Listen to me! I called out to them, taking a step forward. This doesnt have to happen. If you let us leave, the dogs will come with us and wele go back to the Deathlands and leave you in peace. But if you try to take us---

I paused, gazing down at Pilgrims body.

The dogs might not get all of you, I said, looking back up at the Dau. But by the time its all over, most of you will be lying in the dirt with your throats ripped out---and all for what? For Skender? Skender was worthless. You all know that. You despised him, every one of you. He didnt deserve to live. So why waste your lives avenging his death?

I took another step forward, holding my hands out at my sides.

Its up to you, I told them. If you want to die for him, go ahead and shoot.

I stood there for perhaps 30 seconds, gazing around at them all, looking into their eyes – letting them see that my death meant nothing to me – and then, without another word, I turned round and began walking away.

We stayed together at first, hundreds of dogs running as one through the silent darkness of the glassrock plains, and as we headed ever deeper into the heart of the Deathlands, I felt the world coming back to me again – the closeness of the other dogs, the hypnotic rhythm of our movement, the cold night air freshening the skin of my aching body---this was where I was meant to be. With Chola Se and my mother, running together with the Deathland dogs---

Going home.

I let my voice come to the dogs again as we neared the foothills of the towering Black Mountains. Beyond the mountains, the alliance would begin to dissolve as the packs and families and solitary dogs split up and began heading back to their own territories, but for now we were still all together, and we needed to know that while our rising tonight was over for now, it would come again.

We knew it.

We could see it.

Wede heard the voice.

Our time will come.

When I first started writing this account, I didnt think I knew how to do it. 3 months have passed since then, and so much has changed that I can barely remember the way things used to be, but Ime still not sure if the words on these pages are anything more than dust in the wind. All I can say is that Ive done my best to follow the advice that Starry gave me when I sat with him that morning on the old sea wall.

Just take all the feelings from your heart and mind, he told me, and put them into words.