Lolo woke up painfully early in the morning to someone banging frantically on the door.

“Tribe Leader Tragen! Tribe Leader Tragen! The trading post is on fire! We’re under attack!” It was Ernkit’s voice.

Philige jumped up to answer the door, and Lolo got up to follow him. Around the lodge, Lolo could hear people running and shouting, and she felt a cold chill settle in her veins as her heart pumped adrenaline-laced blood through her body.

“Have the general meet me at The Great Hall,” Philige was saying, and Ernkit nodded and left. “Lolo….” Something she couldn’t read played across Philige’s face. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to sit this one out.”

She smiled gently. “Not a chance.”

“I figured as much, but it was worth asking,” Philige resigned himself. “Let’s suit up, so you can assemble your team.”

Lolo threw her own armor on before helping Philige with his. Then she pulled out her war paint and started fussing with it in the mirror.

“What are you doing?”

“Come here. I’ll put some on you too.”

“What is it?”

She turned to look at him. She had painted fierce black and white streaks on her face to sharpen her natural bone structure with red paint serving as a haphazardly-applied, blood-colored lipstick. “War paint. It’s a psychological weapon and an early line of defense. It helps you get into your enemy’s head.”

“I can see that,” Philige was admittedly a little unnerved at the sight of war paint on his wife. “And you want to put some of that on me?”

“Do you have any objections?”

“Uh. How about you just kiss me and wish me good luck?”

She grinned and snuck more red paint onto her own lips. “Whatever you say.” She kissed him hard, leaving bloody-looking streaks of paint all around his mouth. “Good luck, Tribe Leader. Stay safe.”

“You too. I love you.”

“What happened to you?” General Starkam asked the Bear Tribe leader as he walked in for the report.

Philige was confused. “What do you mean?” General Starkam pointed between his own mouth and Philige, and Philige ran his hand over his lips, smearing the paint further. He looked at his hand and chuckled, understanding what Lolo had done. “War paint. Apparently it’s a psychological weapon.”

General Starkam nodded approvingly. “It certainly has an effect.”

“So, General, what’s your report?”

“The trading post is in flames, and we’ve confirmed that a dragon army is on its way up the hill, burning as they go. I’ve sent some men to help people clear out of their way quickly. We estimate that the dragons will arrive here at the Leader’s Lodge in about an hour to an hour and a half.”

“That doesn’t give us much time. Are your men prepared?”

“Just about. We’ll be in position to meet them in twenty minutes.”

Philige nodded. “Have some eyes watch for smaller groups trying to flank the lodge.”

“Already on it.”

“Let’s try to move the battle to the south, meet them part of the way and keep the fight out of the lodge if we can. I’m assuming you've sent messengers to our Wolf Tribe allies already?”

“Yes. Tribe Leader,” the general seemed to hesitate, “will the queen be fighting with us?”

“Why do you ask?”

“To be blunt, she’s become something of a hero to the men since the Wolf Tribe battle. They will take courage knowing she’s fighting with them.”

Philige nodded. “Yes, the Bear Queen will be fighting with us today.”

General Starkam smiled and bowed to take his leave.

"Lolo, what's happening?!" she heard Fortus's voice ask as she ran to find her team.

"I've been expecting you. Tell everyone to suit up, Fortus. The Bear Tribe is under attack. I'm coming to join you."

"I'm on it. See you when you get here."

"Lolo, what's on your face?" Ulana asked as soon as Lolo came into view. Already in Durfein’s armor, the primordials had congregated in front of the guest houses to wait for Lolo.

"This is the last protection I can give you before the battle," Lolo replied. "It'll give the dragons something to think about before they attack you.... And it heightens the drama," Lolo winked at Ulana.

"Well," Ulana laughed, "I do like drama."

Faces painted to accentuate bone structures and generally look a little horrifying, the team was ready. Lolo packed up her paint and led the way back to The Great Hall. Her team waited outside while Lolo joined the meeting.

“Philige, what’s our status?” she asked.

“It’s not looking good Lolo. Our scouts just came back. They have us outnumbered nearly two to one, and most of our men are still under trained or newly trained.”

“How many?”

“Somewhere around sixty thousand. Maybe more.”

