Bab 136: The Rescue Mission

The air was thick with tension as Emily surveyed the aftermath of the ambush. The once tight-knit group now huddled together in a ragged circle, their breaths heavy and labored. Bruises marred their skin, and blood oozed from shallow cuts, but it wasn't the physical wounds that worried Emily. It was the haunted look in their eyes—the fear of the unknown, the dread of what was to come.

They were down a member, and that reality hit Emily harder than any blow could. She forced herself to stay calm, even though her heart pounded with anxiety. The enemy had struck swiftly, taking one of their own before they could even react. The camp was a mess of scattered supplies and smoldering embers, evidence of their desperate retreat.