HAHA LAST CHAPTER BEFORE THE BATTLE!!! IM SUPER EXCITED FOR THE END OF THIS BOOK, I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE IT!! THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO AN AWESOME PERSON WHO RECENTLY BEGAN READING MY BOOK, HER KIND COMMENTS ON SEVERAL CHAPTERS REALLY BRIGHTENED MY DAY. THANK YOU!

"Hold your arm higher to block, it's more effective." Pather instructed a girl with sandy blond hair. Kiela smiled and moved on. Each shifter had been instructed in all of the different forms of weaponry from Kithna, while the humans practiced. Then, things had switched and the humans had learned how to use all of the shifter's tools.

Kiela looked around and saw all of the elders walking away from the training ground, towards the greeting tent. She swore to herself and then hurried away, hoping to arrive at the meeting in time. She had asked Sylnav to remind her about it, and half thought to berate the goddess, but she changed her mind. Celestial beings had no concept of time.

She arrived at the tent to find everyone already inside. The collected audience consisted of all of the elders and the heads of each house from the village. As the villages to the North and South had yet to arrive the audience was fairly small. They were expected to arrive by that evening.

There was also Cheif Samah, but Jarnvôsk was not present. He had stayed behind to lead those that had remained in Kithna. Samah had also collected a group of his trusted warriors to offer suggestions. Kiela quickly crept in and sat beside Œille, the head of her house, the Bolvek house. She looked to her right, and green eyes with gold flecks stared back at her. "Tori!" She exclaimed.

"Good to see you Kiela." Tori replied. She have Kiela a hug.

"What are you doing here?" Kiela asked, confused.

"I'm the head of the Critius house now." Tori replied with pride, and then a sad expression lit her face. "Levia, the old head was killed by Connix."

Kiela gasped.

"I'm so sorry." She said, internally berating herself for not returning sooner.

Do not blame yourself, you did the right thing. Sylnav comforted her.

The assembled people formed a circle to include everyone in the conversation.

Ramsea and Samah rose and addressed the crowd. The great elder spoke.

"Before the war that will soon be upon us we have a few tactical issues that we must discuss. Samah, it is easy for you to arrange your people as your children are not here and this not in immediate danger. We cannot say the same, however. If you have any suggestions please tell me now." Ramsea sat and looked expectantly at Samah. The two ancient leaders locked eyes.

"I believe that we should evacuate the nurseries. Where we should send the children, though, I do not know." He shook his head sadly. "We have not seen any of the lands near you and therefore do not know of good places."

Ramsea rose again. "We have been far too sheltered and certain in our existence. I fear we will meet the death of our race as a result."

The various assembled people began speaking, throwing ideas back and forth. Kiela racked her brain to find the solution.

Can they not go to one of the places you visited in your banishment? Sylnav asked.

I do not know. Kiela answered. The various places are far and unreachable to children.

Sylnav retreated to silence, but Kiela felt her mind working. Several more minutes and useless suggestions by the heads of the houses later, the goddess spoke.

What of the areas you visited with the wolf pack? The forest to the northeast by the river is not so far.

True... Kiela pondered. I will suggest it.

"How about the north eastern forest?" She asked, but could not be heard over the din.

She grew angry, and felt something slip into her voice. Sylnav's presence felt very close, and power filled her tone.

"How about the Northeastern forest?" She asked again. Silence filled the tent.

"We have never visited there before.." Samah spoke, shattering the emptiness ini a thousand pieces.

"I have." Kiela said. "When I was banished I lived there with the wolves. There is plenty of meat and edible plants. It is also far enough that they will be safe."

"Alright." Ramsea agreed. "Thank you Kiela."

"What?" One of the warriors spluttered. "You're going to trust the word of a girl? A suspected murderer?"

"Kiela is no more a murderer than I am." Ramsea replied calmly. "Can you claim the same? By your very profession you kill people." The man fell silent. "And anyways, by the end of this war we will all be killers."

Warmth filled Kiela's heart. After so long with no friends she was glad to have someone defending her.

"Does anyone else have anything to say?" Ramsea asked mildly. Wisely, no one replied. "Very well. We also face the issue of how we will fight this army. We have no idea of their numbers, or their direction of approach."

"How about a pincer movement?" Samah asked. 

The conversation continued on such topics and Kiela allowed her mind to wander. Her reverie was broken though at Samah's question: "How will we organize our army?"

Ramsea frowned. "I have no wish to separate our peoples on the battle ground, but it seems I have no choice.."

"How about we divide by houses?" Œille asked. Elill also nodded.

"We could take orders from you, Ramsea and you, Samah, and then instruct the heads of the houses." The elder suggested.

"We could divide Kithna up with four or five people to each house." Kiela suggested. The others nodded.

"How will the houses keep in touch?" Lono's house head asked. She was a thin and lithe owl by the name of Freya.

"We can just use The Touch, and then inform the house heads." A warrior stated. At their blank look he frowned. "Oh, you don't have.."

"The Touch is a way of seeing things through the use of plants." Samah interrupted. "I will show you later."

Ramsea nodded in acknowledgement. "Very well. Is it all settled?" Everyone nodded. "Samah I trust you can organize your people, we have sixteen houses of four or five each." Samah nodded. "Good luck, all of you."

The second the assembly was closed Kiela dashed outside.

Where are you going all of a sudden? Sylnav asked.

I have to find Lono. We can't have trouble before the battle. Kiela explained.

She ran all the way to the Abör oak where all the birds were training. She couldn't see her friend at first, but quickly noticed a brown falcon tumbling about in the air. Heavy stone talons covered its claws and as she watched it screeched defiance at a black crow. As she watched the two birds hurled themselves at each other, and the falcon was flung towards the ground. At the last minute it shifted, and Lono shook out his brown hair. The crow became Pather.

"Good work." Pather said. "Remember that you're slower with the talons and don't let that hinder the timing of your blows."

Lono nodded, and after a few more words he turned away.

"Lono!" Kiela called. Instead of answering he just hunched his shoulders and began to walk faster. "Lono, wait!" She called again, rushing up to him.

"What do you want?" Lono spat. He glared at her.

"Lono, I'm sorry." She said. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I had to keep you away. It was the only way to keep you safe."

His eyes softened. "Kiela, I was your friend. I cared about you. I want to forgive you, but I should be angry. Very, very angry. I'm not though."

"Lono, please. Soon we'll all be fighting, and we need each other as friends." She said.

"Kiela don't go making this all girly an touchy feely. Fine, I forgive you. Just don't start crying."Lono said quickly, looking terrified. Kiela laughed.

"I missed you." She said, putting him in a headlock.

"I missed you too." He replied, expertly untangling himself.

***

The deep sound of a horn stopped everyone in their tracks. A runner crested the ridge and dashed towards the camp, panic in his eyes. Kiela dropped the leather armor she was holding and followed him closely. The second her arrived at Ramsea's tent he collapsed.

"Ramsea!" Kiela called.

The elder swept the tent flaps aside and knelt beside the man.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Drisnôk's army!" The runner gulped out. "They're at the Rüjae cliffs on the far side of lake Fiölir."

"How much time do we have?" Ramsea asked.

"Three hours."