we should think about." The Elder persisted, "We've toiled and laboured over this place for the past century this land has become ours through our blood, sweat and tears."

"Elder Varnistov, I know what we'd be giving up by leaving this place more than most, considering I helped build this Pride House eight years ago. But what we would be gaining would be something even greater, peace of mind." I said, turning slightly and giving my father the very slightest of nods. He responded by leaving the room for a few minutes before he returned with my twin siblings. "The reason that we are considering a move is because that peace of mind and security isn't just for us, it's for our future." I finished turning slightly in my chair to catch my younger brother and pull him into my lap.

"You think we can't hold this territory? Especially now, with these allies that you've gathered for us? As I stated before, "With these allies we can end the threat to our territory once and for all."

I growled, though I tried not to scare my little brother. "Councilman, do you think that we can afford to loose more of our people in a war? Look around you, and think about who we'd lose... it could be your son, or his mate, or any one of your close relatives." I shifted my gaze around the table while I gently hugged my brother. "The other reason that I feel that a shift in location would be good for the Pride is because the new location is much more remote and isolated with fewer humans living in the same area. I'm sure that you've all noticed that we've started to tone down our activities due to the presence of humans in the region."

Now there were a few nods around the table as the councillors had seen it and they knew that in this sense I was talking about the modern reality that we faced as a Pride.

Olaf banged his hand on the table, "I may be a stubborn old cat, but from where I stand I can see that our Pride leaders are looking forwards to the future instead of simply staying with what we've got now."

"Olaf, you are an old cat, but even you have to admit that this is home." The elder beside him said. "You sweated and toiled alongside me to build this Pride up from nothing."

"Yes, I did Gregori but now I realize that it is time that we find ourselves a new home, and I have to say that my daughter's mate has found us a place that we can settle permanently. Shanna and I knew that this place wasn't perfect but we couldn't search around for something better because at the time there wasn't much of road network."

I sat back and listened as Olaf and Elder Varnistov got into a rather congenial debate about the future of the Pride, and Shanna and Olaf's decision at the beginning of the 1920's. While they were talking about that I smiled at my mate as both her and I had one of my siblings in our laps, as my sister had crawled over into my mate's lap.

After letting the council debate the actions we held a vote and both Anna and I were pleased when the vote came out the way we both desired it though that was only the first step that we had to agree on.

"Now that we've voted as you prefer Pride Lord where are you going to have us go? We don't exactly have the money, or the resources to purchase a new territory, or build a new Pride House." The oldest council member who'd stayed with the Pride Eleven yeas ago asked.

"As I pointed out before we've just, retroactively declared Vladimir Berekov as Rogue and therefore the place that he's taken for his own is now forfeit and since he was originally he was of our Pride the ancient rules apply, whatever he's made for himself is now the property of the Pride."

It was at that point in our deliberations when the door to the room banged open and Zane, hobbled into the room, in naught but his shorts, he'd removed the bandage that had been wrapped around his chest and the angry red looking scars on either side of his chest were obvious. He walked over to an open spot on the table and banged his half staffs on the table. "Don't be fucking idiots, we're here to help. I have promised Mark my personal help to relocate your Pride. I helped the future Matriarch Tashi, of the Nam Cho Pride, to convince her parents to move. They were a very small Pride, not even fifty people. Now they are doing well, and prospering with a population that is starting to approach sixty people, including cubs. If you don't want our help I will leave, I won't like it but we will honour what you want." By this point he was panting slightly and I could tell that he hadn't yet come anywhere close to recovering from the wound he'd sustained.

I looked at my stubborn friend as Anna rose from her seat before handing my sister to my mom and walked over, taking his arm in her hands. "Dear friend," She said guiding him to sit down at the unoccupied chair behind him, "We do desire the assistance, moving the Pride isn't a simple thing. This council is because we had to come to an agreement on that course of action. This isn't a wolf-pack where Mark and I would be able to dictate our course of action. Instead we have to reach a consensus with the rest of the council."

Zane glowered at her, I think it was more because of her getting him to sit down than it was because of what she said since there were hints of amusement in his eyes. "Herding cats!!! I will say no more, I am here and will give what I can."

Anna laughed and several other members of the council did as well, since they were well aware that he'd almost given his life for our survival.

Olaf smiled, "My young friend, we honour that agreement and we accept your assistance as long as you and your Alpha are willing to give it."

