Jules laughed. “What do you mean what do I think of Lytion’s plan? He’s our Alpha, and he never steered us wrong before.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s true enough…” Tyre said. “…but still I can’t believe we’re standing here. I mean, no one has ever taken over the Talbourne. Even Shade himself has been met with failure.”
“Yeah, that’s true too.” Jules said. “…but Lytion says Shade found a way to attack Aniu directly, and if that’s true, the the Talbourne have lost their strongest supporter.”
“Do you think that’s how Lytion was able to kill the five Alphas?” Tyre asked.
“How should I know?” Jules asked. “His plan has been kept fairly secret from the rest of us. He doesn’t want it getting out, but… yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty sound theory.”
“I still can’t see him.” Tyre said.
“…still stuck on Shadow, huh?” Jules said.
“I think you should be too.” Tyre said. “He gave up too easily…. Lytion should have executed him when we had the chance. What if he’s spying around, trying to find a weakness or something?”
Jules laughed. “Well I’d encourage him to try.” He said. “Lytion has this Clan locked down harder than any of the others… besides Tyre, they all know what will happen to them if they’re caught outside the ground floor of the chamber. …and the wolves who went out to find the missing heir of the Onasie Clan reported seeing Aleu with her. I don’t think Shadow will risk that much when his mate is safe.”
Tyre shifted uneasily from paw to paw. “…but those wolves haven’t reported back yet.” Tyre said.
Jules frowned. “…true, but they will soon.” He said.
“Do you think that’s why Shadow gave up so quickly?” Tyre asked. “….because his mate wasn’t in the cave?”
Jules laughed. “Maybe… hell I don’t know Tyre. You sure ask a lot of questions.”
“Well isn’t it natural?” Tyre asked.
“I guess so.” Jules said. “…but you should be careful. Lytion might get the idea that you’re not with him on this.”
Tyre scanned the wolves below. “Oh I’m with him. I just think we should be more concerned with Shadow is all.”
Jules smiled. “Tyre, Shadow is a great fighter, and a natural leader, but the wolf is not a god.” He said. “…and he’s certainly no Aniu. He’s mortal, just like us. If he proves to be a problem then we will make example of him, that’s all.”
Tyre sighed. “I wish I had your confidence Jules. I mean… weren’t we just fine up north? Why’d we have to come down here and start this war now? ..we could’ve just stayed up there and been happy couldn’t we?”
Jules laughed. “You know Tyre you’re funny sometimes. That’s why I like you. Come on, let’s get back to our patrol.”
The two wolves resumed walking around the ledge that surrounded the Main Chamber. Unbeknownst to them they had been watched during their short conversation.
Shadow snuck out from behind the group of staligmites where he’d been hiding behind the two wolves and made his way, quietly but quickly, back to the floor of the Man Chamber.
It didn’t take Shadow long to find who he was looking for. Ami hadn’t left the team since the occupation started.
“Hey Ami…” Shadow said.
Ami scowled at him. “What do you want?” She asked, her tone clipped and angry.
“Well I’d like to talk to my acting Lieutenant. He said. “…if that’s not a problem I mean.” He added somewhat sarcastically.”
Ami turned to another member of the team and then looked down at the group of injured wolves huddled nearby. “James, you’re in charge ‘till I get back. Watch over them, and guard them with your life. Call me if you need anything.”
The brown wolf nodded and Ami turned back to Shadow. “Alright, I assume you don’t want to talk here?”
Shadow nodded. “Let’s go over there, to that side chamber.”
Ami nodded and followed Shadow.
Once they were inside Ami spoke. “..now what is it Shadow?”
Shadwo frowned. “Well first of all what is your problem Ami?” He asked.
Ami sighed. “…you are Shadow.”
“…what?” Shadow asked.
“I can’t believe you surrendered to them Shadow.” Ami said.
“Ami, I had little choice in the matter.” Shadow said. “…if we would have fought there then we would all be dead.”
“Ah…” Ami said. “…sound wisdom from a a hypocrit and a coward.”
“Ami, what are you talking about?” Shadow asked.
