"No healer." She stops long enough to look at me. "You've got—how many wolves? And no one dedicated to fixing them when they break?"
"We heal fast. Don't need one."
"You need one when you've got moonbright poison in you." She reaches for one last jar, pauses, swaps it for a different one. "That's the whole reason your people kept showing up at my door. Because 'healing fast' doesn't work on moonbright."
She's right.
I say nothing.
The bag goes by the door. She straightens. Wipes her hands on her skirt.
"I can't walk that far." Kestria shifts under the blanket. "Not yet."
"I know." I look at Melori. "How much can you carry?"
"What you're looking at. My supplies. Some clothes." She pauses. "And Nugget."
"What?"
"My chicken."
"...Your…chicken."
"She's a good layer." Defensive. Arms crossing.
"You're bringing a chicken."
"She's coming with me."
"To pack territory."
"Yes."
"A chicken."
"The other two can fend for themselves—they're half-wild anyway, they'll range into the forest and be fine. But Nugget's different. She trusts me. She comes when I call. She sleeps at my door." Blood under her fingernails. Jaw set. "I'm not leaving her."
I exhale.
She's going to ask for things.
And I'm going to give them to her.
I look at Kestria.
She's grinning, holding her side. "Don't argue. You'll lose."
A human and a chicken.
In my pack.
In my territory.
"Fine. We leave soon."
Melori nods and turns away. One bag.
She called me Alpha. No drop in her voice. No lowered eyes.
