POV: Darius Nightshade
The argument started over breakfast.
Or what passed for breakfast. Ryker had found some berries and roots that were probably edible. Kael was sitting against the cave wall like death had decided to wait a few hours before collecting him. Sera was still asleep, finally getting real rest instead of the broken nightmare kind.
"North," Kael said. "The cabin is two days ride if we push hard. It is defensible. Stocked."
"South," I said immediately. "The ports. We get passage on a merchant ship. We are gone before the council even realizes we left the territory."
"And leave three packs in chaos?" Ryker asked. His tone was ice. "You want to abandon them to civil war?"
"I want to keep her alive," I said. I gestured toward Sera sleeping. "That is the priority."
"Keeping her alive means dealing with the threat," Ryker said. "If we run, they hunt forever. If we circle back and gather allies, we build a position that can actually hold against the council."
