I was abruptly awoken by the sound of soft growling.
Startled, I slowly rose out of my nest, blinking my eyes at the harsh morning sunlight that glared through the den.
Shadow was pacing back and forth as I stared at him. When he saw me, he opened his jaws.
"Lance! Where were you last night? I was trying to call a Clan meeting but you were nowhere to be found. Where were you?"
My pelt bristled, I tried my best to lower it down. "Just what I didn't want him to ask. But anyway, why would he be calling a Clan meeting in the middle of the night?"
"Oh, where was I?" I stuttered, trying my best not to sound too obvious that I was nervous. "I went hunting last night. You know, I just needed to stretch my legs after all this sitting around camp." I laughed weakly a bit, looking up at Shadow. He tilted his head and continued to stare at me.
"And you had to take Valence, Starfinder and Riptide with you?"
"Oh- oh yeah!" I blurted out. "They really wanted to come hunt, too!"
Shadow wasn't buying it, at least that's what I thought. "But Riptide's a doctor, Lance. Why is he out hunting in the middle of the night? Shouldn't he be in camp where it's safe.?"
"Yeah, I told him that," I nodded. "But he really wanted to come for some reason. You know, stubborn old Riptide! So we just let him."
Shadow stared at me again, my pelt was starting to grow hot. "Oh no... did he buy it?"
Thankfully I was right. He just shrugged and padded away. "Alright, whatever," He said as he exited the den.
I breathed a sigh of relief once I knew he was far enough away. "That was close. Too close. Hopefully I never have to do that again."

A few hours later the midday sun was up high above the camp, shining a radiant light on our camp with both color and heat. I padded into camp alongside Lime and Undertow, a sparrow hanging in my jaws. We were the last returning hunting patrol from this morning.
After I dropped the bird in the fresh kill pile, I looked up at the highrock to see Inferno in deep conversation with Shadow.
Shadow's eyes were wide with alarm and anger.
Interested in what this might be, I silently padded up to the highrock, close enough to listen, but far enough to not make it obvious that that's what I was doing.
"...Winter's in The Order now?" Shadow breathed out.
Inferno nodded. "Yeah, he was the head of a meeting dedicated to going on about how you are a terrible leader."
Shadow flashed his teeth a bit and flattened his ears. "So Violet has the audacity to shelter Winter after everything that happened? Everything he did to me? Then I think we need to attack The Order and tell them what they get for offending The Pact! This is ridiculous!"
Inferno nodded vigorously. "Exactly Shadow! We need to teach The Order what they get when the threaten the best Clan!"
I suppressed a gasp of shock. Shadow's going to go attack The Order?! And even worse, Inferno saw the meeting? That means he'd know that I was there! I tried to force down panic. He's a good Vee. He won't tell Shadow I was there.
"Or would he?"
"Come to think of it, I don't remember seeing any sign of him spying on us there..." I thought. That's when a memory rushed back to me. I remembered seeing a pair of gleaming amber eyes and a flash of dark red fur in a top branch of a tree. I remembered not thinking much about it, I think I thought it was an owl or another night time creature, but no, it was Inferno spying on us and the meeting.
Soon after, I saw Inferno padding away from the highrock, his tail high and his eyes proud, he was obviously happy with himself.
"Of course he is, the little shit..." I growled in my head.
"Hey, Inferno," I started as he padded to the fresh kill pile. "Could I have a word?" I said this, fighting back anger at the black and red Flareon.
Inferno stopped in his tracks. He stared at me for a minute. I didn't know what was in his eyes, but it wasn't respect for Shadow's 'right hand man'.
Then he shrugged and said, "Okay, Lance,"
I signaled him to meet behind the Fighters and Hunter's den, the only other den besides Shadow and I's as well as Riptide's, he also had his own den.
He followed me behind there, I saw his fur prickle uncomfortably at the long weeds itching his pelt. I got it, I didn't like it either.
I quickly scanned around to make sure no one was around. Sure enough, the only Vees in camp were Shadow, who was presumably sulking in our den, Riptide, who was sorting herbs in the clearing, and Razor, who was sleeping in the sun.
Satisfied that no one could hear me, I began. "So I take you saw the meeting," I sighed.
Inferno nodded sharply, distrust in his eyes. "Yes, and I know that you're a traitor to Shadow and The Pact. So is Valence, Starfinder and Riptide."
"You didn't tell him I was there, did you?" I said weakly, wincing at my own vulnerability.
"No, I didn't," He growled, lashing his tail. "He turned me away before I could. At least I got the real point across, though." He purred at this. "The Order must be punished for housing a traitor."
I sighed, relieved that he didn't say anything.
"But guess what, Lance?" He spoke again. "There's a catch,"
I jumped, widening my eyes, "What?"
He glared at me with anger, pride, and superiority. "If you're not at the battle with The Order tomorrow, I'll tell him. I'll tell him that you, as well as Valence, Starfinder and Riptide were at Winter's meeting against Shadow. I'll tell him how he has traitors in his own Clan, one even being his quote 'best friend'."
I winced at the thought of that happening. "No, Inferno. Please..."
"No, Lance. This is your chance to prove your loyalty to The Pact as well as Shadow. Come to the battle and fight The Order, and I won't tell him. If you don't come and skip it... he smirked. I'm pretty sure you already know what'll happen to you and your fellow traitors."
I gulped. "How could I fight Winter after last night? I knew that it was Shadow's fault all along, I was just too loyal to him to admit it. Until last night..."
Then a small voice in my head spoke, "What's more important? Your Clan and status, or a friend who might betray you?"
I hesitated. I honestly didn't know. "M-my Clan and status," I whispered mentally. "That's more important."
"Alright, I'll come," I mumbled.
"What was that? I can't hear you!" Inferno's eyes lit up in triumph.
"I said I'd come, okay?!" I snapped at Inferno suddenly, honestly surprising myself.
"Alright, good," Inferno purred, slipping out from behind the den smoothly. "I'll see you there,"
Sitting there alone, I've never felt more stressed. "Look what I did. Look what I got myself into. Now I'll have to betray Winter and his entire Clan once I finally got his trust. What am I doing?"
I sat up and clamped my jaw. "I'm from The Pact. Not The Order. I need to be loyal to my own Vees. And I need to prove that loyalty to fight The Order." I padded out from behind the den. "And I'm ready."