The “secret” den is full of dogs. That would be impressive if it was a large den. With the addition of one Set recruited by Calm Runt^ (no doubt eager to prove there is no need to make a runt of him) and our three “recruits”, Timid Runt, Proud and Mirth, we now have ten. Still not a littersworth^. Amiable First Eyes is proud of his pack. Wary and Bold are both sulking. Amiable First Eyes has favoured Still Runt since she successfully recruited two new dogs to the cause. The tension between Wary and Bold and the rest of the pack (even those they recruited) would make me, as Pack Guider^, very worried. Amiable First Eyes however, seems completely oblivious. My arrest has enhanced my standing in pack, which is useful because Amiable First Eyes has been more effusive about his plans with me (and was receptive to my plan). It has been a hinderance to be collecting most intelligence myself. The four trainee stealth-dogs are doing their best to bond-spy but, other than Still Runt, they are inexperienced at even basic bond-work. As I let the chatter roll over me, I perceive the reason Amiable First Eyes is so chipper is that he feels a weight lifted from his back. He is going to tell us about the Event. Finally.

(( OK, pack. I hope ye are listening. I have a feeling we’re going to finally hear about the Event. Keep calm, but we are almost the majority of this pack so we will influence the atmosphere. I need a nose on Wary and Bold – Timid Runt and Proud that’s you two. Mirth, I need you to keep focused on the true Set-separatists to keep us on track with their emotions. Still Runt, you know what information Pack needs. )) There is no perceptible change in scent or tension in any of them, but I feel a slight shimmer of excitement in the Separatist pack-bond. I send a whisper of erroneous fatigue to taint the scents of bond-emotion.

“Set-dogs,” begins Amiable First Eyes, “We now have enough dogs to execute the plan I have developed. Although Timid Runt, Proud, Mirth and Flighty are all new to this manifestation of The Cause, I have smelled enough to know ye have all been fighting for the rights of Sets since before the abomination of Unification was ever devised. The last eighth has allowed me to observe ye all both in-pack and in ye-r own Service-packs.” I think for a moment we’ll be clear of this soon and I will be back with Generous. All three of the stealth-recruits respond with surprise and pride. “We will remind Set-dogs everywhere of the threat they live with by mixing with Rises. It will call more true Set-dogs to our cause. When we have larger numbers, we will breach the barrier, be free of Rise and begin our own, independent Set-territory.” The wave of anticipation and excitement from his pack noticeably inflates Amiable First Eyes’s opinion of himself further. He is a pathetic guider and First Eyes. He draws in breath to speak again when we hear a dog moving the cover from the entrance to the den.

Every dog is still, straining with their nose to identify this dog as Rise or Set. Everything else doesn’t matter. I hope it’s not an innocent Rise on a night stroll, finding a suspicious-smelling pile of leaves. Amiable First Eyes will make them runt. I get a familiar (I wish it wasn’t) feeling in my spine. I might have to do something traumatic in Service of Pack before I sleep. I should warn the others but, if they are as smart as they seem, they know. What empathy can I offer? Sorry you’re going to become a runt-maker tonight. It’s what’s best for Pack. It is best for Pack. I will do what I have to, still hoping it is at least an innocent Set who we could probably suffer to leave. Even as we hear the individual approach, none of us can clearly identify this dog’s origin. Still Runt reacts first. She communicates directly with me.

(( Oh fuck^! We are all in serious trouble. He’s such a fucking runt-maker. He has put the whole pack at risk! )) I realise what she is saying as Resilient Rise saunters into the chamber smelling not Rise but not quite naturally Set. Still Runt takes up an aggressive stance in front of the Separatists, Mirth joins her but Timid Runt and Proud both hang back while Bold, determined to show herself as for-pack as Still Runt, growls in beside them.

