Chapter 396: Ripples in the Snow

Meanwhile, Back at the Pack Compounds

The whole pack was abuzz with conversations about how Orion had run out like he was on fire, or that something was going on.

Everyone speculated about the reason. Some said it had something to do with the trainees; others said it had something to do with Sophia.

But every speculation came to a halt when the trainees walked back into the compound. Very few people were smiling.

Nia and Cat held Holly like she was a criminal, which made people question what had happened. They wondered why Holly was being held like that, bandages across her hands and even a gag in her mouth.

Wesley took charge, searching for Garron, but the man came to him instead, his face scrunched with worry, as even Daniel and Caspian approached them.

"It isn’t yet time for the test to be done," Garron said to him.

Wesley and the other examiners approached him, but it was Wesley who spoke.

"There was a situation, hence why the test was cut short," Wesley informed him.

Daniel and Caspian shared a look.

"What sort of situation exactly?" Caspian asked.

Wesley spared a look at all the other members of the pack, who pretended like they were not listening but were listening.

"I’ll inform you all in private, but first," he pointed toward Holly. "Orion gave orders to place her in the dungeon until further notice."

Caspian and Daniel gave Holly a look and then nodded.

"I’ll send the trainees to get some rest," Garron said as he walked toward the trainees, who were standing at a distance.

"It seems we have a lot to talk about," Daniel said, clasping his hand on Wesley’s shoulder. "Let’s go someplace else."

Wesley nodded and followed Daniel and Caspian to the council hall. Immediately after they entered, Daniel turned to him.

"What happened?" he asked Wesley.

"We found a body in the forest during the test," Wesley told him. "It belonged to the Enclave."

Caspian’s eyes widened in shock. "The Enclave?" he asked Wesley. "Are you sure of this?"

"Very sure. I would recognize that insignia anywhere," Wesley told them.

"Take me to where the body was found," Daniel told him.

"Hold on," Caspian said, turning toward the door. "The boy still has things to tell us. You said Orion instructed to lock Holly up until further notice. Does locking her up have anything to do with the fact that some trainees didn’t come back with you guys?" he asked Wesley.

"A bit," Wesley replied. "Most of them volunteered to go with Orion to find Sophia. Ethan and Genevieve went too."

"There’s more you are not telling us..." Caspian started, but stopped as he turned toward the door. Brynhild walked in along with Madam Tyler and Mary. Most members of the council were gathered.

"I heard something about Orion running out of the pack with a sword in his hand," Madam Tyler said as she moved to sit, her staff resting against the table. "And now I’m hearing that the trainees are back and someone is being locked up. What is happening?"

"We were just getting the details from young Wesley here," Caspian told her. "You all are welcome to join the impromptu meeting."

"Why is Holly being locked up?" Mary asked Wesley.

"I don’t have the full details," he told them. "But I put what I did get together. Holly and Sophia were together during the test..."

"They are in the same team," Brynhild said with a nod.

"It was during the individual tests. Everyone was to go on their own, but Holly and Sophia were together. I don’t know why. Holly did say something about Sophia attacking her..."

"...I’m sure she deserved it," Madam Tyler said with a nod.

The others turned to her in shock. She gave them a look. "Why are you all looking at me like that? We can all stop pretending that we like her pompous ass. If Sophia stacked her, I’m sure the girl deserved it."

Wesley continued. "Holly didn’t actually say what was wrong. We got it from Joren and Ethan, who walked in on us when Orion was asking her way. She made Sophia leave to face danger alone..."

"I’m hearing this wrongly, right?" Brynhild asked calmly.

Wesley shook his head. "Holly was certain that Sophia was—or rather is—a demon. They were attacked by Trihydras, and Holly left Sophia to die... that’s what I got from the few pieces I could put together."

The hall suddenly went quiet. One could hear a pin drop.

"I wondered why Orion would run out of the pack like that, but now I think it all makes sense," Caspian muttered to himself.

"You’re telling me a pack member left the Luna of the pack to die?" Brynhild asked in disbelief.

Wesley swallowed, then nodded.

"And where was Ethan when all this was happening? He is the examiner for their team, so where the hell was he?" Brynhild asked.

"He went to search for Sophia immediately..."

"She’s missing?" Brynhild asked in shock.

Wesley swallowed and nodded. "Yes. Orion is certain she is alive, but I have no idea if she’s injured or not. For now, at least, without Orion here, her location is unknown."

The hall was silent again. Wesley hated being the one reporting, but he was under instructions from Orion to meet with Daniel.

"First an Enclave body, Trihydras appearing in the forest, and then Sophia missing," Caspian muttered to himself.

"An Enclave body?" Mary asked.

"The reason the trainees are back now is that one was found in the forest," Caspian informed her.

"And how did this person die?" Mary asked Wesley.

"From the little I gathered, I’m very certain it was due to a Trihydra. But the body had been dead for days, and when the scouts searched, they didn’t report any sightings," Wesley informed them.

"I, and Brynhild, will organize a team to go into the forest and check the body," Daniel said after a while.

"No, I’m not going," Brynhild said calmly. "I’m going to confront the person responsible for my sister going missing." With that, she nodded and walked out of the hall.