The Silver Moon clearing pulsed with the sounds of drums, laughter, and a dozen different versions of victory howls. Warriors, bruised, battered, and beaming, clinked bottles and retold the same stories with increasingly heroic embellishments. Pups dashed through the legs of elders, yipping excitedly as they reenacted their favorite moments of the battle.

"I'm Alpha Hunter!" one squeaked, brandishing a stick like a sword. "No, I'm Alpha Celeste!" another shouted, flipping dramatically onto the ...