“Oh, hi. Are you Set separatists? Can I join? I hate all the Rise filth and want to rip some throats out. I heard some Set-dogs talking about a place out here where they could escape the Rise-stench. There were some weird leaves and I thought it seemed like a good place to hide. Have I found it?” He is doing a much clumsier version of the headstrong young pup than Still Runt has cultivated. At least he is not trying to drag any of us into his deranged gamble. All are still, waiting for Amiable First Eyes’s response. The only dog in the chamber who seems to accept this identity more than Resilient is Amiable First Eyes. He welcomes this strange-smelling, suspicious interloper into our pack.

“Welcome true Set-dog. We, in fact, are looking for Set-minded dogs to help in the next activities we are planning.” I can’t believe it. Amiable First Eyes has become less and less cautious and, like a small pup, seems too excited to tell his secret. He has lost all reason. That is to Resilient’s benefit. I join Wary and Bold in their obvious disgust of the new-comer.

“Pack Guider Amiable First Eyes Set, surely this stranger cannot be in-pack. We have no idea of his background. He could be a Rise” (I flinch internally) “sympathiser or a stealth-dog sent to infiltrate our pack.” Bold is the wisest of the high-notches in this pack. She wouldn’t let in any old dog. She smells something wrong in him. She doesn’t know what it is yet, but she will be the one who figures it out. I can only try to keep the discovery until a point when Resilient is safe from the inevitable pursuit.

“I agree Pack Guider – when Still Runt and I joined the Set-pack we had to demonstrate our loyalty multiple times. I had to be arrested and interrogated for ye to trust me. That is how it should be.”

“Even our newest recruits, who Cunning Runt and I had an eighth to prepare and test, were not accepted so quickly.” Still Runt adds to me, (( If we can just get him out of here, at least for now, we can find out what Amiable First Eyes is planning then figure out what to do with Resilient SET. )) She is fuming, she lets me feel the force of it while showing the rest of the pack an expected level of anger and fear. I don’t have a pack-bond with Resilient, but the three more recent stealth-separatists may do. I throw my thought into the stealth pack-bond.

(( If any-dog has a pack-bond with this hyena can ye tell him to get out. He better hope he has not compromised us all. )) I’m not a Soil parent. Having more dogs in-pack from my own ranks than actual conspirators feels hilarious. This is not a training exercise. Real dogs have been made-runt and some dogs may Walk as a result of a conflict. Protecting Pack is not a game. Any damage from this will be caused by Resilient more than any-dog. Keeping my rage in check, only apparent to those who understand it is a lot of effort.

“Set-dogs, my Pack, we must expect more and more recruits to the cause. Those of ye who have proved yerselves will of course always be special and trusted. I aim to guide with trust.” (I’m not the only dog surprised by this judgement. He seemed to thrive on the espionage until poor Braggart was made-runt) “we should welcome this Pack-mate. If he found our meeting it is because he sought it and must be clever and cunning. He will be an asset to the cause I am sure.” I am flabbergasted. Amiable First Eyes, though he has proven himself unpredictable, has seemed to want to get out of the compound and dig a Set-world with his few followers. He has talked of recruitment but never seemed to have expected it. Now there is a swelling in numbers, he thinks he’s the new Set Pack-Guider, sent by Soil to finally free the Rises and Sets from one another. That only makes him more frightening. Amiable First Eyes continues, “See how scarred he is for one so young. He must have the hot blood that shows a true Set-dog.” Still Runt flashes into my mind,

(( Where is this coming from? Is this to be expected in a not-for-Pack organisation? ))

(( Yes. But not this soon. Most not-for-Pack movements are separated before their guider can get this kind of complacence. At least this means they cannot last long. They are not as smart as they think, or we feared. )) Throughout Resilient has been in a submissive posture, showing his lack of threat or fear.

“What is your name Set-dog?” Amiable First Eyes has taken an interest in Resilient. I hope we can separate them before he develops a bond with a Rise. He is a runt-maker but the discovery that he can be tricked into bonding with a Rise would destroy his mind. It would make him runt as much as Braggart.

“Resourceful Set.” I begrudge how smart he is in not keeping Resilient, even though it’s used by both Packs.

