Ƭħє ŞąЬяє'ƨ Şħąmє

Chapter Seven: Realization

Ray walked back to the pack, padding softly over fallen branches and snow. Most of the pack, by this time, were asleep. The only two who were still awake were unsurprisingly, Shi and Akira. They were lying side-by-side, silently watching the landscape around them. Ray inclined his head deferentially, informing them "The herd are still in position. They haven't gone anywhere. Alexia says that she'll have them completely under control in the next three days."

"Good," Shi murmured. "We can finally hunt…" He slid his eyes shut, without saying goodnight to either of the sabres. Akira licked his nose, before glancing back at Ray. "Thanks for telling us."

Ray shrugged, sabre-style. "Don't worry about it."

He looked back at Shi, thoughts drifting to the elder tiger, the only one of them who held any influence or sway over him. It was because of Shi, and only Shi, that he followed Akira. It was because of Shi that he'd joined the pack. Unlike the other sabres, he didn't see Raze as a leader; Raze, to Ray, had been just as ignorant and irritating as his family had been before he'd slaughtered them. Shi, however, had always been the enigma; polite, quiet and controlled, a perfect killer.

Ray, young and inexperienced, had nobody else to look up to. Sure, Damian and Lars were there, but they were only a few years older than him and far too determined and arrogant for their own good. Akira, Silver and Alexia were all flawed in their own ways – Silver with her gentle nature; Akira with her haunted memories and tortured body; Alexia with her contempt for anyone outside of the pack.

No, Shi was the only one he really respected.

"Ray?"

"Yes?" the sabre answered automatically, looking back at Akira.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

"Nothing," he lied smoothly.

"Don't give me that crap. What's going on?"

"Nothing," he repeated, more insistent now. "I'll tell you about it later if it's still a concern."

Akira gave him an appraising look. "If you're holding out on information…"

"I'm not, alright?!" Ray snapped. Akira rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say. But we work as a pack, Ray, and if you betray us, we will kill you."

With that warning hanging in the air, she slid her eyes shut and curled up besides Shi. Ray didn't dare to go near her after what she'd just said, instead slinking over to Diego and waiting for her to fall asleep.

It didn't take long.

As soon as he was completely sure she was completely unconscious, he slammed his paw down on Diego's throat.

"Argh!"

Diego woke up immediately as Ray snarled "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you what?" Diego gritted his teeth, forcing the words out between them, fighting to keep breathing.

"You used to be with the herd that we're tracking! You traitor!"

Diego froze, and Ray increased the pressure on his throat, going in for the killing blow before a sharp cry tore through the silent night.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"