For cohesion and continuity, I repost this image. Gevaudan and Qithka receive news from home. Their Pack Cannagrrh expects one of them to ascend to Alpha of Cannagrrh to be decided through traditional, ritual Infighting. Gevaudan plans silently. He intends to punish his Sister-Dame by forcing her out of her current Career of Entertainer (Journalist) and onto that throne as the new Pack Alpha though it means he will not be able to return to his homeworld in her reign. "They want to see blood on our white pelts," declared Qithka. "The Pack actually expects you and I to Infight over the Alpha Cannagrrh. Our dam must have seen this coming for years now. Look at our family tree." "Do you remotely desire the position, Gevaudan?" "No. Do you?" Qithka read the missive printout again, mouthing the Gvegh words whose grammar confirmed it originated in Gvurrdon Sector and from inside the Dzen Aeng Kho , the Society of Equals. The Pilot-Astrogator simply closed his ocean blue eyes and bowed his head. He knew what he must be done when the Sixth Horizon made that final jump into Ouse Faeg system. His Sister-Dame augmented the issue with, "This position, whoever sits in that chair, will control Cannagrrh from a throne in what amounts to a prison. It is an end to our adventuring days." Only one of us, thought Gevaudan.