Blacktail Deer Plateau of star & sea

The situation was too hostile for immediate action. Erzulie and Rosalyn stood on one side while Hua and Mei occupied the other. There was posturing and snapping; without intervention, the altercation would soon become physical. The guardian stood back while she weighed her options.

If she defended her sisters, they would surely be expelled. Where would they go? The island wouldn't be ready until early spring and with only five wolves, would they even last until then? Attacking the Betas was not a viable recourse.

If she defended Rusalka, her sisters would never forgive her. To side with Erzulie and Rosalyn would be a voluntary resignation from the Jiang name. Ying wasn't willing to give up on her sisters just yet; this decision wouldn't work, either.

No; she would have to find a way to merge the two paths. Slowly and with hesitance did Ying fall into submission, tail curled under and ears flat on her skull. Stop, she called to Mei, voice solid and steady, Don't do that. This was not a fight that they would win. Even with Kun, the family was sorely outnumbered and sure to meet defeat.

Bright eyes turned to Hua. She said not a word, but shook her head in silent disapproval. Were they anywhere else, Ying would have leapt at the chance to down two wolves. However, these were two leaders, and this fight was on their turf.