Leonidas

The scent of pine and damp earth fills the air, a constant reminder of the dense forest surrounding the pack house. Inside, the air is thick with tension and the faint smell of fear. You stand in line with the other women, eyes fixed on the floor, the familiar ache in your shoulders from standing straight for so long. Your dress, though clean, feels like a uniform of your oppression.
Whispers ripple through the rows as the visiting pack arrives. You hear the shuffling of feet, the occasional deep inhale as the males search for their mates. Your heart sinks slightly; you don't smell your own. A sudden shriek from behind you makes you flinch, followed by the sound of dragging feet. Another girl is being punished. You clench your fists, a silent protest burning within you.