The morning after, the mountain was quiet.

For the first time in days, weeks, no shouts rang down the halls. No pups sprinted past on tiny paws, trailing half-shifted tails and trouble. No warriors argued about training schedules or prank reprisals. It was just them.

Hunter watched Celeste from across the balcony. The moon was half-hidden behind drifting clouds, the night air crisp with the promise of autumn. She was leaning against the railing, arms crossed, head tilted back to stare at the ...