"Master Potter?" Harry pulled himself out of his exhausted sleep and turned to look at the small gray Wolf that had awakened him. "Master Potter? We know you asked to be awakened at noon, but we just let you sleep...it's almost sunset." Harry groaned and sat up. Was it really that late? He didn't feel like he had slept all day; in fact he didn't feel like hadn't he'd slept at all and didn't even remember asking to be woken up at all, though he vaguely remembered thinking that he should wake up at noon. It was all much too confusing and he shook his head to clear it as he moved off the blankets and crawled to an almost upright position.
"You like you've been run over by a herd of red deer." NightSong commented off to his left.
"Thank you, NightSong." Harry returned sarcastically, rolling his eyes and stretching.
"You're very welcome. Everyone needs a good compliment every now and then. What are the plans anyway?" Harry screwed up his features while he considered the question carefully; his mind was muddled and felt as though he were trying to run through a thick fog in the middle of a forest and not trip on anything - a very tedious process.
"Umm...I don't know....how many patrol parties have come back?"
"They've all been relieved." NightSong answered cheerfully.
"What?! On whose orders?!" He didn't know why but he was suddenly very angry at having his orders undermined.
"Warrior's....Harry, look around the cavern...." Still glaring Harry turned his attention to the cavern. It was buzzing with life and he suddenly wondered how he had managed to sleep.
"Where did they all come from?" He asked finally, trying vainly to count them.
"They're from a Southern joint hunting pack; they heard about the trouble in the valley from a fleeing something-or-other(I didn't quite catch what) and they came to help. They arrived about two hours ago and relieved the patrol parties. They heard about how you had handled the battle and wanted to wake you to tell you what they were doing, but Warrior and I told them if they woke you up, we would rip them apart. There's forty of them by the way, mostly female and second-yearlings." Harry looked over at his friend incredulously before finally shaking his head and pushing himself to his feet. When had he started to consider NightSong as a friend anyway? He wondered momentarily, but let the thought slip away when a small party of Wolves so light in color they were almost white approached him. He was reminded of how small he was when the largest - presumably the leader - came to a halt in front of him and he had to crane his neck to see him. For a moment the Wolf looked disappointed or even angry, but he abruptly lay down at Harry's feet and looked up at him expectantly. "By general Wolf law, since he is larger than you, he holds more rank; he's showing you great courtesy by lowering himself." NightSong explained quietly.
"Master Potter. We have heard much of you and commend you on your recent victory. I trust you've slept well?" Harry was momentarily lost in the Wolf's soft baritone, but snapped himself out of it quickly and nodded.
"Yes I slept very well, thank you." the Wolf nodded in the slightly odd throwing motion Harry had come to identify as approval.
"That gladdens me. Warrior wishes an audience with you, shall I inform him that you are awake?" Harry was about to say that he would go to the giant Wolf, but NightSong stepped in and told the other Wolf to go and fetch the warrior.
"What was that all about? I can walk you know."
"Yes I know you can, but by asking if you wished him to go fetch a warrior to come and see you he was ranking you higher than Warrior. You would have lost a lot of respect had you gone to Warrior." Harry sighed heavily; what was it with respect anyway? Though he supposed that when you traveled in packs and in such dangerous territory it would probably be best to have a leader, and that leader must have the respect of those under him. Once again Harry was stumbling into the fog, so he shrugged and pushed the thought away as Warrior came sauntering up, the gray heralds on his heels.
"Are you well?" Was the first thing the giant war Wolf asked, real concern lacing his deep voice.
"I am. You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I was wondering what your plans are?" Harry considered this for a moment, looking around the cavern before finally sighing.
"As much as I would really like to stay....we best get going at dawn. I do have a mission that I need to carry out sometime this century..." and Harry really was sorry that he couldn't stay. Among these odd giants of creatures, Harry was something great, he was treated with respect, but it was for something he had actually purposefully done; something he could remember doing. However, Warrior only nodded. "But...I will take only a small escort. The Forbidden Forest is on the other side of those peaks and they are not too steep to scale...you need everyone you can get here defending the pass at its most vulnerable point." All surrounding Wolves were opening their giant jaws to protest, but Harry gave them a scowl that was much in need of perfection, but was sufficient to quiet their would-be arguments. "That's the end of the discussion." Harry said firmly. He had always hated it when his second grade teacher said those six words when there hadn't really been a discussion since that required two parties both contributing to the conversation; but it did work. "Now...come here, I need to talk to you." Harry led Warrior away from the group and toward the ledge. Upon their approach, the rock shelf was quickly vacated and they were left alone. Harry lowered himself to the ground, hanging his feet over the edge and kicking his heels against the rock face. Warrior took a seat next to him and they watched the sunset for a moment.
"I know you're more skilled in battles than I am...but I do have so advice or rather observations...if you want them." After a moment, Warrior lay down and placed his head in Harry's lap; he had just realized that Harry meant to leave him in the valley.
"I would take any advice you would give." He responded, sighing when Harry unconsciously brought up a hand and scratched behind his ear.
"I know none of these are Wolves are warriors....but well....most people that fight in human wars aren't either; but one thing you must remember is that the bulk of the Forest Wolves aren't either. They're vastly unorganized and their charges are sloppy and off-centered, they try to race, which weakens their line considerably. I suggest drilling these Wolves on charging so they stay together and don't get ahead of each other. You have enough now for several lines and flanks..."
"What's a flank in that context?" Warrior interrupted.
"A flank is a side division. You would place them there" Harry pointed to the northern-most part of the forest "and there" he moved his finger to the southern-most part of the forest. "They remain hidden, then charge in at the enemy's 'flanks' when they are well into the open. If they come at an angle, then they close of all three avenues of retreat and if done correctly will drive a wedge through the line which will weaken it greatly and make them easy targets to the main line which will be the bulk of your forces. And whatever you do, don't let them draw you into the forest. The Forest Wolves are more apt in the forest, and fight poorly in the open or in the cliffs; that's probably the single most important factor: chose your own battle fields when possible. The open expanse of the valley, or the cliffs are your best bet..." They talked long into the night, Warrior's head resting contently on Harry's lap while Harry stroked his head and explained to Warrior all the things he had observed that morning.