I'm not sure how long I lay there, lost in my grief and guilt. But eventually, I became aware of sounds outside - excited barks, howls of anticipation. Alpha Donk must be gathering his forces for the attack.
Struggling to my feet, I pressed my ear against the cool stone of my prison. I could just make out Beta Jerome's voice:
"...left their territory unguarded. They'll never see us coming."
"Good," came Alpha Donk's reply. "We'll show them the price of their foolish trust in peace talks. By nightfall, their land will be ours."
I slumped back against the wall, my heart heavy. This was all my fault. If I hadn't suggested the meeting, if I hadn't pushed for change...
No. I couldn't let myself think that way. We had tried to do the right thing, to find a peaceful solution. The fault lay w
