Story 388: Into the Fray

The night was alive with tension as Zara led the group away from the clearing. The soft crunch of boots against the forest floor felt deafening in the silence. Every step she took brought them deeper into the King’s territory, but there was no turning back now.

“Where are we going?” the wiry man, Davis, whispered harshly.

“Somewhere safer,” Zara replied without turning. Her eyes scanned every shadow, every tree. The forest could turn into an ambush at any second. “If you want to stand a chance against him, you need intel. Supplies. A real plan—not a desperate last stand.”

The woman with the scar, Liv, pushed ahead to walk beside Zara. Her voice was hushed but firm. “We’re done running. We’ve seen too many people vanish without a trace. If you think we’re just going to hide—”

“I’m not asking you to hide.” Zara’s tone was sharp but controlled. “I’m asking you to be smart.”