“And we have something like thirty-six thousand?”

“But nearly ten thousand of our troops are new since the Wolf Tribe battle. Lolo, these dragons are well-trained fighters. It’s going to be a bloodbath even with our high-ground and home turf advantage. I don’t know how they have such a massive army! They lost tens of thousands of soldiers at the Wolf Tribe battle.”

The level of anxiety in his voice made Lolo hurt a little. “Philige, we’re ready.” Lolo gave him a meaningful look. “We’re going to get through this. Don’t let them get in your head. Understand? I’m right behind you.”

He took a deep breath and nodded.

“Tribe Leader!” Begrent burst through the door, and Lolo felt Fortus connect with her to listen to the report. “We’re being flanked to the east. It’s not a huge group, maybe two thousand men, but they look like trained assassins based on the types of weapons they’re carrying.”

“Sattal’s men?” Fortus asked.

“Begrent, did you identify their leader?” Lolo asked.

He shook his head.

“Standig, Ulana and I will take care of it.”

“Gonna have Standig use his shield to blow through their lines while the you and Ulana clean up behind him?” Lolo smirked a little.

“Something like that. I’ll let you know when we’re on our way back.”

“Be careful.”

Fortus broke the link.

“What do you want to do?” the General was asking Philige.

“My team is handling it,” Lolo suddenly said.

Everyone turned to look at her.

“Your team?” General Starkam had no idea what she was talking about.

Lolo smiled and nodded. “It’s being handled. Promise. Just focus on the army climbing the mountain.”

The general turned to Philige as if to ask if he had any idea what Lolo was talking about, and Philige looked at Lolo, reading the confidence in her expression.

“Do as she says.”

The general took a deep breath and accepted his orders just as Ernkit ran through the front doors.

“Tribe Leader, there’s a small army trying to flank us to the west. About two thousand men, and they look tough,” came the report.

“I don’t suppose you have another team to deal with the west side too?” General Starkam teased wryly.

She thought for a minute. Of her team, only she and Jadu were left. Neither of them had Standig’s brute force that could lay out an entire army quickly. They’d need help. “I need two hundred well-trained men,” Lolo replied.

“Only two hundred?” Ernkit was dubious at best.

“You heard me. Two hundred men. Hand-pick them quickly, and have them meet me in the west courtyard as soon as possible,” Lolo ordered.

Ernkit and Begrent both left in a hurry to follow orders.

“You have a plan?” Philige caught Lolo's arm before she could run up the stairs after them.

“Yes. You know what I’m capable of,” Lolo smiled reassuringly. “Jadu’s coming with me.”

Philige looked frightened and hesitated to release her.

“This is what I’ve been training for,” Lolo said, taking his hand from off her arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back.” She kissed him and ran out the door before he could argue with her.

Once outside, Lolo found Jadu and indicated for him to follow her. Dawn was breaking.

“Where are we going, Lolo?” Jadu asked.

“The rest of the team are taking care of the attempted flank to the east. We’re going to take care of a similar problem to the west.”

“How many?”

“Two thousand, give or take.”

“I hope you have help coming,” Jadu said. “Healing and defense won’t take down an army.”

“I know. I have two hundred men meeting us in the courtyard.”

“You think two hundred will be enough?”

Lolo grinned. “I have a plan.”

Jadu caught the mischief in her expression. “If you say so.”

Ernkit and Begrent arrived in the courtyard with Fengli and one hundred and ninety-seven other bear soldiers.

“Split into two teams while we move out,” Lolo ordered.

Behind her, the Starkam captains divided the groups and formed ranks as they followed her brisk pace to meet the incoming army. Lolo indicated for everyone to move quietly and halted them abruptly as they came to a clearing in the trees that the enemy army would have to pass through. Lolo called for a quick huddle with Jadu, Fengli, Ernkit and Begrent.

“Alright guys, take your men around the edges of the trees to the sides of the clearing and conceal yourselves well there. When the dragons enter the clearing, circle it and wait for me to create the opportune moment to attack. I know that will spread you thin, but those are my orders.”

Jadu grinned. He knew exactly what she was planning. The other three were completely stumped.

“What are you going to do?” Fengli asked.

“What moment?” Begrent asked.

