breath. The wolves below him started cheering and soon the chamber was consumed in a roar of voices, all blending as one, all blending to form the Talbourne. Dash caught his breath. "That is all I have, you're dismissed, Defense Force members, stay put, I need to talk to you."
The wolves continued to cheer and yell as Dash made his way down the steps to the Defense Force members, Timbre close by his side. June tried to make her way to her mate, but she was going against the flow, and it carried her with it, away from him. She saw him talking to Ami and timbre and then all the Defense Foce members began walking toward one of the many side chambers.
Dash walked into the chamber to find most of the Defense Force already standing there. Ami walked up to him. "Sir, the Second Unit are all present and/or accounted for. we've got two that went to their sentry positions, Matthew and Tom. we're just waiting for Timbre..."
"I'm here." Timbre said, walking up behind Dash.
Dash turned to look at his friend.
"...everyone is present now Sir." Timbre said.
Dash nodded. "Go ahead and take charge of you units." He said.
Timbre and Ami moved to the front of their units, all the wolves stood in rank before their new leader.
"At ease..." Dash said. "I won't keep you long, you all know me. I've led the majority of you, and trained a great nember of you as well. I want you to know that I have your best interests at heart, and I will strive to make things as sage as I can for you. That said, we are at war, and we're short two Lieutenants... Shadow and Jack... due to casualties in the battle with Lytion we don't have anyone eligible for promotion to such a rank... so that means the one's we do have are going to have to pull double duty... bow in a conflict situation I will take charge of the first unit... but I will be unable to go on patrols or stand guard because of my duties as Alpha." Dash turned and looked at Ami. "Lieutenant Ami, you take duty with First Unit..." Dash turned Timbre. "...Lieutenant Timbre, you'll take Fourth Unit, understood?"
Both wolves nodded.
"...good." Dash said. "Now as to rotations and procedures... those have to change. You all heard me declare Martial Command, however that doesn't mean every wolf in the cave is a member of this Defense Force. As far as guard and patrols go; those remain our responsibility. Now, we're going to be on a rotating schedule will kick off. We will have one Unit at rest, or off duty... during this time you are free to go to you own chambers, leave the cave, pretty much bussiness as usual. One unit will provide our sentries, there will be seven posts on a rotating three hour schedule. the first three posts are roving posts. They are: Post Six, five hundred yards out the main entrance, Post Five, three hundred yards out, and Post Four one hundred yards out. these are to be manned by one wolf every hour of every day. Post Three will be a two man post and is located just within the Main Entrance. Post Two is a one man post and will be located just inside the back entrance. These are all stationary posts. Post One is a roving post within the cave. None of these posts are sleeping posts. Please don't get caught sleeping on guard... you're only out there for three hours. Stay alert; you're our first line of defense. If you are standing these post you will stop every wolf you do not recognize. Deadly Force is authorized, but make sure the situation warrants it. Your actions will come under my review. The portion of the unit on sentry duty that is not posted will stay in this chamber. You may not leave for more than then minutes. Food will be provided for you, and your familes may subsist here as well. I strongly reccomend you take the time to sleep, you're going to need your energe. Now, as for my Lieutennts, you will hold the post of Chief of the Guard, or COG. This is a twenty-four hour post. You will supervise the posting and relief of the sentries. From sun up to sun down this is not a sleeping post, howenver, once the sun goes down you will be permitted to go to sleep. It will be Post One's job to wake the COG as well as the oncoming sentries approxamately fifteen minutes prior to time to post the releif. The wolves that are not posted will be considered to be in a "react" status. This means that in the event of an attack you will be sumoned to the area of conflict. React's will be led by the COG. ...and that takes care of the sentries, relief for the unit will take past at sunrise the next day. One entire Unit will be placed in a react status.This unit will be allowed to go to thier own chambers, but they may not leave the cave, and if they are going to be anywhere other than their chambers they must notify the duty COG. If you wish to leave the cave while in a react status you will speak to me directly. The last remaining unit will be patroling for the enemy and carrying out hunting parties so the on duty unit can eat. At each quarter of the day a patrol will go out. I will provide instructions to your Lieutenant as to route and location on a daily basis. The tour of duty for all of these posts is forty-eight hours. The rotation will start as follows: Second Unit, you're at rest, Third Unit, you're on react, First Unit, you're the oncoming sentries, and Fourth Unit, you're my patrol... understood?"