“Welcome Resourceful.” The shimmer at this informality with a dog who has not even denned with him passes through the separatist pack-bond. It is then flooded with too loud emotions of excitement or warm welcome. Amiable First Eyes acknowledges it even less than “Resourceful” (the only dog here who is not in that pack-bond). Wary relaxes her pose as does Mirth. Still Runt maintains her pose for just long enough for Wary to regret how easily she dropped her guard. Still Runt manages to time it to look like obedience with strong care for the cause. Wary sinks into her own thoughts, giving off a tiny scent of shame and irritation. This situation is getting more and more volatile by the day. The sooner we can scupper the Event the better.

“I will explain the plan I developed with other true Set Pack-Guiders.” Still Runt and I share a moment of alarm in our pack-bond. We had begun to feel confident there were no other cells of this movement. His mention of other separatists allows a fear I didn’t notice leaving, return to its den in my stomach. “I will only tell ye about the first phase today. The less each of ye knows, the better.” So, he is still a bit cautious. Sometimes it feels like he knows about all of it and is intentionally leading me on a wild-run. “Each of ye will be given a location by coded message. When ye get this, you must go to the den-complex mentioned and empty at least half a littersworth of comfort-units, collecting up the Soil and bringing it to an allocated cache, these will change frequently so the current active cache will be indicated by stones at the base of the cherry-tree to the Rise of the path here. When each of us has brought in half a littersworth, we will be ready to begin the next phase of the plan.” The raiding of comfort-units was meant to take them a season. When I mentioned it, Amiable First Eyes was not enthusiastic. This plan makes me uneasy. It is much more comprehensive and sensible than his behaviour in the last few cents^. What is he doing with the Soil? I can add another crime against Pack but for-Pack to my list – depriving dogs so far from World of their most basic comfort.

The pack is murmuring, and the younger recruits are talking about how they are going to manage it, how stealthy they can be and how they will carry it. I take advantage of my reputation as aloof to pass my nose over each individual. There is strain here. Bold and Wary are sitting conspicuously still. They are communicating down their mate-bond. I can’t sneak into their pack-bond and keep all the other bond-channels straight. This is why even two stealth-dogs infiltrating the same pack is unusual. The fewer levels of bond-communication a dog needs to keep untangled the better to maintain cover. Resourceful is making a good show of being excited and eager. He avoids the other young dogs and stays to one side glancing frequently to Amiable First Eyes who is pretending he doesn’t know and love it. This is going to be a messy situation; however we resolve it.

Separatists are milling around before returning to their “normal” lives. I immediately stalk off with a small show of disgust at all this excitement. I throw a message into the separatist pack-bond

( See you with 6 comfort-units of Soil. ) I prowl into the night and away scenting disgust. Once I get to a well-trodden path, I put up my scent-mask and loop back through the dense trees, following narrow, prey-paths. I hear and smell separatists taking their allocated paths home. I cannot account for Wary, Bold, Resourceful or Amiable First Eyes. That is not good. I find a place where I have a clear line of hearing and sight and reach into the separatist pack-bond. I catch the edge of it and from there slide into the more intense, private bond between the three of them. They have shared that bond with me many nights and days though none of them know it.

( I will accept that you think this dog is for-Pack and you chose to share your plan with him. Why do you think you would be safe alone with him? You are our most important member Pack-Guider, not just because of your wisdom in leading us but due to your connection to other cells. It is too big a risk to the cause. You must know that. )

( I appreciate your caution Wary, but you are underestimating my ability to manage myself when necessary. Or had you forgotten Braggart? )

( Neither of us has forgotten Braggart and we are not questioning your guidance or decision-making. I think Wary is trying to say that you are a uniquely valuable member of this movement, not just to us who are your pack but to the wider fight for freedom for Sets. )

( It seems like you are fishing for information you know I am unhappy to give. We have discussed this before. Why are you two so eager to know about other cells? Are ye reporting back to stealth HQ? ) His thoughts are completely calm. He does not seriously think they are stealth-dogs. He is threatening them. I haven’t observed him behaving like this with them. More instability. Thanks, Resilient.

