***

For the next six days, Jewel stayed near the Main Base, refusing to go back to her own district. She wanted to keep an eye on Rou when she was able to.

Her brother had refused to speak to her ever since her outburst, but it wasn't like Jewel was in the mood to talk to him again anytime soon anyway.

Taima kept trying to boss Jewel around, assigning her to patrols or hunting parties, but the gray she-wolf simply refused to go. She hunted for herself and spent the rest of the time mostly just hanging around the Main Base. She'd talked to various animals she knew she could trust, and quite a few of them seemed to be discontent with the takeover as well.

But Jewel knew there wasn't really anything that could be done about it right now. Rou, Taima, and their close allies had surrounded themselves with a group of elite guards, the best fighters of the Clan.

At the moment, Jewel was walking on her own a few hundred meters away from the Base, carrying a scrawny rabbit. It wasn't much, but at least it would fill her stomach for now.

She was just about to settle down for breakfast in the rising sun as she heard a loud voice coming from the clearing.

"I knew it!" Taima screamed.

Jewel quickly left her prey and headed back towards the Main Base. There, she saw a horrifying scene.

Most of the Main Base residents stood in a circle, some looking pleased, some horrified. In the middle of the circular spot created by the crowd stood four wolves. The first two Jewel recognized as Walter and Starlight, two pups of Rufus' brother Selang. With them was a silvery-gray wolf with a torn ear she didn't recognize. The last wolf stood opposite of the trio, her tail held proudly in the air. Taima. With her immense musculature and size, she looked more intimidating than ever.

Walter stepped in front of his sister, who was cowered on the ground. "I won't allow you to do this, Taima!"

"Then you're a traitor! We've allowed you to live because you and Saedira were in on the scheme to bring down Rufus, but we cannot allow for this!"

"Starlight has done nothing wrong!" the silver she-wolf shouted, hackles rising.

Taima wrinkled her muzzle. "Silence! That's an order!"

"Does Rou approve of this?" yapped Walter furiously.

"Rou made me his second-in-command, and he isn't here, so I am here to act in his stead! I'm here to make an example of Starlight! To show that we won't stand for this!"

"Stand for what, Taima?" Jewel no longer hid inside the crowd as she stepped out.

Taima spat on the ground as soon as she saw Jewel. "Oh, you're here, too."

"For what?" repeated Jewel, this time even more intense.

Taima let out a grunting noise and then pointed at Starlight with her muzzle. "My sources say that this wolfdog here fancies she-wolves! The Clan may have allowed these views up until now, but I say that we bring a change to that rule!"

Without a moment's warning, she leapt at the black wolfdog, instantly ripping off one of her ears, then creating gashes on her muzzle, back, belly, and neck.

"STARLIGHT!" Walter bellowed.

He and the silver she-wolf jumped into action. Walter caused Taima to fall over just as she tore off Starlight's other ear, biting down on her stomach. The silver wolf went for her leg.

Jewel was frozen. She could only watch in horror. Was this truly it? Were they now lynching animals based on their sexual or romantic preference?

"Halt!" cried a voice out of the crowd.

"You will not harm Taima!" Two of Taima's followers, a cougar and a wolf mix, came into action.

The silver wolf just managed to release Taima's leg before shouting, "STARLIGHT, RUN!" She was then bitten on the throat by the wolf mix, while Walter was being taken care of by the catamount.

Starlight, tears in her eyes, saw her opportunity and ran, dodging the crowd and vanishing into the underbrush of the wild forest.

Taima, bleeding from her wounds, looked livid. "Well, don't just stand there! Get her!"

Hesitatingly, some animals of the crowd ran in the direction where Starlight had vanished.

Jewel could simply stare at the horrible scene in front of her. Both the silver she-wolf and Walter lay there with their throats torn out. Coming back to her senses, Jewel ran in Starlight's direction as well.

"She went this way!"

"I see her blood splatters!"

Those were the voices of the pursuers. They were rushing and moving clumsily, making a lot of noise, so Jewel could easily follow them. She was also glad to hear some clear doubt among the Clan animals.

"Are we sure this is okay? I mean, look at what we're doing!"

