Sorry for the wait.
Word Count → 369
This covert meeting was becoming something the non-luperci was less and less certain about. She sat quietly by now, watching the other canines and waiting to see what decisions would be made. Normally she would have helped take charge of a situation like this if only to make sure things went smoothly, but she hoped that Zalen and Noir at least had sense. The others she did not know and could not be entirely sure about.
Especially the male, Jaden, whose intentions Noir directly questioned. To Vesper’s surprise, the vainglorious brute offered his services—poison and archery among his skills. She lowered her ears, not altogether amused at the irony of his “peacekeeper” having such deadly knowledge. But Noir accepted his offer, going on to placate him with assurances that he wouldn’t have to participate in every single action the group took.
Vesper pricked her ears, glad that this was going somewhere—until Noir fell silent and said no more. She had stated earlier that they were all equals, but no direction at all would kill the group faster than a tyrant would. She shifted uncomfortably before Zalen spoke.
His plan made sense, and Ves nodded along in agreement. “I’m not sure if it would be safe for me to spy, but those stealthy enough among us or any others who agree with us can do the job.” She knew that they enslaved those without the virus, and while it might have been nice to have someone on the inside, this was not a commitment she was going to make for a bunch of strangers. Even creating this plan was risk enough for death and more involvement than the loner was used to; if she was going to give her life for justice, it would be inherently more personal than this humanitarian mission.
“What will we do with the slaves afterward?” Vesper asked after Zalen had finished the rest of the plan. “Some might be strong enough to flee and find their own homes, but what about those who are too weak or too afraid to get themselves to safety, those who’ve known captivity all their lives? Are we going to simply drop them after they leave the territory?”
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