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Chapter 24
The trees this morning seemed to house their own plenitude of secrets...
A brisk wind ruffled my black gown, sending shards of snow adrift in a sea of white. I sat upon a solitary stump on the northern edge of camp and gazed out at the woods: what other secrets did they hold? What other specters of the past might still be out there, unbeknownst to us - haunting and gathering, waiting to make an appearance? Ever since learning about Tiefing's existence it felt like everything else was up for grabs.
Most of the Pack were still asleep. It wasn't terribly early, but a sudden drop in temperature coupled with the lack of sunlight meant that fewer wolves were interested in getting an early start today. I hadn't planned on it either, but my mind was too preoccupied with upcoming decisions to get more than a few hours' rest. That likely wasn't changing any time soon; I resolved to force myself into bed at an earlier hour in the coming nights.
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*CILLIUM!!!* I spun in a circle, desperately seeking the source of the explosions. No no no no NOOOO!! Several other wolves around me, both friend and enemy alike, looked shocked at the interruption. Some ceased their struggles momentarily just to listen. That didn't last long however, as one of the exiles raised his head to the sun and howled, and a few others immediately took up the call. Then their fighting renewed with vigor. I howled also, from fury – trying futilely to drown out their noise. 'May the Sun damn you, Tando; may the night fuck you all the way to HELL.' One of the nearby males decided to lunge at me. His face was split into a toothy smile… I don't remember what happened next, but I do remember that afterward, my claws were reddened with blood and I was off running again. *The bonfire, people! Get there NOW!!* I dashed through the camp, doing my best to remain low and unseen. The flame lay a
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