The wolves all answered as one. "Yes sir!"
Dash nodded. "...great, see you all here at sun-up tomorrow dismissed, Lieutenants, hang around for a minute."
The wolves quickly dispersed and soon only Timbre and Ami were standing with Dash in the chamber. Dash sighed. "Look, I'm sorry to give you two such a horrible scedule, but it was the only thing I could come up with where you got any time off at all..."
Ami smiled. "It's alright sir. It's not that bad."
"Yeah Dash," Timbre said. "We know you did your best."
Dash nodded. "Well it as quite a problem..."
"I think you did a great job sir." Ami said. "The overall security of the cave will be much tighter now. Before it was... lacking."
Dash and Timbre nodded.
Dash sighed again. "Look... when you're out on patrol... keep an eye out for any sign of Jack or Kalia... we can't seem to find them among the bodies, which is a good thing... but we don't know where they are."
Timbre nodded. "I'm going out tomorrow. I'll keep an eye out for them buddy."
Dash smiled. "Thanks, I'd appreciate it Timbre." He paused for a moment and then smiled. "Hey bro, think... well, would you mind keeping the kids tonight?"
Timbre sighed and rolled his eyes. "...well I guess so..." He said. Then he smiled. "Yeah, no prob buddy."
Dash smiled back at him. "Have a good night Timbre."
"You too Dash." Timbre said. Then he turned and walked out of the chamber.
Dash turned to Ami. "So, how does it feel to be a Lieutenant?" He asked.
Ami smiled. "It feels great sir... I can't thank you enough."
Dash smiled. back at her. "Well there's no need to thank me Ami, you earned it yourself." He paused for a moment and then smiled again. "You know now that you're a Lieutenant... well when there's no one from your unit around you really can drop the "sir" thing."
"Thank you..." Ami stopped for a moment. "...Dash."
Dash smiled. "See, that wasn't so hard was it?"
Ami smiled back. "...it sounded weird."
Dash laughed. "Well you'll get used to it Ami, take care of yourself and I'll see you tomorrow morning."
Ami nodded. "You too si... Dash."
Dash started laughing again and walked out of the chamber.
Chapter Six
Dash laughed softly at June as they walked up the shelves of rock on their way to their new chambers. The cave seemed deserted, and an eerie silence had descended upon the cave. Everyone had retreated to their chambers quickly after Dash's announcement. Now, only the roaming interior post could be seen walking across the Main Chamber.
Dash sighed. "I don't know June." he said. "Do you think I did the right thing? ...or did I jump the gun?"
June smiled. "Dash, you really should quit worrying." She responded. "You did fine."
Dash shook his head. "I just don't know June..."
June sighed and stopped walking.
Dash didn't realize she wasn't at his side and took a few steps past her before he stopped and turned. "What is it June?" He asked.
"...come here Dash." June said.
Dash walked over to her.
June put her paw on his shoulder. "Sweetheart, you know I love you, and I'm very proud of you... I believe with all my heart that you will do great things as Alpha... everyone does... except you. No one doubts you for a second... the only person that's doubting you is you. Timbre, Ami, your entire Defense Force.... everyone is looking to you. As Alpha you need to gain some self confidence. Stop worrying so much and do what you do and know is best, because you really are the best."
Dash smiled. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."
June tapped him lightly on the shoulder. "...hey!" she said. She smiled. "...but seriously Dash, this is the last time I want to hear you say something like that."
Dash smiled. "Yes Ma'am." He said. He leaned over and kissed her. "Thanks June... I needed that." He smiled again. "...but I have something to confess..."
"Oh, and what's that?" June said a confused look
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