Druid Fox Chapter 26

Druid Fox Chapter 26

Fox

After the run

“Javier, Luke, you two seem acclimated to the magic better. I assume the shower was a good place to start?” Fox chuckled, and Artie blushed. They killed time in the cabin with a quickie. It looked as if his friends had indulged their mates’ needs as well.

Luke and Javier both laughed as they met the eyes of their mates, who blushed as Artie had done.

“In all seriousness, I wanted to thank Luke for accepting us into his pack. It’s the strangest thing that I admit, but I’ve never felt so free as I did this afternoon running with the pack.” Fox spoke to the group as he voiced the awesome feeling they’d shared and stacked the pizzas on the dining table.

Isabell spoke up. “I’d like to propose that, when it’s possible, we make it a Saturday tradition to run as a pack.”

Eli was nodding at that idea as she was chewing a mouthful of pepperoni. Fox smiled. The two least pack-oriented members seemed to want the run to be a permanent feature in their lives.

He didn’t blame them. It had been a life-changing experience to run as one with the pack.

Artie was looking at Fox hard, and he nodded in response to her unvoiced desire. She wanted it to. Javier was grinning. Luke spoke.

“From now on, the Run will be a Saturday, required social event for all pack members who are present and healthy enough to take part.”

Everyone clapped. The pack was strong, and the pack’s council was unanimous.

Artie spoke up shyly. “I feel we should begin writing some of this down. It might take time before we add new pack members. They might need to know the rules we all follow.”

“Artie has a point. I hadn’t considered it before. We’re all close. Future members would need to know what we’re doing if they wish to join us. It would make it easier for us and them if open information was available.” Eli pointed out.

Luke looked at Fox when he spoke next. “Could we create a guide to explain the pack’s purpose, rules, and structure?”

“Spill it, Fox. You’ve been waiting for this moment for centuries. What have you got for us?”

Javier, as usual, cut right to the core. Fox squirmed.

It was true he’d thought a lot about it. He didn’t want to overstep the mark. Luke was the alpha.

Isabell laughed.

“Fox, even I could see that you’re the long-term planner here. Put your suggestions forward. The council is all present. The pack can vote. You may not get everything you dreamed of, but your ideas are a place to start. They’ll help the rest of us get an idea of where this goes next.”

Eli was nodding in agreement while still eating.

“I already told you I can’t do this alone, old friend. I agreed to be alpha and bark orders. Only a foolish leader cannot solicit advice from wiser heads. Stop worrying about stepping on my toes. I’m the one who taught Javier to growl when angered. We’re friends first and pack leadership second.” Luke smiled.

Fox smiled a rare true smile back at his long-time friend.

“You’d mentioned pack business should always come first, so I was thinking since we’re to run on Saturdays, maybe the council should always meet afterward as we are now. We can discuss any new information we have that needs to be shared. Once the retreat is operational, our informal meetings may not work. Setting aside time for regular council meetings ensures everyone stays in the loop.”

Luke looked around the table, and all heads were nodding in agreement at Fox’s proposal.

“Done. The same rules apply for Pack Council meetings as for the Run, able-bodied and present council members are required to attend. Effective immediately. “

“How should sanctuary work?” Isabell asked.

She’d been the one who needed it first.

“I thought if they made it to us, they can receive amnesty while we reviewed their request. We decide as a council whether they stay or go. If they stay, we interview them and find them a job or role to fulfill. If they want to join the pack, they can apply for pack status, and we’ll vote on it.” Fox answered.

“That sounds good. My vote as alpha is also an override or a veto power,” Luke concurred.

“Applications go through Fox as head of intelligence. We have to be careful we don’t have people here with malicious intent. The pack must be a haven for immortals. Effective immediately.”

“Self-defense is going to be important. I think maybe we should have regular sessions in physical self-defense on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Artie is instructing the staff, Fox will be the sword instructor, and I’ll teach street fighting. Magic wielding on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Artie teaches the ladies white magic, and Fox teaches men druid magic.” Javier threw the idea out there.

“Let’s have a rotation schedule for self-defense. Artie would take the first month’s training in martial arts and the staff. Fox can pick up the following month with swords and knives, and Javier you pick up the third month’s rotation in hand-to-hand defense. Sparring sessions on Fridays.” Luke stated.

“We limit magic lessons to pack members only. Effective as soon as facilities become available. We postpone magic lessons until after a fealty oath swearing ceremony to be determined by the Inner Circle.”

Luke added before anyone raised an objection.

Everyone seemed satisfied with the results. It was past midnight.

“What else do we need? We’ll pick up the process in the next meeting. Fox, Javier, Inner Circle meeting tomorrow after lunch. Meeting adjourned.”

It wasn’t perfect. It was a start.

Luke stood up, and Eli followed. The rest of Fox’s friends stood. Fox and Javier each clasped Luke’s forearm before he left. The women all hugged.

After Luke and Eli said their goodbyes, Javier and Isabell said goodnight and slipped off to bed. Fox and Artie walked hand in hand to their bedroom.

Fox smiled. He was a pack member, and it felt good.

Thank you for your support! Welcome to the dream… Sincerely, -OK

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