When a dog-like race fights to hold a vital mountain pass, one low-rank craskin seeks a more direct way to end the siege. But doing so goes against the pack's mentality of honor before victory.

This stunning fantasy tale combines Edstrom's fantastic world-building with humor and a surprising dose of very human pathos.

This short story was first published in the acclaimed Fiction River: No Humans Allowed anthology.

"Edstrom packs his story with magnificent world building while never losing sight of the purpose of his narrative. Although the culture is foreign, the motivations and choices are clear and understandable." —Tangent Online