The camp was quiet as Ty sat cross-legged at the edge, his dark eyes scanning the surrounding woods. The setting sun cast a soft orange glow over the canopy, but the shadows beneath the trees were growing deeper by the minute. Hours had passed since they took down the three targets in their earlier mission, but Ty knew better than to relax.
The real challenge still lay ahead, and there was no room for complacency. Worse yet, the darkness inside him stirred, growing stronger with each victory.
Kern leaned against a nearby rock, his ssy brown hair sticking to his forehead as he ran a hand through it. "We've got thirty-five hours left, give or take," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though he expected an enemy to co barreling out of the trees at any mont.
Rosana sat nearby, sharpening her claw blade with a steady, thodical rhythm. The long, vicious claws glinted in the fading light as she worked, and though her expression was calm, Ty could feel the tension radiating off her. "We need to move soon," she said finally, breaking the silence. "But not without a plan."
Ty nodded. His mind was racing, trying to map out the best course of action. "Let's get a sense of the landscape first," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Rushing in blind is a death sentence. We need to know what's between us and the enemy's stronghold."
Kern sighed, sitting up straight. "Supplies are low. Rations won't last much longer, especially if we hit another fight like the last one. Water's running thin too."
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Ty glanced at the fire, barely more than embers now. He let out a long breath. "We'll need to ration what food we have. Water's the priority. Rest will have to co later."
Rosana set the claw blade down for a mont, looking up at Ty. "There's a stream about a quarter-mile east. I'll scout it out, see if it's safe."
Ty gave a quick nod. "Kern, go with her. Stay low and don't engage unless you have to. We can't afford to lose anyone this close to the end."
Kern stood, grabbing his scimitars. "Got it." His gaze drifted to Rosana. "Let's go."
As the two slipped into the forest, Ty stayed behind, watching the fire flicker under its stone cover. His hand unconsciously drifted toward the hilt of his sword, his instincts keeping him on edge. The air around him was still, unnervingly quiet, save for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.
His thoughts were clouded by the presence inside him—the dark force that lurked, waiting for any mont of weakness. He shook his head, trying to push it away. Now wasn't the ti to lose control.
When Kern and Rosana returned, their footsteps were near silent on the gravel path. Kern lifted a flask. "Stream's clean. Enough water to get us by for now."
Rosana's gaze swept the area as she spoke. "It's quiet out there, too quiet. If there are other teams in the area, they're waiting for the right mont to strike."
Ty crouched next to the fire, adjusting the stones to keep the light hidden. "We'll need to be ready. We can't stay here much longer."
But before they could discuss it further, the sound of snapping branches echoed through the woods. Ty's hand was instantly on his blade as he rose to his feet, the tension palpable. The figures approaching were difficult to make out through the underbrush, but as they stepped into the light, Ty recognized the familiar face.
Waddle erged from the trees, his expression calm and composed as ever. His blond hair glinted in the fading light, and two others followed closely behind him. Ty's mories flashed back to their ti on the boat—Waddle's hard stare and the way he moved through danger with an eerie professionalism.
"Hard guy to track down, Ty," Waddle said as he approached, his voice steady. "Thought you could use so backup."
Kern tensed, his hand resting on the hilt of his scimitars, while Rosana's eyes flicked between Waddle and Ty, her instincts screaming caution.
Ty didn't let his guard down, though he respected Waddle's capabilities. "What are you doing out here?" he asked, his tone cautious but not hostile.
Waddle shrugged. "Sa thing you're after—survival. I got my own mission to worry about, though. Infiltrate the castle, retrieve a certain item, and if I do, I get granted an extra life. The clock's ticking, and I figured it's better if we cover more ground together for now."
Rosana raised an eyebrow, the tip of her claw blade tapping the dirt. "And if you fail?"
Waddle smiled faintly. "Then I don't get that extra life, and we'll see if I live long enough to regret it." His gaze turned serious. "I'll et back up with my squad soon and start pushing toward the enemy's stronghold. We're not the only ones making moves; the death count's rising fast."
The air was thick with the unspoken tension, but Ty weighed his options carefully. He trusted Waddle's instincts, though there was always sothing the man wasn't saying. Still, now wasn't the ti to turn down help.
"Go et up with your team," Ty said finally. "We'll work together when we can, but keep us posted."
Waddle nodded. "I hope to see you all on the other side."
With that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Ty's group alone once again. Kern was the first to speak, his tone sharp. "He better not be leading us into a trap."
Ty ignored the remark, instead focusing on their weapons and gear. "We need to check our equipnt and be ready for anything. Let's go over what we've got."
Kern dropped down next to the fire and pulled out his scimitars, their blades gleaming in the low light. "These are still sharp. Good for close combat, but I could use so heavier armor."
Rosana looked at her claw blade, flexing her hand to test its movent. The sharp, tal claws extended from her knuckles, each one glinting wickedly in the firelight.
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