UNKNOWN POV Beta Tim and Mildrid made their way to the hilltop that was close by. Everyone that had come for food remained behind. Most of them were indecisive as to what should be their next line of action. Was it to kill another for food, or to return home and die of starvation together with other members of their families? Choosing between being a werewolf and a beast was a hard one, especially with the inherent will of survival embedded in each and everyone one of them by nature. “I would say we all turn back now and return to our various houses” an elderly man suggested. There was silence in the crowd after the man spoke. Some of them were looking at him with some bit of suspicion. In the game of hunger, everyone was a suspect. One of the younger lads was the next to speak after the uneasy period of silence. “I will agree with him. We are werewolves and we can always come up with a pattern of survival” A huge man yelled. “No, I will not listen to him. See lad, you are too young and easy to deceive and I pity you. All he wants is to return and take back everything for himself. He is immortal, that is what he is. If he cares so much, the likes of him can leave and then we would not have a need to fight ourselves to death” After the huge man finished speaking, murmurs erupted in the crowd with some supporting his assertions were the rest kicked against him. Some though were seated on the fence and did not utter even a word through it all. The huge man however turned away from the crowd and made his way to the hilltop to meet with beta Tim and Mildrid. “Yes, I knew this old man was a crafty fellow. He should have left long ago if he was not in support of the process” “I think so too. Is anyone forcing him to remain here? He should go home and die of hunger, he is already too old. Or does he want to become an immortal?” “I really do not support this. We have never gotten to this level. The alphas should do something about this” “I would agree with you. There should be a way out. What happens after now, do we still have to continue fighting ourselves every other time we get hungry?” “You already hear beta Tim say that in a few days he will advance a way to sneak in enough food to us. Do you want him to give you his flesh? He is only doing what he can” “I know their types, they are a bunch of ungrateful beasts. Beta Tim still has his sons in a dangerous state and yet he is going out of his way to carter for us. He did not impose fighting on anyone. Whoever is not okay with it can return home. No one is under any compulsion to remain here” “That is right. He is only doing this to be fair yet some will always be ungrateful. If we are not as much as this, he would not have employed this means” “Our Packs are currently facing hard times and only the strong can survive. We need only strong and fearless werewolves among us. Beta Tim is right, he knows exactly what he is doing and is only doing it for the good and betterment of the three brother Packs” Amidst the chattering in the crowd, the elderly man said. “Since it has come to this, I will not remain here but leave lest I am further accused of being two-faced” After saying this, he turned to go but the young boy caught up with him and said. “See you can't leave without me, old man. I believe you and so I will be leaving with you” The elderly man smiled and took the boy’s hand and as they were walking away, all the younger boys in the crowd joined them. They already know that they will be no hope for them in the fight. Seeing them leave, a man on the small side yelled. “Let them go. They either die here or die of hunger. But it is better they die of hunger lest their blood be on my hands” He is barely five feet tall and has a protruding stomach with very thin arms and neck. “I think it would be better if you join them too. It doesn’t look like you will last long in battle you know” a lady, tall and well-built said to the man. “Hey, watch your mouth. You don’t talk to me or I will show you right here and now exactly the stuff that I am made of” the man threatened. “Then you wait until we arrive at the hilltop” the lady retorted. The man was fuming angrily and if not that he was not sure about defeating the lady, he would have engaged her in a fight right away. “Instead of remaining here with you all, I better get myself to the hilltop. Whoever feels that he is strong enough should meet me there” the lady added and walked away. “Good for you, at least I will not be required to give a reason for manhandling you at the hilltop” the man snorted and walked after the lady. “Hey guys, isn’t this crazy? I would suggest we all return home. At least we can share with our neighbors that still have some food until the supply arrives” a lady suggested. “You can leave, woman. Go and die in your house alone” a man yelled angrily and walked out. “Then I guess I will be returning home alone,” the lady said and was going to walk away when a man stopped her.“Wait” he called. “Are you not from Crystal Realms Pack?” he asked. “Yes I am” she replied. “Then, I will be going with you. And I will suggest that every member of Crystal Realms join us too. This is not what we are known for” he called out. Two men and a lady from Crystal Realms Pack came out from the crowd and joined them. “We can leave now, we will find a way out of this situation when we arrive at Crystal Realms” one of the men that had just joined them said. “Yes, we should all leave” the first lady replied and they all walked away. As they were leaving, a young man came to the front of the crowd and announced. “Who else is a weakling among us? The person should leave us now as this battle is only for the strong. Go home and die of starvation and don’t allow our hands to be soiled with your useless blood” Immediately after he finished saying this, a lady and an elderly man moved out of the crowd and quietly made their way home. “I said, what does the weak desire to live for?” the man that had made the announcement intentionally said this to mock those that were leaving. Again there were murmurs in the crowd. “They knew they were weak, why did they remain here?” “Good riddance, that is what I say to them. They are not worth any food. Even humans are better than them” “I think they made the right decision. Killing is not a way to go about this. I better return home too” “This is a freewill, go home if you don’t belong here” “No one is stopping another from leaving” “I remember I still have some food at home. If properly managed, it will last a week. I will wait until more stock is brought. I am not a slayer. Even the moon goddess has not abandoned us yet”