After dinner, Nicolas laid out his plan to search for she-cats.
Zenya remained frozen in silence.
Esta spoke first, "My job is to protect your mate. Nikka will go in my stead."
"I won't make you go, but I believe my mate can protect herself with Nikka and McDonald by her side. I need you to talk to the women if we find any alive and convince them to come with us."
Esta looked at Zenya, "I promised to keep you safe."
"The women need you. I'm safe here." Annoyance at her mate clouded her words.
Esta looked at Aster, "Are you going, wolf?"
"I plan to kill more cats than you."
Esta accepted the challenge. "I'll go."
For a wolf, not thought to be the brightest, Aster easily handled the difficult she-cat.
Nicolas looked around the room, stopping to meet the eyes of each of his fighter
