The Interrogation

The scout led Lyra and Atlas down the dimly lit hallway of the holding cells. The air was damp, and the faint scent of mildew clung to the stone walls. Their footsteps echoed, each step amplifying the tension in the space.

Lyra's pink eyes glinted in the torchlight, sharp and unyielding. "Whoever this rogue is, they better have a reasonable explanation." she muttered.

Atlas, walking beside her with an air of composed authority, nodded. "And if they don't, we'll make them regret stepping onto our territory."

The two wolves had worked together in training earlier, but now, standing side by side in a high-stakes situation, their differences in style became clear. Lyra radiated fierce intensity, while Atlas exuded a cold, calculating calm.

The scout stopped in front of a heavy iron door. "They're in here!" he said, voice wavering slightly. "But they're.. different."

Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Define 'different.'"

The scout hesitated. "You'll see."

FACE TO FACE WITH THE ENEMY:

The door creaked open, revealing a small, barren room with a single figure slumped in the corner. The rogue was young, maybe in their early twenties, with ragged clothes and dark hair matted with dirt. Their eyes snapped up as Lyra and Atlas entered, and Lyra immediately felt a chill.

Those weren't the eyes of a desperate rogue,they were calculating, almost amused.

"Welcome to my humble abode." the rogue drawled, leaning back against the wall with a smirk.

Lyra put her , unimpressed. "Cute. But let's skip the pleasantries. Who are you, and why were you spying on us?"

The rogue tilted their head, feigning innocence. "Spying? Me? No, no. Just passing through."

Atlas stepped forward, his presence imposing even in silence. "Wrong answer." His voice was low, a quiet threat that made even Lyra glance at him with a touch of respect.

The rogue's smirk faltered, but only slightly. "Alright, alright. You caught me. But you won't like what I have to say."

"Try us," Lyra said, her tone daring.

The rogue leaned forward, their smirk returning. "The pack you're preparing to fight? They're not just targeting you. They've got bigger plans, and trust me, you're not ready for what's coming."

Lyra felt a growl rise in her throat, her wolf instincts clawing at the surface. She forced herself to stay calm. "What plans?"

The rogue shrugged. "That's for me to know and you to find out. But I will say this, you're wasting your time preparing for a simple battle. You'll need a lot more than brute strength to survive."

Atlas's hand shot out, grabbing the rogue by the collar and lifting them to their feet. "Enough of your 'sorry' games. Talk."

The rogue's smirk vanished, replaced by genuine anger/fear. "Alright, alright! The Alpha leading the attack... he's working with someone inside your ranks. Someone close."

THE PACK IN DISARRAY:

Lyra and Atlas left the cell, the rogue's cryptic warning hanging over them like a storm cloud.

"Ha, why did I not even notice.. a traitor." Lyra said, her voice tight with anger. "That's just perfect."

Atlas nodded, his expression unreadable. "If that's true, we need to figure out who it is before it's too late."

Lyra glanced at him. "You really trust your pack completely?"

He hesitated. "I trust most of them. But now... It feels like they shot me with an arrow."

The admission caught Lyra off guard. She had expected him to dismiss the rogue's claims outright, but Atlas's willingness to question even his own pack surprised her.

"I'm sure we're going to figure this all out soon." she said, her tone softer. "We don't have a choice."

Atlas looked at her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "We always have a choice, Lyra. The hard part is making the right one."

UNEASY ALLIANCES:

That evening, Lyra sat alone on a fallen log near the edge of the forest, her thoughts racing. She hated feeling uncertain, hated the idea that someone within their group could betray them.

The sound of footsteps behind her made her tense, but she relaxed when she caught Atlas's familiar scent.

"You're not one for quiet reflection." he said, sitting down beside her.

"Neither are you." She said while looking straight.

Atlas chuckled. "Fair enough. But we need to talk."

Lyra turned to him. "About the traitor?"

He nodded. "And about what happens next. If there's someone working against us, we need to stay united. No more petty arguments, no more old grudges."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "So, you're basically saying we're friends now"

Atlas gave her a rare smile. "I'm saying we're stronger together, whether we like it or not."

She looked at him for a long moment, then nodded. "Alright, fine. Truce."

"Truce." he agreed, holding out his hand.

Lyra place her hand on his. His grip was firm, warm, and for a brief moment, she felt a spark of the connection they once shared.

But as quickly as it came, she pushed it aside. There was no time for distractions, not when their lives, and the lives of their packs, were on the line.