"But if we don't bring back Starlight, Taima will have us for dinner!"

I hate how that's probably not even an exaggeration, Jewel thought darkly.

After a while, the animals seemed to have lost track of Starlight, and Jewel stopped following the crowd. Instead, she tried to use her scenting skills to locate Starlight. The other animals that were looking for her were messing up the smells in the forest quite a bit, but she could still make out the distinct tang of blood and fear-scent. Starlight had to be close by.

Taking her time to locate Starlight, she was finally surprised to see the wolfdog hiding inside a hollow log, her blue eyes wide open with fear. She let out a barely audible whimper when she looked into Jewel's amber gaze.

"Please," her rough voice said. "Please, I'll do anything. Just let me go." Tears stained her face that had once been so beautiful. Now she was all battered, missing both of her ears, and had many wounds that would no doubt become scars.

Jewel looked over her shoulder. The group of seekers still hadn't seemed to catch Starlight's scent. "Come with me," she whispered.

"What?" Starlight's eyes widened.

"I'll get you off Clan lands. Come." Jewel knew she had to help Starlight. She couldn't stand for this any longer. I don't care what Rou or Taima do to me if they find out. Helping out this poor wolfdog is the right thing!

Starlight carefully crawled out from below the log, licking her lips constantly. "You won't turn me in?" she asked hopefully.

Jewel shook her head. "Follow me."

Jewel was glad she was heading towards the territory of the Third District. She knew this part of the forest well. Starlight was on her heels, limping from time to time and her breath growing ever more raspier.

"We have to find somewhere to stay for the night. We can't keep running," Starlight finally whispered. Jewel knew she was right. The sun was almost done setting, and both of them, especially the black wolfdog, were exhausted.

"Stay here," Jewel said as she led Starlight to a thick patch of ferns. The wounded canine crouched between them, while Jewel grabbed a patch of moss to clean up the most recent traces of blood Starlight had left behind. She soon returned to the poor canid. "Are you okay?"

Starlight sobbed, burying her head in her front paws. "They're dead. It's all because of me."

"No. Because of Taima. None of this is your fault, whatsoever," Jewel assured Starlight, almost sternly. "Once I've brought you to safety, I'll figure out what to do about this...tyranny."

Starlight looked up at Jewel gratefully, who cleared her throat. "You get some rest. I can stay up for a while longer. I'll keep patrolling the area around here and warn you in case any Clan members come too close, so you can get away. If that's the case and I can't catch up to you, go south. The border there is probably the closest to our location. You'll have to be lucky to evade patrols, but it's your best shot."

"Thank you..." Starlight said hoarsely.

"Rest," ordered Jewel, before putting action to her word and going out to check the surrounding area.

***

Very early the next morning, far before sunrise, Jewel approached Starlight again. The big blue eyes of the wolfdog were wide when she was woken. "Is there trouble?"

Jewel shook her head. "It's just the safest time to leave right now. The night checkups should've returned to the District Base already, and the morning patrol leaves just before sunrise. This is our best shot."

Starlight got up, and the two female canines soon made their way further south again. They came across some loose animals in the forest, but managed to evade all of them.

Jewel felt exhaustion slowly creep up on her, but she was determined to keep pushing through. She had to get Starlight off of Clan lands. Finally, they reached a calm area of territory just before the border. "Continue south. Try to travel quickly and lightly. And don't collapse with exhaustion."

Starlight, still panting, looked gratefully at Jewel. The sun was almost rising now, and they didn't have much time. "I owe you my life..."

"You owe me nothing, except your own happiness. Make a new life for yourself outside the Clan. Remember your brother and friend. I will take care of Clan business here."

"But...what can you do? You're just one wolf, up against Rou, Taima, and all of their followers!"

"I'll figure something out." Jewel hesitated, and then looked Starlight square in her bright blue eyes. "That's a promise."

Starlight blinked slowly, then nodded. "I'll hold you to that, if we ever meet again."

"Who knows." Jewel stepped backwards, giving Starlight her space.

Finally, Starlight smiled. "Thank you, Jewel."

"You're welcome." Jewel smiled back.

***