Shanna, who was sitting beside her mate, also smiled. "You and those from your Pack have shown us the best of your kind and we feel that you've sacrificed much so that we might survive."

I had joined my mate in our laughter at my stubborn, hard headed friend and I commented on what we were going to be doing. "Zane your determination is something that every member of this council admires and we will gladly continue to accept your aid. Though, as our Healer has already pointed out, for the time being you're on enforced rest since you're still recovering from that wound."

Zane glared at me, but I knew that he realized that in this case he had to listen to the advice of my mom.

That evening, after spending most of the day checking the defenses with Alex, I sat in my office and thought about how I'd tell Adam about the previous day's events. During the inspection of the defenses the only surprising thing that both of us had noticed was the relative lack of activity on the other side of the line, though after the drubbing we'd given them I doubted that the wolves really wanted to attack the line. Finally, after considering the problem for a few more minutes I picked up the handset and set the device to secure mode and made the call.

After a few moments of ringing I heard the phone get picked up and I could hear that he was happy that I was still among the living. "Mark, glad you could call. I take it that everybody is safe now?"

"Yes, and I'm glad that I could get a hold of you. We managed to beat them back yesterday with minimal casualties, though the three packs who attacked took significant loses. Ivan was there, with six other cats, though from what I've learned four of them were there simply to get away from Shadow Valley. Adam, Ivan was completely crazy, he was a Rogue cat, and he had his brother's sword."

There was a slight pause on the other end, "Didn't you bury that sword with the Rogue... and we're talking about the one that turned you, right?" Adam replied with a question.

"Yes, I confirmed with Olaf that he buried that blade with it's former owner, in an unmarked grave." I growled, "We haven't yet decided to do with Ivan's corpse, though after we've moved the Pride we will find a fitting burial place for him."

Adam snarled, a graphic ugly sound that reminded me that he could be really unpleasant when he was pissed off, after all Mikel had been buried for a reason, and for Ivan and Vladimir to give him an honourable cremation... "Down here Mark, the law is that if that happens, the one who's done such a thing will take the place of the one that was buried, unless they are sentenced to a worse fate." He gave a pause, which I took as him taking a breath to calm himself down. "What help do you need to deal with them? I have three APVs that I could send up your way, and I can send another group. Since Vladimir's group has finally been declared Rogue it frees up resources as a rogue group is almost the worst kind of enemy any Pack or Pride can have! The only thing worse is a Rogue Alpha..."

"Adam, these are my people, they only ones that we've classified as Rogues are the leaders. Out of the four that we captured yesterday every single one has joined the Pride and freely given us every single piece of information that they know about the defenses of Shadow Valley." I told him before I continued after pausing for a breath, "Tomorrow we plan on using every scrap of information that they've given us to take that territory from Vladimir and his cronies utilizing stealth and the cover of darkness, under those conditions the last thing we need is a tank, or other armoured vehicle. Hell, if we weren't worried about damage or stealth I would see if we could figure out how to get one of our's out there." I told him, "When I was first thinking of taking out Shadow Valley I was thinking that I was going to have Zane in command of the wolves. However, with him injured and not able to join the fighting for the next few weeks I am going to have to improvise." I commented, "I am going to have to drop that responsibility on a Senior Enforcer that I trust with my back. He's a bit young for the job, but he's strong and steady under pressure. Hell, with time and training he could make a good Second, perhaps even Alpha, though I probably shouldn't really talk. You wolves do things a bit differently than we do." I finished, leaning back in my chair.

"Yes, and thank you for keeping my Second alive. He's still recovering, but as soon as he's out of your medical section he'll start to push himself to the ragged edge, that's what makes him a good Second. I hope he recovers quickly. Is there anything that you need right now from me?"

I closed my eyes to think before I shook my head slightly, though Adam couldn't see that. "For the moment, I don't think so. I will try and contact you when the operation is complete and we've achieved success, but I can't guarantee when, or how I will manage that."

"I understand Mark, now you take care out there. Your Pride and your mate needs you to stay alive." He admonished me before he bid me a goodnight and hung up.

This chapter is a mite bit shorter than the last one, but I hope you don't mind a short breather before getting back into the action. As always thanks for the help Wolphin5 and maxd01 for the assistance with your characters. If you guys enjoy it please don't hesitate to leave comments and vote. I love reading the comments since they give me some insight into how people like this.