DIANA
Three weeks ago...
"Listen up, everyone. I want all of you to form a group of circles per team. Today is the last Saturday of the month, which means you will be having your monthly squad training. I already told you how teamwork is essential in every squad, especially in the middle of a mission. And clear and conducive communication is a key to successful teamwork. So the challenge for this test today is how you, a squad that consists of humans who weren't able to connect with the shifter's mind link, can create good teamwork and complete a successful mission."
We did as we were told. I told my teammates to form a small circle while we sat on the ground in a cross legged position, still facing towards where Delta Greg was left standing.
When the other groups had also formed their small circle, Delta Greg finally started talking once again.
"Okay, so this test is what I called the relay the message test in which, from the name itself, you have to pass a message. Think of this like your team is on a mission of retrieving important information and have to bring this information back to the back whatever it causes. The said information is actually a rolled paper secured in a small transparent cylinder glass which is made out of the most fragile and thin glass."
"In doing this task, you will have three rules; first, never let the information, even the cylinder glass container, be damaged. Once the container is damaged, particularly broken or cracked, a mission fails. Next, don't let anyone, whether your own teammates or other outsiders, acquire the content of the information. In other words, do not let others read the contents. Lastly, make sure to bring the information back to the pack. Remember, since this is a mission, do your best to complete it according to the given rules. This will be a test if you can really now complete a mission."
"This whole test will have four stages, and it will depend on you on who will do each stage. Since this is a test of your teamwork and coordination, I won't give you enough time to process who will do each stage."
Then Delta Greg smiled maliciously before showing us five identical cylinder glass containers that contained rolled paper and playfully waving them to us.
"To liven everyone up, let's start the test now. I have five contained pieces of information here. To get your own classified information, you must take it away from me by fighting me. Remember, once you decide to take this challenge, you are no longer qualified to take the remaining two challenges. I will give you all thirty minutes to complete the first stage. Time starts now!"
And just like Delta Greg said, he really did not give us any time to think and plan as he started to dart away. Maybe because of pressure, everyone acted out of impulse, and that includes some of my group.
But of course, I quickly held them still. "Don't forget what the main purpose of this test is. We should be able to sort out a plan first before acting."
Thankfully, the only two guys in our group really calmed down. "Now let's follow Delta Greg, but don't scatter away. I will try to lay out a strategy while we are trying to follow Delta Greg. We still have twenty minutes to get one container from him."
I may look like my mind is occupied with other thoughts, but I was listening well to Delta Greg. So I was able to come up with plans as soon as I heard what the test was. I am not boasting about it, but I was always praised for how fast I was able to come up with different strategies just by listening to the problem.
There was one time in which our pack had a problem with the neighboring pack because we were having a problem owning the food resources. Both packs wanted to own the large field to the point that the other pack resorted to a pack war.
At that time also, our pack was having an epidemic of the flu virus, so a lot of our pack warriors and some young and elders were sick and weren't able to fight, so I tried to share the plan I had.
Since I also heard that the other pack was also hit by the epidemic, I realized that we are only fighting about the field because there is an herb growing there that would cure the flu.
So while we proceeded with the plan of defending if ever the other side really attacked, I also had prepared another plan in which we had a peace talk to avoid more casualties. So while our pack warriors were trying to defend, I made a secret route that would bring Alpha Frank and the other elders to the other side.
To cut a long story short, that plan was successful. There were no deaths, but more injuries, which were small casualties. While in the field, we decided to divide the large area of the field while evenly distributing all the medicinal herbs on both packs.
Since it wasn't enough to cure all the patients, we also tried to plant some, considering that the plants grow as fast as grass. It not only solved the epidemic but also stopped the war.
But what I was trying to say is that we shouldn't just move and act through instincts; we must still create a concrete plan despite the short and hurried time.
"Since there will be four stages and fighting with Delta Greg is the first one, we can say that each stage will have different tests. The first one is to test how well we know the skills and qualities of our members. So we have to assign the right people to take the first stage. With the limited time given, he wants us to come up with the right choices."
We have been classmates since we were young, so I already know everyone in our batch. Not only their characteristics, but I already know what their skills are and what they are good at.
"In this stage, we will have Dan and Sheena, a man who can fight with Delta Greg and a woman who can move agilely and flexibly, since fighting with Delta Greg needs a combination of strength and agility. Is that okay with you two?"
"I'm okay with this," Dan approved, while Sheena only nodded her head.
"Good. Now we will leave this test with you two. As soon as one of you takes a container, run to the forest. We will be waiting for you there. I know Delta Greg would not give the instruction for the next stage unless no one takes the next stage. We will assign the person once we hear what the next stage is."
"Okay, leave this to us, Diana."
"Hmm. Remember, no pressure. I don't think having any injuries will give us high points anyway, so make sure to take care of each other."
Saying that, I stop running and watch the two join in fighting with Delta Greg. When I saw that the other teams had noticed us, I quickly ran on the other side towards the forest with the remaining members.
"What's the next plan now, Diana?" Felcy asked.
"I think, I know Delta Greg now. Since he planned to stage four phases of challenges on this month's assessment, I think there will be the test for coordination, the test for agility, the test of flexibility, and the test of insights. From our past weekly lessons, those were the skills that he taught us. So I am sure that the content for each stages will be these skills. We already had the test for coordination in the first phase. I am not sure on what phase each will be assigned that's why I decided to wait for the container to proceed with the next place of examination. But knowing Delta Greg, since he always used the forest to test the agility of your wolf forms and our flexibility, it's be either this two skills. So I will left this stage to you, Felcy."
