The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas

I wanted to talk to my father about the state of the people that I had seen when I had taken Piper shopping, but the King was too busy to see me for several days. When I was finally allowed audience

Inside of his chambers, he had his war map stretched out over the dining table.

My mother was seated in one of the cushioned chairs, with Terry in the one beside hers. My father was

standing, peering down at the map with his chin in his hand.

Nathan allowed me into the room, then followed me back to the table, where he stood quietly behind the

King.

“Nicholas,” my father said. My mother nodded. Terry stared at me blankly.

“Father, I’ve come to talk to you about a most pressing issue,” I said.

My father sighed. “Everything is a pressing issue, it seemed. What is it that is troubling you?”

“The welfare of our people. Father, they are starving and living in destitute conditions. They need more

assistance than we are…”

I trailed off as my father raised his hand.

“We have enough to worry about as it is. While I admit the conditions for our people are not as

they have been in the past, our people

own.”

not truly understand how dire things were? That people were homeless and hungry, and

help.

could just explain

King said. “I have given you my

you phrase it? “The welfare of our people‘ Don’t you understand that our borders are at

closer to the map, and then pointed at the crude black line meant to replicate our border with the

northern borders,” the King said. “There have been reports of their soldiers crossing into our territory

should call on our alliances,” I said,

useless unless the Bears attack by water. But they

gave Terry a sharp look. He seemed keen on tearing down others‘ ideas without producing any

OWIL

then,”

father shook his head. “The Bear People and the Dragon Clan have a very old

arms against the other, in the

of the fiercest types of shifters. They lived for war and combat. If they invaded each other, neither would

to mutually assured destruction.

we

“Pray,” Terry said.

Luna nodded, agreeing

the Bear People,” the King said. “If only we knew