I repositioned myself on my tree branch, trying not to make too much noise as I did so. It was the middle of the night and me as well as the majority of The Pact were hiding in some of the trees around The Order’s camp, waiting for Shadow to give the signal for attack.
I could hear the peaceful chirping of the crickets down below and see the dim light of the fireflies lighting up the pitch black forest down below. Both of these things calmed me, and I much wanted to drift off embracing them both. But I had to stay awake for Shadow’s signal, and so I didn’t fall out of the tree. So I waited, as quiet as I could.
I glanced up at Shadow, we had been here for a while and it felt like it was taking forever. He was about two branches higher than me to the left. He saw me, his eyes glittering with affection. “Soon,” he whispered. “We won’t wait much longer.”
In the same tree as us was Storm, he was positioned a bit lower than me. Looking down, I could see him clearly. In the tree to the left of us were Inferno and Razor, Razor was about as high as Shadow and Inferno right below him. And right from us was Lime, he was a bit lower than me. Starfinder was also in the tree with him, he was about as level as me. I could see him nervously scraping the tree park with his claws.
I gulped, nervous for the battle for several reasons, for right now mainly because it was just Shadow, Inferno, Razor, Storm, Lime, Starfinder and I attacking the whole of The Order. Valence and Undertow had stayed back to guard camp, and Riptide because he’s our healer and he can’t fight.
“We’ll be destroyed! How did Shadow think this was a good idea?” I worried.
Trying to get my mind off of it, I looked down, curious on what was going on in The Order.
It seemed like mostly everyone was in their dens. The only Vees out that I saw were Violet and Frost. They seemed to be discussing something urgent. I craned my neck trying to hear what they were saying. I angled my ears in their direction.
“…so you went to a meeting about Shadow without my consent?” Violet said quietly and calmly, but I could tell she was upset, at least annoyed, her fur was slightly bristling.
Frost scraped her paws on the ground uncomfortably. “Well, yeah, Violet. But it was only to help protect the Clan. And plus, Lance and a few other of Shadow’s guys were there. They get it too.”
I stiffened a gasp of shock. Frost had just said the worst thing possible! My heart started to pound really fast and I looked up slowly at Shadow, who was unfortunately starting down at me.
“We’ll talk about this later.” I gave Shadow a weak smile and quickly spun back around.
I didn’t bother listening to the rest of what Violet and Frost had to say. I was too worried about what Frost had just said and how that would impact me later.
“This is horrible. Shadow knows now and I don’t know what I’m going to do. He may exile me…no, I doubt he would do that. I may lose my position, though.” I was startled out of my thoughts by Shadow's sudden call. “Attack!”
Shadow lept powerfully off his tree branch shaking the whole tree as well as me. I could see him falling towards Violet, his claws outstretched and his ears back, the others he had brought with him followed his lead.
I hesitated for a moment before following him, “Should I do this?” I asked myself. “Yes, show everyone how loyal you are,” I answered myself.
I lept down, landing on top of Frost, who was still trying to figure out what was going on.
I dug my claws into her flank, digging like a dog. The noise of battle roared in my ears. Right now, it was just Violet and Frost versus all of us.
Frost let out a screech and spun around, clawing at my ears. I felt sharp, piercing pain as I instinctively bit down, feeling soft flesh as I did so, and then the red, sticky feel of blood, followed by its metallic scent.
Suddenly I heard someone screech and looked to see Violet, grappling with both Starfinder and Inferno.
“Order! We’re under attack! All fighters to me!” She screeched.
This startled me, I looked up to see most of The Order’s Vees crashing into our battlefield.
“Winter, Bella, Coral, Pearl, Sylvan, Eclipse, Luna, Moonlight… yeah, we’re screwed.”
The Pact was already vastly outnumbered. But that’s when I noticed I had unfortunately let myself get distracted. Frost managed to get me off of her and pinned me to the ground.
The strong female Glaceon had me completely pinned and vulnerable. She was snarling in my face.
“Traitor!” I heard her snarl in between bared teeth. She clawed my muzzle until I felt the whole thing numb and bloody.
I yelped at the pain but quickly stiffened it. “Why am I so weak?”
I clawed feebly at her, the pain in my muzzle overwhelming me. Frost keep biting and slashing, I don’t even think she noticed my paws gently scraping her chest.
“I’m going to die, aren’t I?”
As if my call were to be answered and I was to be saved, Shadow abandoned were he was in deep claw to claw combat with Sylvan and lept on Frost knocking her over.
“Get away from Lance!” He snarled.
I was free! But I was also badly hurt. I could feel that my fur was soaked in blood and my muzzle was still numb.
I tried to get up and fight, but I collapsed, exhausted.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Frost and Shadow fighting each other viciously. The roar of battle all around me. The ground was soaked in blood.
I almost blacked out, I’m pretty sure, but I managed to keep awake.
That’s when I saw a familiar white, light blue, and gray pelt. It was Winter!
Winter lunged at Shadow, but he was slowed by his wounds. He was bleeding from a very deep cut in his side, as well as his left back leg was all bloody.
“Let me deal with him, Frost! You go help Violet!” Winter commanded Frost.
Frost hesitated for a moment and then loosened her grip on Shadow and rushed to help her leader, who was struggling with both Lime and Starfinder attacking her.
Winter and Shadow were going horribly vicious at each other.
“Winter!” Shadow snarled and slammed a powerful paw on the smaller male’s neck.
Winter gasped in pain but quickly reared up and attacked Shadow twice as hard.
“Yes it’s me, Shadow! Remember that, because I’ll be the last thing you’ll ever see!”
It was then when my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. I felt my eyes slowly close and darkness came upon me.
Before I completely blacked out, I heard a screech from Shadow, “Retreat!”
Followed by Winter’s angry snarl. “Coward!”
I felt teeth grip my scruff as The Pact vanished into the night. That was when I blacked out.