Rested but still carrying the weight of the coming conflict, Elara continued to send out her subtle mental beacon whenever she could, particularly in the quiet hours of the early morning. It was a shot in the dark, a desperate hope against overwhelming odds. She focused on the faint resonance she sometimes felt, trying to amplify her own signal, sending out a silent plea across the vast distances.
Then, one pre-dawn, as the first hints of light touched the horizon, it happened. The faint resonance she'd occasionally felt suddenly sharpened, growing stronger, clearer, closer. It wasn't just an echo; it was a distinct, responding pulse. It was tentative at first, then gained strength, a unique mental signature that vibrated with a sense of wonder, confusion, and overwhelming relief. They were searching. They had felt her.
Elara gasped, jolting upright in her furs, her eyes wide. Maddox, roused instantly by her sudden movement, was at her side. "What is it, Luna?" he whispered, his hand on her arm.
"They answered," she breathed, tears springing to her eyes. "My pack. They're out there. They felt me."
The responding pulse carried fragmented impressions: ancient, towering trees, a distinct scent of mountain pines and clear, rushing water, and a deep, communal sense of enduring sorrow mixed with fierce hope. It was a pack whose essence felt ancient, rooted deeply in the earth, far different from the warmer, more open energies of River Pine.
Maddox felt the tremor of joy and disbelief that ran through Elara. He immediately understood the profound implications. "The search begins," he stated, his voice firm with renewed determination. "We send scouts, not for war, but for peace. We send them with your signature, Elara. They need to know you're safe. They need to know you're found." The beacon had been answered, opening a new, pivotal chapter in Elara's life and in the alliances of the shifter world. This was more than just finding family; it was about re-establishing a lost lineage, and perhaps, gaining powerful new allies against the unseen hand.