The inside of the tree is big. Open space, where more wolves lay, either sleeping or grooming each other. There are not a lot of them, only five more. The three pups follow us as we walk, before running to another wolf and hopping on to them.

“Mind-Walker brought strange new member to pack mother! The strange one is mean!”

… Are they talking about this one?

Growl.

“Do not mind them, Great One.” Mind-Walker communicates with the psionic link, making no noise. But this one can still sense… amusement? “They will come to accept you. As it has always been with the pack.”

Sniff.

Do not care.

As we walk, all of the wolves bow their head to the big wolf. They also recognizes that among them, it is still predator.

The big wolf does not greet them, only leads this one and Mind-Walker past the wolves. The ground slopes up, higher into the inside of the tree, winding around until it leads into the roof. The big wolf continues to walk forwards, until we reach the roof into a smaller, but still big open space.

…

There are two more wolves here. One is BIG! Even bigger than the big wolf, though only slightly. It is sitting up, watching us all enter without anxiousness. Also seems dangerous, will have to finish preparing and consuming biomass before this one is ready to fight.

The other is small. Much smaller than the main body, even more than Mind-Walker. It is laying down, head resting on its paws, eyes closed. It only opens one eye when we enter.

But this one can feel it. The fear it causes inside of the main body.

Predator.

The big wolf bows its head to the predator, communicates.

“We have brought the one that Mind-Walker has led to Us, Star-Reader.”

The predator only yawns and scratches at its ear. The bigger wolf looks at the predator and snorts, before also bowing its head.

“Thank you, Time-Breaker. Take the pack out to hunt, and mark the territory once more. We are in need of more prey, and the rival pack has been encroaching upon Our land more and more.”

The big wolf bows its head once more and turns around, walking back down the slope. Mind-Walker begins to follow them, before a deep growl rumbles from the predator.

Shake.

Is cowardice, the shake. But is natural.

Still…

FRUSTRATED! HOW MANY PREDATORS IS THIS ONE GOING TO ENCOUNTER!?

“Mind-Walker, you stay with Us and the new one.” The predator communicates.

Mind-Walker stops, also shakes, but comes back to sit next to this one.

When the big wolf - Time-Breaker - exits, the predator yawns again, and stands up. Both eyes open, it inspects the main body.

Strange. Feel pressure on brain, but it is negligible. But Mind-Walker is beginning to sink to the floor, submissive.

Smug. Superior to Mind-Walker, even if… GAH! FINE! Even if inferior to yet another wolf.

Don’t know how long the predator inspects this one, as it stares at the main body.

Wave tentacles. Stare back.

Bite!

…

Confused.

The bigger wolf bites the predator!?

“How long will you keep trying to force the new one down before you realize they are immune? Stop it.”

The predator’s hackles raise as it growls at the bigger wolf.

Are they going to fight?

The bigger wolf growls back.

They’re going to fight!

YES! THIS ONE IS FULLY REPAIRED, READY TO FIGHT THE PREDATOR!

“Fine.” The preda-

…

Odd. All feelings of danger and fear from the smaller wolf are gone. It now simply seems like a regular wolf.

…

The… predator - Star-Reader - sits back down, and again rests its head on its paws. Mind-Walker sighs, can hear their relief as they rise from the floor.

The bigger wolf’s ears twitch, and it communicates.

“Mind-Walker, it seems you’ve brought a new member to Our pack. Why?”

Mind-Walker’s tail wags as they pant. No more verbal communication, but know they are communicating through the psionic link.

While they do, Star-Reader sniffs the air.

“You smell… oddly familiar, new one. Like encroachers, and like… Mmm, hard to say in this speech... Ḧ̵̖́o̸͚̅m̴̥͒e̶̗̔. Have not had this scent since We were a pup.” They say, head still resting on their paws.

Still.

Ḧ̵̖́o̸͚̅m̴̥͒e̶̗̔? Where has this one heard that before?

…

Remember!

The first predator!

The first predator mentioned Ḧ̵̖́o̸͚̅m̴̥͒e̶̗̔.

“This one only smells as a superior form should.”

Smug.

Star-Reader blinks, slowly. Lips draw back, revealing teeth. Aggression?

No. Amusement.

“Superior, you say. Ha! We remember thinking like you did, when We were just a pup. Yes, We suppose that those with a Core will always be superior to those without.”

…

Confused. Do not all structures have a Core?

“A Core? The new one has a Core?”

The bigger wolf communicates this to Star-Reader, who snorts.

“Ah, that’s right Sun-Walker, We had forgotten you could not sense them. All muscle and no thoughts, idio-”

Bite.

More growling. But no attempts to harm.

Confused! Are the wolves going to fight or not!?

Sun-Walker huffs, then looks at this one.

“Mind-Walker,” Sun-Walker glares at the wolf, who lowers their head, “failed to mention that you had a Core. We are curious. How? Did your sires have Cores, or were you blessed by Ḧ̵̖́o̸͚̅m̴̥͒e̶̗̔?”

Wait. This one is very confused now.

“This one was made with a Core, from the beginning of this one’s life cycle. No sires, and have never been to… Ḧ̵̖́o̸͚̅m̴̥͒e̶̗̔.”

Sun-Walker and Star-Reader look at each other.

Odd.

They exhibit… excitement?

Sense more psionic link communication, but now between Sun-Walker and Star-Reader.

Want to try, test with Mind-Walker, but...

FRUSTRATION! WHY CAN’T THIS ONE DO IT?

Anatomies and structures are used with instinct, so why aren’t Core abilities!?

Gah!

Star-Reader stands, looks at this one again.

“New one, demonstrate your Core ability for Us.”

… but this one already is?

“This structure is the Core ability.”

Now the wolves look confused.

“What?”

Remove all structures except for brain and altered digestive tract., return to the base main body.

…

Don’t like that this one is now smaller than Star-Reader. Push tentacles underneath the main body, enlarge.

Happy, now bigger again.

Wiggle.

All wolves are looking at the main body. Yes! Main body is indeed still superior, even in base form. Observe it! Bask in this one’s superiority!

Mind-Walker makes amused sound.

“So the new one is not originally the same as Our pack. Interesting.” Star-Reader communicates, sitting back down.

Obviously. Wolves do not even have tentacles. Inferior.

Develop all previous structures, once again bigger. Satisfaction.

Core energy is currently 37%. Tired, will require stasis soon.

Sun-Walker looks slightly distressed, but still seems pleased. “It will be good to have another with a natural Core among the pack, even if they are not naturally one of us. Maybe We can finally kill the Supreme One.”

“We told you! The Great One shall make the pack much stronger! They even killed the Ravenous One!”

… annoyed.

“This one did not say it would join your pack.”

“...”

“...”

“But Great One…”

“No! And you have not given this one biomass, or taught how to use other Core abilities like you promised! Not doing what you said is cowardice!”

Sun-Walker and Star-Reader still.

… they wouldn’t fight the main body just because this one didn’t say it was going to join the pack, right?

Right?

Sun-Walker communicates. Must prepare to fight, if it comes to it!

“What do you mean, other Core abilities?”

Hmm?

Not fighting?

“This one has nine Core abilities, including the original.”

“WHAT?”