"Where were you?" Ryder's just barely able to hide his quite obvious but very understandable fear. Because sure, Ryder knew and deeply trusted his patrol and hunting party both to take care of themselves throughout the territory.

But things with the neighboring pack and the Lakeshore Chasms pack rival, the Peat Butte pack, were simply far too hostile to leave any loose ends. Ryder knows this far too well after losing so many packmates to the Peat Butte's unforgiving jaws.

Even though prey was scarce for both packs, that just made it more likely for the Butte's to also be so fierce and on guard.