Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 30: Meeting With The Elders

**Theo's POV**

As soon as I announced that there were rogues again, the room fell silent. It was like a switch had been flipped, and suddenly everyone was quiet and still. The air in the room grew thick and heavy like a weight was pressing down on us.

You could feel the tension building, like a pot about to boil over. The courtiers and ministers who had been chatting and laughing just moments before at my father's arrival tomorrow were now murmuring to each other in hushed tones.

One of the courtiers, an older man with a face that was lined with age and eyes that were sharp as knives, stepped forward. He looked around the room. His eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to make sense of the situation. "Even if they come back stronger, we are more powerful than that."

The older man's presence seemed to calm the room slightly. But even he couldn't hide the concern that was etched on his face. He knew that the presence of rogues was a serious threat. "Just let us know how and why you feel they have come back stronger. We will figure out a way to deal with them."

I turned to Peter, nodding for him to explain.

He stepped forward, his expression serious. "Theo, these rogues are unlike anything we've dealt with before. They seem to be a different species, almost like they're mutating. That is why we say they came back stronger."

"Mutating?" The elders frowned. "What do you mean?"

"When we kill them, the usual methods don't always work," Peter explained. "If we don't kill them by decapitating them, their wounds heal almost instantly. And their blood... it's poisonous. Anyone who gets rogue blood on them develops severe burning rashes on their skin. It spreads rapidly, and we've had to isolate those affected. Worse, those who get it in their mouths or eyes start convulsing."

"Several of our best fighters were affected and I was lucky enough by the grace of our goddess to come out unscathed." Peter continued with a sigh. "We've had to set up a quarantine area to keep the infection from spreading."

The room erupted in a cacophony of worried voices, each courtier and minister trying to voice their concerns at once. One of the younger ministers, a woman with auburn hair tied back in a tight bun, raised her hand, demanding attention.

"What measures are we taking to protect the rest of the pack from this threat?" she asked, her voice cutting through the noise.

"We've increased patrols along the borders and are fortifying our defenses," Peter answered. "Our healers are working on finding a treatment for those affected by the poisonous blood, but progress is slow."

Another courtier, his face pale with fear, spoke up. "What if the infection spreads beyond the quarantine? What if it's contagious?"

"We don't know if it's contagious but we know that the more it burns and that carries scratches, it spreads to new places," Peter replied. "And it is why they have been quarantined."

"What if the physicians who are working with them get infected?"

"They are practicing safe techniques," I assured them.

“What if the rogues attack in greater numbers?"

"We're doing everything we can to prevent that," I assured them. "But we need to remain vigilant and work together. Panic will only make things worse."

An elder, his voice trembling with age, asked, "Have we tried communicating with these rogues? Understanding why they've changed?"

Peter shook his head. "These rogues are not like the ones we've encountered before. They show no signs of reason or communication. They attack on sight, driven by a primal, almost animalistic aggression."

The courtiers exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of our situation sinking in. I could see the fear in their eyes.

"We need to come up with a plan," I said, my voice firm. "We can't afford to wait for them to come to us. We need to take the fight to them but with caution and strategy."

Peter nodded in agreement. "We should start by securing the borders and ensuring our defenses are impenetrable. We can then send out scouting parties to gather more information about these new rogues."

"And we need to support our healers," added the auburn-haired minister. "Any resources they need should be made available to them immediately."

The elders nodded thoughtfully. "We should also prepare the pack for the possibility of an extended conflict. Stockpiling supplies and ensuring everyone knows the risks and how to protect themselves will be crucial."

I looked around the room, seeing the resolve in their faces. "Let's divide the tasks," I said. "Each of you will oversee a different aspect of our preparation. We need to act quickly and decisively. I shall see you group yourselves and choose which committee you'd like to work with. The minister of health will have his own committee, the minister of finance..." I trailed off, hoping they would understand.

As the courtiers and ministers began to organize themselves, assigning roles and responsibilities, I turned to Peter.

"Peter," I said quietly, pulling him aside, "I think you're right. We need to send a message to my father. He needs to be aware of the situation before he arrives."

"I'll have the fastest rider dispatched immediately," Peter replied. "He'll be informed and can adjust his plans accordingly."

"Thank you," I said, gripping his shoulder. "And make sure the quarantine is secure. We can't afford any breaches."

Peter nodded.

"I shall be back within an hour to discuss with each group," I announced. "In the meantime, you can all think of ways to help the situation. Peter and I have already come up with a few things based on the map. We'd share it with you soon, but first I need to attend to a pressing issue."

"Is everything alright your highness?" It was the minister of finance who asked this.

"Of course," I smiled, even though deep within me I knew it was a lie.