We enter a large chamber where the high-notches are meeting. Their heads are raised at the stench of fear that flooded down the tunnel before us. They are waiting to hear our report. I can hear Wilful Set yapping, trilling and yipping in the next chamber to the high-notches who will decide her fate. We put Scrawny Rise in front of the pack. A dog with a fresh first-notch is sent to fetch Wilful Set and her adjudicators. Scrawny begins to explain what happened.

After many degrees^ of discussing and after several scent-scientists have come to smell the paste, no-dog has any idea what it does. But it could potentially be very dangerous. It will be kept in a deep-store. Any other containers found will be added to this store. No-dog is to discuss the particulars of what happened. We are to take on Scrawny Rise in our burgeoning pack. We will keep sniff^ on him. Notices are being sent to every-dog to avoid the containers, but without the standard sample-scent. It is considered too tempting for young or weak-willed dogs.

We den under the sky, the three of us curled tight together, Scrawny slightly removed, far from the rest of our Pack. We share the scent-memory of freedom, belonging, happiness and calm that we are of just 12 dogs to have smelled. As we begin to drift off, we hear a solitary howl. It is Wilful Set. She is not-of-pack. She will move on soon, but it is not uncommon for not-of-pack dogs howl outside Pack for days or more, before they…. move on.