The footsteps pass. Fade toward the far fire.
"You saw what happened." Lower. Hands still moving.
"I saw."
"And?"
My hands keep going. Separating meat from bone. The question sits for a second.
"He attacked our hunters with poisoned arrows. Was sniffing around our territory for weeks. Keer questioned him, got what he needed." Shrug. "Made sense."
"Most people would be horrified."
"I would imagine." Knife through a cut. "Also—you're going against the grain."
She looks down at her knife. Adjusts. "Better?"
"Better."
Quiet for a minute. Fire crackling, smoke rising.
"The poison on those arrows," I say. "It's moonbright. Same preparation humans use on blades, but adapted for arrowheads. Thicker. Liara's wound was graying within minutes."
"How much paste did you use?"
"A jar and a half today. Another half tomorrow. If they attack with poisoned weapons—a real attack, not a skirmish—I could go through everything in one night."
Her hands stop.
"I need more moonbright. The field Keer told me about. Half a day's walk. I'll need someone with me. Dara, probably. She can learn the full harvest process while I gather enough to stockpile."
"Keer already said he'd take you."
My knife finds a very interesting piece of sinew. Very complicated sinew. Requires my full attention.
"Dara needs to learn the harvest. It makes more sense to—"
"Mel."
"What? It's practical. She's my apprentice. She should see the full process from field to jar, and if I take her instead then Keer can stay here and do Alpha things and nobody has to—"
"Be alone in the woods with him for half a day?"
"I was going to say nobody has to leave the territory unprotected."
"Sure you were."
I cut the sinew.
"You've thought about this."
"Have you met me?"
She snorts. "Keer's meeting with Axan and the senior wolves tonight."
"And?"
"You could be there."
