“I am sorry for interrupting,” I smile. “Griffin was so kind as to show me around some important places.”
“I wasn’t being kind,” Griffin grins. “The alpha was just too worried about having his luna stroll around by herself.”
I look at him, amused. “That too,” I say.
“Did you watch our training?” Martin asks.
“I did.”
“And what’s your verdict?”
“Forest told me his warriors are good, and he is right. There is a lot of potential,” I answer honestly. “I think with your new training, you will really hone their strengths.”
“Did you hear that?” Griffin yells towards the group, grinning brightly when the warriors pretend like they didn’t just listen in. “Of course you did!”
“I was actually hoping I could talk to all of you, for a moment,” I say.
“Go ahead,” Martin says.
“You and Griffin are included,” I say.
When Martin looks at Griffin, the latter just grins. “Just you wait.”
Martin grabs his towel and leads me to the benches and tables where the warriors are resting, inviting me to sit down with them. I take out my notebook and pen. “After talking with Forest, we thought it would be best to ask all of you directly. You know best,” I say, making sure to emphasize I am here because I need them, because there is something they know better than any other.
“The luna’s strong point is organization and strategy,” Martin says, obviously wanting to back me up and explain why I am here.
“I’d call it strategic warfare,” Griffin teases. “It’s actually scary. Just one afternoon, and she already reorganized our finances to something more beneficial for the pack.”
“In my previous pack, I had the chance to learn a lot about security measures,” I explain. “And I want to know from you where our weaknesses are and what you think we’d benefit from.”
I can see the surprise in the warriors’ faces. Finally, one of them finds his voice. “Why us, Luna?”
I scan his face, roaming my mind for his name. I studied the list of advanced warriors last night. “Because you are part of thesecurity, Lukas,” I say. “You are actually the main protectors of the pack. You are on schedule, you guard and go on patrols. You know the pack’s weak points like no other.”
What I said obviously strokes their egos, but I also meant it. It’s not a lie. They do know the pack’s security problems. “Is it really okay if we speak?” Lukas asks.
“It is,” Griffin says. “I can go first: We don’t have any cameras.”
“Yeah, that’s a problem,” Martin agrees, with the other men nodding.
“Nowhere?” I ask. “Not even at the open spots to the North? There is no pack in that direction; it’s vulnerable for potential attacks. “That and the hiking trail that comes from the human town and passes close by. I know it leads to a mountain, but I guess sometimes hikers must get lost and accidentally stumble onto pack grounds.”
“Both of them are true,” Martin says. “And both of them are a problem.”
One of the men raises his hand, and I nod at him. “Please, go ahead.”
“Some of us think it would be good to learn first-aid,” he says, his voice careful as if he is scared of my reaction.
I make another note in my book. “I heard that one already when I talked to the pack doctor. We definitely need to arrange something there.”
Martin turns to Griffin. “You were at the infirmary?”
“You have no idea of the shenanigans the luna was up to.”
I look at him, amused. “I am not sure I would call it that.” I turn back to the warriors. “What else?”
Another man raises his hand. “We don’t have any sentinels,” he says. “We all learn the basics of everything, but we don’t have anyone specialized in certain tasks.”
