talbourne I am declaring this clan under Martial Command, effective at sun up tomorrw..."
The wolves all began talking at once, discussing the implications of this new order.
Dash cleared his throat and the and the wolves quieted down. He paused for a moment and then coninued. "Now, I am ammending this order. Normally this order meas that everyone in the clan is to be conscripted into the Defense Force. Member's of the clan are defined as being one year or older. However, this order will only take effect in the event that we are attacked. There will be no running away or hiding this time." Dash stopped asighed. "Beleive me, I know what this means for all of you. By issuing this order I'm placing my own family in danger too... and that's the last thing I want... but the Defense Force lost far too manny of it's member in the first battle against Lytion... there is no time to train willing volunteers... and so I executing this executive order. Now, as you may have realized I said it goes into effect at sunup tomorrow. that is because I am extending this order an amnisty period. If you find yourself unable to follow this order... please leave this cave by sunup tomorrow... under this executive order, desertion will be punished by death. You have tonight to think about it and discuss it with you families... but I ask you this... if everyone leaves... who will defend all that we have fought so hard to attain? Who will stand against Lytion if not we, the Talbourne? Search you hearts and souls... you cannot ignote what this clan has fiven you, now she is in grave danger. Lytion has all but eliminated the other children of Aniu. The Onasie, Storm, River and Snow Clans lie in ruin, indeed the Storm, river and Snow Clans Cease to exist. We can only hope that some survived and that they will make their way here... the Onasie Clan is so crippled that I don't believe they will be able to stand against Lytion. I will be sending an emmisary to their cave to ask them to join us here. Now, as I said you are free to leave before tomottow... but where will you go? Left to their own ends Lytion and Sahde will destroy everything on this earth... where can you hide? The Talbourne has always stood against Sahde, and we have always triumphed. Instead of running I ask you to stay, stay and fight for what is right, make a stand. We are cornered by the forces of evil, we have suffered some horrible losses... but we are not defeated, not by a long shot, not as long as a breath remains in my body. I will fight, alone if I must, and I may die, but I will die facing evil and standing for what is right. I will fall with a a clear concience, knowing I did everything I could to insure that this great clan doesn't vanish from the Earth, not only this clan, but more importantly what she stands for, goodness, mercy, kindness, acceptance... this is our home, but more importantly it's our way of life... the Talbourne is more than just our clan... it's our family, it's our belief, it's everything. When you all made the decision to become members of this clan you stood up and said"yes, I will stand for what is right.", now that is being challenged. This we cannot allow. Weith the fall of the other cildren of Aniu the remnants of those clans will be looking to us. They will be looking to us and asking, "what now?" What will they see? Will they see a bunch of frightened pups running with their tails between their legs? ...or will the see us standing tall, pressing onward, working aginst togh odds to insure that goodness does not ever vanish from this Earth. Now I just stood before you and took an oath, that oath was to uphold and defend all the Talbourne stands for, and to never abbandon her. My choice is clear, I I know what I am to do... what I ask you now is this... will you stand with me?" Dash paused a moment and when he replied his vioce increased in volume, echoing off the halls of the chamber. "Will you stand with me and be counted with the best that this world has to offer?! Will you stand with me against evil to fight what is right... will you stand here and defend our home, our family?! Will you stand?! Dash paused a moment, catching his breath. The wolves
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