( You know we aren’t. You have made up your mind. We have comfort-units to allocate. We’ll get on with that and leave you to our newest recruit. ) Bold has a cold core of anger while Wary is burning hot. They leave. I don’t tap into their mate-bond, their scent tells enough of a story. I won’t be able to observe what passes between the two remaining conspirators within. I do not have enough of a bond with either to prey-back it while closed. I hunker under a bush with spiky leaves and bitter-smelling berries to wait.

I have missed the Set hunting-degree^ shift. I have missed the meeting afterwards with the stealth-pack. I still wait for either dog to leave. I have seen Resilient made-runt stumbling from the den over and over in my mind. Until one emerges, I am not leaving. I am stiff from maintaining a low, observant posture. I know some stealth-dogs who can conceal their origin-Pack well. But all of them have spent turns practicing it. When a dog is assimilated into another Pack, they will smell closer to their new Pack the longer they live there but there is always a hint of difference about them. One of the reasons exiles often choose more isolated Service. The burden to choose your Service after being exiled is one that must feel alienating from oneself.

There is a tiny sound. They leave the tunnel together. I see Amiable First Eyes cover the entrance and Resourceful try to make it look a bit more concealed as a wave of testosterone^ strong enough to cause spontaneous Heat in a swelling dog hits me! They are engulfed by some kind of amorphous scent cloud. My anger raises but I keep my scent-mask in place. Whatever he has been up to, Resourceful is bumptious. They nuzzle each other’s ears and Resourceful follows path 3 as he has been instructed. Once he thinks he is unobserved, Amiable First Eyes rolls in the spot where they parted then leaves on path 2.

I stalk through the trees towards where Resilient will come out. He cuts into the trees and meets me.

“I recognise the scent of your disapproval, even through your scent-mask.”

“What are you playing at? You have jeopardised the safety of the other dogs in this pack. Even in a mission only for Sets you want to get involved and then go off on your own path. I am sure you have got some great information, otherwise you would not be so cheeky. Just because it worked out for you doesn’t mean what you did was right. In fact, I do not want to hear whatever you have to tell me. You can tell Honest yourself when you go back to HQ and stay there supporting this mission as you should.” His defiant stare makes me furious. I want to scar him again. I hope the next time he goes for our comfort-unit Generous or Honest or even better both give him a deep scar. He turns and returns to the den-complexes towards Honest, but with a skip in his step that suggests I will find my orders countermanded in short order.

I run to where I would have met my pack. They are just finishing up, grooming, renewing pack-bonds and getting ready to go to our den. I reach out to Still Runt

(( He is so full of himself he’ll definitely make an attempt on the comfort-unit, cocky pup he is. Make sure he gets caught. Make sure he is embarrassed. )) She immediately puts up a scent-mask and leaves. I go to den in a rage. I start roughly grooming myself. He’s going to get us all made-runt. I refuse to have earned 6 scars on the hardest missions World had to offer to lose because of being given useless Rise trainees! Having left time for me to groom some stress from my coat, the pack enter and lean against me. They all drift off quickly. I do not sleep as they snore. Mirth deep-sleeps, a luxury no stealth-dog can indulge in. I don’t wake her (nor wake the others and sneak out as I probably should). I will tell her in the Rise.

I hear Still Runt return. She lies down by me, not needing to ask if I’m awake. She starts to groom blood from her front claws.

“He was embarrassed, he is scarred, but sadly he has won. He will be with us in the separatists from the Rise.”

“Thank you.” I feel unimaginably tired.

“Generous misses you.”

“I miss her.”

“She hasn’t figured out what I am yet, but she knew some-dog stunk Resilient out. She told the tunnel she missed her mate-bonded.” Where our flanks touch, I send all the love and Pack I have into Still Runt for Generous next time they pass.