Ami frowned at him and fire flashed in her eyes. “I joined the teams because I wanted to protect our Clan. I struggled through it training exersise through training exersise, because I wanted to protect my Clan. I was willing to give my life that night… or any other, if it means that our Clan stays any safer. …that our pups can go to sleep at night, safe and warm. …and I idolized you Shadow… you and Dash… now I see I was wrong… about you at least.”
Shadow shook his head and started to speak, but Ami cut him off.
“You know Shadow, you really inspired me with all your talk of courage under fire and self sacrifice and all that bull. ...all those stories you used to tell us trainees about all the wolves that had gone before us to keep us safe… who have given it all for the sake of our Clan, and our Alpha… but when it came time for you to do the same… you surrendered. You always said that wasn’t an option.”
“Ami I did what I did for a reason. Real life and real war are different than classroom discussions about it.” Shadow said. “…sometimes you have to improvise.”
“You know what Shadow, you’re right.” Ami said. “You can’t die in classroom discussions can you? Is that what you realized? We failed in our mission Shadow. Saba is dead, our Alpha is dead… but Aleu isn’t here so I guess it doesn’t matter to you does it?”
“…what?” Shadow asked, caught off guard by Ami’s attack on him.
“…tell me Shadow, what would you have done if Aleu were still Alpha and you stood there and watched Lytion kill her, would you still have…”
“That’s enough Lieutenant!” Shadow said sharply, cutting her off, anger in his voice. “I took an oath to defend Saba just like everyone else did. I tried to get her to leave the cave, she wouldn’t listen.”
“…she was loyal.” Ami said.
“She was stupid.” Shadow said. “she didn’t have the experience to fight Lytion.”
“…at least she tried.” Ami said.
“Look Lieutenant,” Shadow said. “I came here to ask for your help. I surrendered because it gives us a chance to strike back. A chance to take a breather and come up with a decent strategy. I had hoped that you would help me in this. I need everyone I can get… but you are completely out of line Lieutenant. Whether you agree with me or not I’m you’re superior officer, and you WILL obey my orders, and you WILL show me respect, do you understand me?”
Ami sighed and nodded.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Shadow said, clipping her in the side of the head with his paw, rattling her a bit. “…is this what we taught you? Is that how you respond to a superior officer?”
Ami shook her head a bit and then stood up straighter, staring straight ahead. “…no… no sir.” She said.
“I think you’ve taken my kindness for weakness Lieutenant.” Shadow said. “I assure you I am not weak. I ran your tail into the ground during your training and I sure as hell can do it again, you get me?“
“Yes sir.” Ami said her gaze never wavering from the rocks in front of her.
“Don’t freaking push it Lieutenant.” Shadow said. “I’m not in the mood.”
Shadow fell silent for a moment. “Now, you have a chioce to make Lieutenant. You can choose to help me, and obey my orders without question… or I will have you arrested and executed for failure to do your duty as a member of my security teams and insubordiante and sessetionist activities toward the Talbourne Clan and your commander in chief, do you understand me?”
Ami shook a little, but her tone didn’t waver. “Yes sir.”
Shadow glared at her. “…what’s it going to be?”
“I would like very much to serve in my present capacity sir.” She said.
Shadow nodded. “…at ease Lieutenant.”
Ami relaxed, but her gaze didn’t waver from the rocks in front of her.
Shadow walked in front of her. “Now I’ve been doing some spying around and I know that the Shadow Clan has a plan, and it didn’t end when Lytion occupied this cave. When they move on to the next phase of this plan it is likely that they will leave the cave relatively undefended… they’ll lessen the guard anyway, they have to. That’s our chance to strike, that’s when we make our move.”
He stopped for a moment and his gaze softened. “Ami, stand at ease.”
Ami realazed a bit further and her gaze traveled to meet Shadow’s.
“I know it’s hard.” Shadow said. “I didn’t like losing… losing Saba any more that you did. It was my responsibility and you’re right, we did fail… but that does not mean this is over. I came to you because you’ve always been someone I could trust with my life, and the lives of others. I’ve even considered giving you a unit of your own, and that’s something I’ve never said to a female in my teams. …but I won’t have insubordiante conduct among my Lieutenants, or any of my fighters for that matter, especially right now. Ami, you’re either with me or against me on this and I
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