"Okay. If your insight is correct, which I doubt will be wrong since you never failed about it," she answered, sounding proud when it wasn't herself she was boasting about.
Luckily, she wasn't just boasting about it, or it would have been my embarrassment then. Because my guess was right all along. I really underestimated how Delta Greg's mind is working now.
As I predicted, the moment Sheena passed the container to Felcy, despite the fact that it was only our team that was successful in completing the first phase, Delta Greg really gave the instructions for the second phase, which undoubtedly put pressure on the other teams.
Felcy shifted into her form, which is a white fox. To avoid breaking the fragile glass container, I tore the sleeve of Dan's shirt to wrap the container while I tied it on Felcy's belly to secure it firmly.
Felcy took the way to the area where Delta Greg prepared the obstacles, while Bruce and I, the remaining members, took the clear way, following the obstacle course.
Now we're at the third stage, which is still situated in the forest. And it was I who was now assigned this test of discernment. I thought I had already read what's on the mind of Delta Greg, but I never thought that his mind test would be about discernment!
It was like this. After Felcy finished the obstacle course, Delta Greg immediately explained the next phase.
"For the next phase, you will have to think deeply. I have forgotten to tell you that among the five containers, there was only one who has the correct information, while there were two containers who only have fifty and twenty-five points that will be added to your score. The other one is a blank paper, while the last one contains a punishment. However you successfully complete all the stages, your over-all result will still depend on the content of the paper inside the container in your hands." The cunning voice of Delta Greg reverberated in the forest.
I could hear loud curses from the other teams, and I could almost spout one if not for calming myself.
How crafty! That was really surprising for Delta Greg, who, as far as I know, is just a simpleton. Or maybe this test was not only thought of by him alone but also with the assistance of Alpha Frank.
I'm not complaining, though. This just made it more fun and exciting.
And now I am currently hiding on a branch in one of the trees, trying to find something suspicious with the container in my hand. Maybe the delta did not speak about it, but there were actually some hints on what container contained the information.
I was looking at the container as I raised my hand to hold it to find the hints when I was suddenly blinded by the sunlight that passed through the thick and lush green leaves. Out of reflex, I tried to use my hand to cover my eyes from the blinding light when I accidentally used the container as my shield.
It did not completely shield me from the sunlight, but a flash of an idea entered my mind. Since I wasn't allowed to open the container or read the content inside, maybe I can at least try to see if there is something written inside.
I don't think trying to see if there is content written in the paper is the same as directly reading the content, no?
And so, with a flash of inspiration, I properly positioned the container toward the seeping sunlight. The glass container is thin, and I could also say the same about the paper, which was actually not rolled in a small shape but was as big as the radius of the cylinder container.
The moment I tried to stare at the inside through the lens of the sunlight, I could visibly see nothing written on the paper. I even tried to find a thicker streak of sunlight to check, and there were no writings found.
In other words, this container is not the right or best one. And that only means one thing, I have to snatch someone else's container to look for the right one.
How exciting!
I don't know if I was really lucky this day, but I was just about to plan how and who to ambush first when I heard someone coming this way. Since we have been the leading team, this is the first time someone has come this close to us.
Probably it was my luck, but from the sound of the noise, which was the sound of hurried steps, this was a human. And based on the sound of the person's steps, they decided to just finish the phase instead of trying to exchange containers with others.
Well, I have to say sorry in advance, but I would not let that happen. I did not wait for the person to pass the tree where I was hiding and jump down to welcome him.
"Ah! Diana! How unlucky!" Patricia cried in surprise, and dread flashed in her voice and face.
I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. I was still having fun laughing when she suddenly pushed the container in her hand with a pout toward me. And I instantly shot her a questioning look.
"I don't plan to fight with you since I knew it would only end up with me fighting for naught. So let's just have a peaceful exchange."
Regardless of how I like to say that this was to be expected, I could still not prevent myself from feeling disappointed. But, oh well. I don't think I would enjoy fighting with Patricia, so this might really be the best.
To punish her for acting weak and cowardly even with me, I did not let her run off first, so after taking their container, I did not pass her the one in my hand; instead, I returned back to the tree to check their container.
"Lucky!"
I happily chirped when I really saw some writing inside the paper. It could be a punishment, but I have a feeling that it was not the punishment but the real information that Delta Greg was talking about.
With those findings, I took the container we had collected and put it on the farthest branch I could reach before jumping down. My action immediately made Patricia, who was waiting below, grumble.
"For real, Diana?" she complained with grievance.
"What? Not because you're too naive to make things easier for me means I would also do the same for you. Don't always treat everything like some play and be serious once. You will never learn and will never improve if you always keep this attitude, Patricia."
Some may find me harsh, but I was just trying to knock her out of her senses. Delta Greg might be accepting of her now, but I know there will be a day if Patricia doesn't change this attitude of hers that Delta Greg will give up on her.
I can see how she's treating the bond between them as a mate as her way of being this uncaring. Does she think being a mate is enough to make a dominant man her forever follower and savior?
Did she forget she's a human? A human who was like an impotent person who couldn't feel these so-called mate bonds? With this weak connection, didn't she never think that it was so easy to break? Just one oath would break their bond, and it would totally break it as easily as cutting a piece of paper.
Being mates or the bond with mates might be the strongest link that binds two people, but it is also the strongest cage, and once someone feels the restriction, they will just burst to escape from it. And once that happens, this bond will become the weakest connection that can be broken by a simple oath of rejection.
I don't want to say this, but I don't want to see this happen between Delta Greg and Patricia.