When Stonecliff Stepped Forward
Stonecliff did not attack.
They announced.
The declaration reached the basin at first light, carried by three envoys and witnessed by twelve neutral observers. No raised voices. No threats spoken aloud. Everything was done with the precision of a message meant to be repeated accurately.
Cassian read it once in silence.
Then again.
"They are invoking Collective Safeguard," he said finally.
Lucien's posture stiffened. "That has not been used in decades."
"Because it was never meant to be," Alaric replied. "It allows a dominant pack to intervene under the claim of preventing collapse."
"And defines collapse," Cassian added, "as instability recognized by at least three allied packs."
Lucien exhaled slowly. "They already have them."
"Yes," Cassian said. "Stonecliff. Ironfall. Greyreach."
The words settled heavily.
I felt the chains inside me stir faintly, not pulling me toward action, but warning me of proximity.