“You’ll know it when you see it,” Jadu laughed. “Just try not to be too surprised by it. I’ll lead the charge in case you have any doubts.”

“Move out!” Lolo ordered.

As the soldiers circled the clearing, Lolo stepped into the middle of it, waiting to greet the dragons. She didn’t have to wait more than five minutes.

“Well, what do we have here?” His mocking voice was instantly recognizable.

“Lieutenant Beraham, welcome to the Bear Tribe,” Lolo said casually as though she were greeting an expected houseguest.

“It’s ‘Captain’ now,” he corrected her coolly, giving his men the signal to surround her.

“My, my how you’ve risen in the world,” Lolo narrowed her eyes at him, “but to me, you’ll always be that angry little lieutenant with a chip on his shoulder.”

Beraham snorted. “I could say the same about you, Huo Lohse Lang, the little wolf whore. Oh, yes, I’ve heard the stories,” he sneered as Lolo tensed.

Brushing it off quickly, Lolo smiled, “actually, it’s Huo Lohse Tragen now.”

“Oh, ho! You married that over-sized brute, did you?” he jeered.

“If you are referring to the bear prince, then, no. I married his older brother.”

“Ah!” Captain Beraham registered. “That would make you the Bear Queen! It’s so kind of you to welcome us personally. And how generous of the Bear Tribe to offer us such a valuable hostage.”

“Come now, lieutenant,” she mocked, “don’t get ahead of yourself. You have to capture me first.”

“I intend to.”

Lolo drew her sword in one smooth motion. “I’d like to see you try."

Captain Beraham gave the signal, and Lolo was rushed from all sides. Lolo felt the Silver Wolf energize her body, giving her that familiar electric buzzing sensation, and Lolo dropped everyone that dared to raise a weapon against her. Ten men, fifty men, one hundred men… Lolo lost count, and the soldiers stopped their assault. They couldn’t touch her.

“It’s the soldier from the Wolf Tribe battle!” a nervous dragon soldier recognized her.

From somewhere near the edge of the dragon army, someone loosed an arrow at her. She dodged it effortlessly. Then another arrow flew from another direction. Then another. The enemy had surrounded her beautifully, and her men had surely gotten into position by now. She was ready. Dodging a last arrow, Lolo closed her eyes.

“What’s our status?” Standig asked Philige as he, Fortus and Ulana returned to The Great Hall after obliterating the dragon army to the east.

“We are preparing to meet the main army. Our men are in position. How did it go?” Philige nodded eastward.

“We took care of it,” Standig replied simply.

“Tell him,” Ulana prompted.

“Oh, right!” Standig remembered. “What’s your policy on prisoners?”

“Prisoners?” Both Philige and the Bear General asked in unison.

“Yeah. We had an old friend surrender to Ulana before the fighting had even really begun. He seemed to be waiting specifically for an opportunity to surrender to us.”

“An old friend, huh?” Philige scowled. “Who is it?”

“Captain Tamkhee Yudha,” Fortus answered.

“The Dragon General’s son?!” General Starkam was shocked.

Fortus nodded. “He said he wants to speak with…” Fortus twitched from irritation. “He wants to talk to ‘Huo Lohse Lang, the Wolf Tribe princess’ as he put it. I guess he hasn’t heard the news.”

“Lolo? He wants to speak with Lolo?” Philige was disturbed.

“That’s what he said,” Ulana confirmed with a shrug.

Philige sighed. “For now, lock him up. We have a cell back at the military base. General, take care of it, please?”

General Starkam nodded and assigned four men to follow Ulana back to where she’d tied the prisoner to a tree for temporary safe-keeping. “It’s time to head for the front lines. The dragons should be arriving very soon.”

Fortus grinned. “Target practice!” He went to retrieve the longbow Lolo had given him for his birthday and several quivers full of arrows that he’d prepared and left on the bench just outside The Great Hall.

Standig looked around as he and his brother followed the enthusiastic lion out. “Philige, where’s Lolo?”

Philige looked westward, and Standig followed his gaze in time to see a silver explosion appear above the trees, contrasting magnificently against the early morning shadows and pale twilight. “Standig, bring her back for me?”

Standig nodded and took off at a run.