As if thinking about it had triggered the worst outcome, Elder Blackwoods suddenly got a System Message that a group of his people had been attacked on the way to town. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

That was followed quickly by a Clan War System message over the area.

A smile slowly spread over Rae’s face, and the security Elders shuddered in horror. These idiots might not have been paying attention. But they knew what had happened in Gralpedrin.

"Gentlemen, I will apologize in advance for the mess. But the Darklight Host is allied with the Blackwoods Pack."

The Security Elder sighed. "Since when?"

"About four hours ago? Either way, we’re allied now and..."

Rae stopped speaking just long enough to [Shadow Step] and use her favourite poisoned daggers to decapitate two of the warriors.

"Gods above, how much attack power does she have?" One of the Security Elders muttered as the third goon fell to his knees, clearly planning to beg for his life.

He wouldn’t get the chance.

Rae collected the corpses, then waved her hand and absorbed the blood on the floor before anyone could track it around the shop.

"Security gentlemen, can you take Miss Lucille to the barbecue party? My friends are there to take care of her, and I have to go see a guy about a thing."

Elder Blackwell chuckled. "Their Clan compound is on the south side of the city, the tan sandstone walls, next to the cooper’s warehouse."

Rae nodded, then vanished.

"Shit. I’ll send security Elders over there. What’s she thinking, going alone?"

Blackwell shrugged. "Going by what just happened, I would say that she’s not actually concerned about her safety. They only have ten more Ascended Elders, and no Supreme Ranked leader.

But on that note, I will take Lucille to safety, it’s on my way to their compound."

The little mage growled. "I can help. I have a class now."

Her father patted her on the head. "Calm down, little one. Let the Darklight Host members keep you safe, and we will start your combat training later."

At the party, Karl could sense what happened, as Rae was now in the attacking Clan’s compound.

That was hard to miss.

"It looks like we have to intervene. It wouldn’t look good if our allies took heavy losses. Only, I don’t know where the Blackwoods Pack is," he informed Dana with an annoyed sigh.

Why did someone have to start things in the middle of a party?

One of the Barbarians came over and handed him a crude map. "They’re southeast of the gate by five kilometres. Nearly in the city, by Lycan standards. They weren’t big enough to claim a good spot in the deep woods.

They do have a few Peak Immortal Elders, so I doubt that they’ll lose the fight.

But if you want to go assist your allies, that’s where they are."

[Can I do the thing?] Hawk asked in Karl’s mind.

[Rae is in the building, and she will be upset if you set it on fire around her.]

Hawk considered his options. He could go set the group attacking the pack on fire instead. Today was a good day for fire. He just had to finish up with these two smokers full of fresh meat, and then he would head right over.

"Alright, I will go assist our allied Pack. Gentlemen, I will return in a moment."

The barbarians laughed at his complete confidence that one more Immortal would be enough to make a difference.

Unless there were more Darklight Host members coming, as it was clear that the New Home Merchant Clan considered this none of their business. Not a surprising position, as nearly every other group in the city thought the same way.

In fact, nobody was coming to assist either side of this battle except Karl and Rae.

Karl stepped outside, then flew over the building by a few hundred metres before transforming into the Avatar of the World Dragon and taking off for the pack.

"Is he going to make a point? That’s a big dragon." The barbarian asked Dana as Karl left.

"Oh, definitely. I think that one of our Guild Members wants to claim the Pack, so he’s gone to make sure that they all know we’re helping. And what better way than by doing it as a massive dragon?"

Cara laughed at Dana’s words. Keeping the Lycans was always an option. She even knew a good spot to put them.

There was a whole empty Clan Compound in the woods, where they had gotten the bunnies from.

That was close enough to the New Home to protect them easily, and it would give them more territory. Nobody had moved in yet, as technically it was spoils of war for the New Home Merchant Clan. But the New Home didn’t need it, and it wasn’t in great shape to start with.

Once she advanced, they could set Lotus loose on the Pack as well. Call it a "Branch Office" of the Darklight Host, and she would have a whole lot more fluffy people around.

You had to look out for your friends, right?

Dana realized that something was influencing her thoughts the moment those words flashed through her mind. Being bonded with Karl and the team was changing the way that she thought in the most subtle and insidious ways.

That one was likely a Thor-based thought, but it could have been any of them. They were all either fiercely protective of their friends, or extremely loyal.

Elder Blackwoods ran in with Lucille in his arms, and Tian leapt off the table to land in the girl’s arms, making her giggle.

"Hi! Am I making friends today?"

Dana smiled at her. "You will stay here with us for the fight. That is Tian, and he’s a friend of Rae’s."

Tian nodded. "{There is more meat coming. Do you like roast meat? Oh, they’ve got spiced honey water too. It’s better than the alcohol, and I can’t drink too much milk without getting full.}"

Lucille nodded. She liked all those things. But Lycans processed alcohol too fast to get drunk, so they rarely bothered with it.