He would deal with them if and when the time came.

•••

Something moved outside the Pony Barn. Meg couldn’t hear it, but she knew it was there, felt the weight of its presence on her skin.

She tightened her grip on Sam, not that he seemed inclined to leave any space between them. Skippy, for once showing sense, had burrowed in the straw at the back of the stall. Jester stared at the barn doors as if that alone would keep them closed and keep everyone safe.

All the ponies who weren’t out with the Elementals poked their heads out of their stalls, but Tornado and Quicksand came out and faced the doors.

Jester glanced at Meg, then focused on the doors again.

She felt nothing like prophecy under her skin. No pins and needles, no prickles or buzzing. Because none of them had a future? Or because she should already know the choice she should make?

We are here, still keeping watch. Still protecting the world.

Meg raised her head. “Arroo!”

“Shhhh,” Jester whispered.

“They need to know we’re here. Arroo!”

“Arroo!” Sam howled.

Something pulled one of the barn doors open an inch or two.

“Arroo!” Meg howled. Now Sam and Skippy howled with her.

More howls now from the Wolves keeping watch in various parts of the Courtyard.

We are here. Wasn’t that the message that had been silenced in other parts of Thaisia? But not in Lakeside. The Wolfgard was still here.

“Arroo!”

A snuff. A huff. A... laugh?

The barn door closed—and something moved away, leaving behind an odd silence.

Meg blinked. “Was it... were they laughing at us?”

Grinning, Jester collapsed in the straw beside her. “They had never heard the howl of a not-Wolf, and they were curious.”

“They were laughing at us.”

“That too,” Jester agreed cheerfully. He sprang up. “Want some food, Meg?”

“Is it done? The storm and... after?”

“For us it is.”

He seemed sure of that.

She stood and brushed off her backside. “I’m going to wash my hands first.”

“Don’t use too much of the toilet paper. I wasn’t planning on having a female here when I brought in supplies.”

Grabbing the carry sack that held her personal items, Meg went to the toilet in the back of the barn. She closed the door, opened the sack, and smiled. There, on top, was a roll of toilet paper that Merri Lee or Ruth had packed.

“Ha!” Meg said, setting the roll on the toilet tank.

As she took care of business, she wondered if her little “arroo” would become another story that traveled to other Wolf packs.

•••

Nathan shouldered his way through the crowd of humans who were between him and the front door, careful to avoid the shoed feet that could stomp on his paws.