Epilogue

A wolf fell to the ground, bleeding from several wounds. She forced herself to her feet, showing her teeth, but unable to find the energy to growl at her much larger enemy. She looked at her mate, who was either already dead or dying several meters away. She knew she couldn't save her, nor could she even save herself. But she could at least try to cause some injury to the one who had killed them both, as well as the rest of their family.

She made a desperate lunge for her attacker, her teeth unable to make it through the thick fur around his neck and shoulders. One of her paws clawed at his face, hoping to perhaps damage an eye. Instead, she found herself thrown to the ground once more. She tried standing again only to have a powerful swipe throw her right back down.

The large feline stepped forward slowly, purposefully. He looked down at his injured opponent, knowing he could simply leave her to die from her injuries, but that would deny him the satisfaction of feeling her blood on his teeth. He grabbed her by the neck, and after a second, he clamped down with his teeth, crushing her trachea and breaking her neck. Blood dripped down his chin as he let the lifeless body fall.

He heard footsteps approaching and he slowly turned his head. He knew it wasn't a threat, but instead, one of his own people. As he took note of the muscular woman approaching, the lion's body began to change. His mane started to shrink into his body and the tail disappeared as well. His face shortened and his paws turned into hands and feet. Finally, a man stood in place of the lion.

"Report," he demanded from the woman.

"That was the last of them," she said. "This area is secure."

"Good," he said. "Now where did that worthless son of mine go?"

He stormed off, walking through the forest until he found his way to a series of tents. They were mostly dark, but there was a light shining in one of them. He walked over and unzipped it. Inside, he saw who he was looking for – his eldest son.

"Gabriel," he growled. "You worthless pile of shit! You're sitting in here reading when the rest of us are out fighting!" He grabbed the young man by the back of his shirt and dragged him outside, throwing him to the ground.

"Maybe you should have left me at home if I'm so worthless!" Gabriel shouted back.

"Or maybe I should have killed you earlier!"

"Do it then!"

The older man growled and kicked Gabriel, then seemed to calm down. He started to walk away, but then turned around to come back. He looked down at his son who still remained on the ground.

"Once I ensure one of your brothers is more competent than you, I will kill you. Until then, I will do my best to whip you into shape to become a man who is worthy of taking over this pride. If you want this to be any easier on yourself, man up and do your part. This is a war we're fighting!"

"A war you started!"

He kicked Gabriel again. "I did not start this! They started this years ago, and now they will pay for what they've done to our kind!"

"You're insane, father," Gabriel grumbled, finally getting to his feet. "I don't know if you really believe the nonsense you spout or if you're just looking for an excuse to fight. But you're insane."

"How dare you speak to me that way!" He raised a hand to hit the boy, but Gabriel moved quickly out of the way.

"You said it yourself. You need to make sure you have someone who can take over this pride. So you can't kill me. Because this stupid war of yours is going to get everyone else killed. And I'll be all that's left. I just hope they kill you before you damage the pride too much."

The older lion took another swing at his son, this time, connecting with his jaw. He growled at him, daring him to speak up again. "You watch yourself," he warned. "I'm sending you ahead of the rest of the pride to Colorado. Who knows? Maybe those wolves will kill you for me."