Tafadzwa stood rigidly, fists clenched, his pride wrestling with instinctive caution as Erik's icy-white lightning crackled ominously around him. For a tense moment, silence filled the courtyard, everyone holding their breath, eyes shifting nervously between the two powerful shapeshifters.
The Packlanders all changed into their animal forms and gripped their weapons tightly. Their fear rose. They knew they wouldn't stand a chance if actual fighting broke out, but feelings would just get them killed by their own leaders instead. Truly, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Meanwhile, Tafadzwa's glare shifted subtly toward his trembling son. Even with his father's protection, Mbuya still trembled from Erik's pressure. The struggle in his eyes made it clear how hard he was trying to keep his mouth shut. Despite appearances, Mbuya possessed serviceable levels of intelligence.
