Chapter 8 Whispers of Betrayal

The villagers were busy, the fresh partnership breathed new life into everything. The spirit of unity there was alive and strong, you could nearly feel it like electricity singing along your skin when something swept through the streets with purpose; still...everything felt as though a hunter lurked in darkness. The rogue factions were still a threat, they had to stay sharp scribing.

The days slipped by with training, planning and outreach. Elara would practice every morning with the warriors, teaching them what she knew and bonding as a pack. A council meeting was held that afternoon, leaders discussed where resources would go from weapons to defense tactics.

Thick, unrestful sunlight stretched over Elara on the training grounds one afternoon when a scout came to press an urgent note into her hand. Scout, a young wolf girl named Sienna. Reported some strange action close to the north border. Elara called in Lorne, Finn and Kael as soon as possible to talk about the danger that might be approaching.

Inside the council chamber, the tension was thick. Leaders convened around a sturdy wooden table that was adorned with a map of their region. Elara referred to the sightings Sienna had marked up along the northern border.

- Here there's a growth of aggressive activity, - She informed me. We have to investigate and make sure we are not about to be attacked by the rogues.

This was news! frowning, Lorne's face contorted with worry. "Count on us not to be taken by surprise. We must find out their intentions, if the rogues are regrouping.

Finn bent toward me, a serious look setting in. I say we send scouts ... All we need to do is get in and find out how many there are, no firing on them!

Kael nodded in agreement. "I'll lead the team. Whatever we find, we are moving quickly to report back.

Having a plan goosed Elara into action. They could not rest, for they knew that if they did the peace would wear thin and whip away into nothing.

Just as the scouting party was breaking, Elara took Kael aside. "Be careful," she warned, a note of worry in her voice. "We can't risk losing you."

Kael smiled gently. "Before you can blink, I will be back. Keep things steady here."

And so the team left, into the dark forest beyond. Elara felt a pang of anxiety as she watched them leave. Kael had all his skills, but the unknown was ever a threat.

Days of expectation followed. Elara went to work - she kept the alliance on track, and ensured that there would be no follow up attacks at the village. She added patrols, and began working directly with the pack leaders to help heighten their guards.

In the evenings, after finally resting their feet for a moment, they all gathered around communal fires telling stories; it was this that bound them tighter than ever. For one, despite this very real danger there was a unity of sorts that had never existed. In those moments Elara found peace, in the knowledge that their will was united and it would be enough.

At last, Kael and his company returned. The villagers waited with bated breath to hear their tale.

Kael moved on, his demeanor serious. Activity on the north border by rogue agents is true, we have confirmed it. They are regrouping, they may come in an attack. But there's more. We heard them discussing a friend from within our ranks.

The crowd collectively took a gasp as if they heard something shocking. Elara had shivered at the thought of a traitor among them.

"Couldn't hide from all of us," Lorne said resolutely. An adviser added, "If we tell any traitor about it, they could screw up everything we have done.

Elara bit lip and nodded, she would find out. "Handled quietly in-house. We can't let this divide us."

The information was limited to a closed group of leaders, not wanting the villagers to be sent worrying about COMMENTS. They have then figured out how to observe some of the important people and approach intelligence informers, looking for the traitor.

Elara spent the next few weeks helping Finn, Lorne and Kael track down any possessable information. Every exchange was mercilessly scrutinized for insidiousness. It was Sisiphusian, but always they were as one in their resolve to save the alliance.

And so it was one evening, Elara in her quarters going over reports when a knock on the door stopped everything. Kael came in, looking concerned.

"Bundemix nodded, "We may have a lead," and he gave the parchment to her. Finn's scouts uncovered this near the border - a message to the rebels.

The glee turned to nervousness as Elara read the note, heart in her throat. The note was straightforward, patrol schedules and supply routes. The clues were plain and simple: a large cap was being given to the rogues.

"Well, that is one less probable still," Elara spoke at a controlled level. We learn that the FBI will need to "determine who all has been briefed on this information."

Kael nodded. I already spoke with the patrol leaders. We are cross-checking time-tables against attendance lists in each meeting.

As they worked their way through the evening towards midnight Elara could not get past feeling like she was being stabbed in the front. It is a bitter pill to swallow that there are snakes amongst their own.

The following morning she had called an emergency meeting with Lorne and Finn to discuss what they had discovered. And the council chamber was high with treachery, a betrayal lurking in shadows.

Kael laid out some of the evidence, "We have it down to a few people. We have to ask them, well I mean play a game or two and see if any of the rats fall off...

Lorne nodded, looking solemn. GEORGETOWN, Guyana-We do need to handle this with some degree of responsibility. If we accuse the right person, it might be an impetus for war. If we blame The Company instead of one rogue actor within its ranks? It could break apart that alliance before it has a chance to even form.

Finn looked down and crossed his arms. "Perhaps we can set a trap. Give them a false lead and see if it lands with the rogues.

Elara pondered it, and saw its merits. It's a gamble, but it might fly." We need to be strategic."

They started putting their plan into action and doing so meticulously. Elara felt the responsibility on her shoulders; their survival was key to securing an alliance.

With each day that came and went they watched as well-hoping to catch even the smallest sign of need for their trap. And finally their patience bore fruit. An unauthorized messenger had been seized, from which the misinformation they planted was high on his person.

There was a traitor!

Elara gathered the leaders and revealed that their traitor was an advisor who had actually attended many of your strategic meetings. The admission was met with anger as well as disbelief.

Presented with the evidence, a traitor finally broke and admitted that they had been forced to betray XCOM on pain of their family coming to harm. Even as betrayals went, it would have been hard to take issue with their motivations when they were laid so bare, another sign of just how complicated life had become for everyone.

The council wrestled with the way forward, justice meeting mercy. In the end, they would exile the traitor so that he could not do them harm but spare him to protect his family.

It was good to have the traitor out of their ranks, we already knew the sad thing about how he tried so hard for years to make them weak... Elara felt some relief at having faced such a major threat. However, the experience had given me something to remember what was coming up: a warning.

The unity had cleared its first major hurdle, displayed stronger than ever. There were, of course, many more battles to wage before they satisfied the Moon Goddess command -- but now in recognition that it would be a difficult road ahead; one fraught with trials and tribulations all over again.

For a brief moment, where Elara stood below the fire-lit heavens she could feel the encouraging nod of Earth's sleeping mother; that there was finally some progress made. In the end, they would rise from shame-all together-and forge a future fit for the goddess's blessing.