Chapter 409 - CH 409 — The First Defection

The afternoon sun hung low above the training grounds behind the pack barracks, casting long shadows across worn stone pathways and practice fields where generations of warriors had learned discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice. The atmosphere carried an unusual heaviness despite the pleasant weather because recent weeks had changed the political landscape of the territory in ways many soldiers struggled to understand, and uncertainty often spread through military ranks faster than any enemy force. While training exercises continued throughout the compound, conversations had become quieter, glances more cautious, and opinions increasingly divided.