A Sacrifice (Shandris and Saurugol)

Shandris felt her stomach roll as she watched the stars peppering the dark sky, soft tones of orange tinting the twilight. Her steps were ever so silent, but she felt like a strange weight has settled on them. Will this even work? Or better, what he will even say about this? She pondered, breath rasping inside her throat.

No. She needed to do it. And unless there was a better idea, she was going to convince it was for the best. Traces of the missing were found scattered through the land, alongside with foreign male scents - loners who did not knew best than not mess with Havir, whatever were their reasons to do that. But it was obviously their doing, and they would pay for it, dearly. This kind of feeling had a bitter taste in her mouth, but she could not deny it existed.
Quickening her pace, she saw the great golden wolf making his way up to the alpha's den, and hoped her voice did not fail now. Saurugol needed everything but doubt.

"AdeSaurugol!" She barked, trotting the distance between them both. She had spent the entire day trying to find the proper words to suggest what she intended to, and even knowing her friend so well, it was like words had liquefied, and Shandris had to fish them inside her brain. "I, uh- ... may we speak?"

Saurugol glanced over as his silver huntress called his name. His mind has been a whirl ever since they had found the traces of the loner’s scent, and even more ever since one of his closest companions, Malika, had disappeared. But Malika had put up a great fight, leaving loner blood in their wake. But despite her efforts, they were untrackable as the scent trail lead into a river and disappeared. Still, Saurugol had a lot of hope. There was no Havirian blood or sign that the missing packmates had been killed. But they needed to be found. Now. The Alpha had been brainstorming as best he could to try and think of a solution, sending out more patrols to perhaps find the trail again and even going himself to the site but nothing had come up fruitful.

Saurugol did not know what Shandris wanted to talk about, but he hoped that perhaps his friend had thought of something. ”Yes, Shandris?” He asked, his voice more eager than anything.

"I... think- I have an idea of what do to," Shandris often forgot that she had a rank, and should properly behave as it asked to. She was just, actually, eager to have this finished - to help her family. "It's insane and dangerous, but I suppose we need more drastic approach now." She added, eyes fixed on Saurugol's golden gaze with confidence.

"After all we found, I was considering if there was a quicker and better way to get something more of these leads, but I'm getting afraid we will run out of time," She trailed off, trying to probably build a better argument to her idea before even actually presenting it to him. "If these outsiders have really anything to do with our missing wolves, we could use a bait to lure their attention. Someone that would pretend being unaware of their existence."

The silver huntress was not openly declaring it, but it was obvious what she was suggesting. She was offering herself to be the protagonist of this.

Saurugol nodded at her as she explained that the plan was dangerous and drastic. He was not deterred by her warning preamble. He agreed. They needed to act and fast. He was open to anything, despite the risks. They needed to end this. He was willing to consider anything.

But his brow furrowed as she went on. It was obviously what she was implying. And he did not like the sound of it at all. ”You are very noble, Shandris. But we have lost enough of our packmates. I cannot hand one over, as if she were some disposable tool. We do not know what these males are doing with the missing packmates, if they are even still alive. We could be sending you to the slaughter.” He explained. Every faithful Havirian life was a precious gift from the Gods. They were each a beloved child of Ademache. And Shandris was even more than that, she was one of his closest and most trusted friends. He had lost so much already, how could he lose her too? And by his own command? No, he wouldn’t do it.

As she expected, Saurugol quickly dismissed the idea. It made her heart sunk. As much she admired and was grateful for her Alpha and friend concerns, someone needed to do it. "But there is no blood, they may be dead, but what if they are not?" She insisted. "If I pretend to be helpless, whoever is involved with this may appear. If this happens, I can leave marks behind and I - and hopefully, the others - will be tracked." Shandris explained her plan further, keeping her head in a respectful level.

The huntress sighed, sitting down and staring at the golden wolf with pleading eyes. "What is a small sacrifice on behalf of Havir? Even if they are dead, we need to ensure no one else is taken. If I die, I will do it with the joy and honor of serving my family. I'm willing to." She lowered her ears, trailing to a less formal tone as she added quietly. "I understand your concern Sauru, and I'm grateful. But Havir must come before our friendship," Shandris offered him a small and sad smile. "Even because, would you trust this to anyone else? I can probably outrun these wolves with my paws tied."

Saurugol stared down at her severely, about to cut her off with a ’No’ that could not be contended with. But he listened to her words. And realized as she spoke the truth in them. His gaze drifted upward, as if in silent prayer as he listened to her finish. Saurugol loved deeply is friends and family. But the Gods did not expect an Alpha with compassion. They expected an Alpha who would put the wellbeing of his pack first, regardless of what he may feel in their petty mortal heart. If Shandris needed to be sacrificed in order to solve this mystery and protect Havir as a whole, then it must be done.

And the silver huntress was right. There was no wolf he would trust more to handle this task, and survive, than the wolf who was standing before him. He nodded slowly, his eyes dropping thoughtfully as he formulated the plan in his mind. Finally he spoke. ”But we shall minimize the risks. You are correct, there was no Havirian blood, but our wolves were brought somewhere. I will send another to silently follow you and these loners when you are captured. They will follow closely, to ensure you are safe and to find the lair of these rogues.” Saurugol said. He smirked at her confidence. Or he tried to, it was difficult to hide his displeasure as his amber eyes rested on her. ”Yes… you can. And I plead you to do so… if you feel they will harm you.” Shandris was certainly one of the fastest in the pack by far. If any wolf could handle this mission, it was her.

Shandris watched helplessly as the pain and doubt crossed in the Alpha's eyes, feeling just as pained with all this. But she had thought a lot about it. She could not afford to be selfish now - no one could. And she really meant by saying she would willingly give her life in behalf of the others. She could even think of other wolves, her friends, that would do the same thing! No, it was her duty. If he allowed, she would go with it to the end.

And eventually, he did. It brought a bittersweet taste of victory on her tongue, but the huntress knew it was necessary. With his first commands, she nodded firmly, accepting whatever terms he had about how they would proceed, and then returned his sad smile. "Will do. I promise I'll take every precaution possible... and that I will try not to be as reckless I always am." Shandris added, knowing her fiery behavior was both assuring and concerning sometimes. But this was a bigger hunt, and she would do everything right to make it successful.