The ceremony continued, a litany of honor and remembrance, until the final name was spoken into the night. As the echo of Jason's words faded into silence, the pack raised their voices in a mournful howl-a primal song that carried the pain and pride of generations.

It was a sound that would ripple through the forest, a declaration that though we mourned, we remained undaunted. And as I lifted my own voice to join the chorus, I felt the stirrings of an unshakeable resolve take root within me. We ...