*Nemesia's POV*
Night descended swiftly, wrapping the camp in a blanket of shadows that seemed to pulse with the anticipation of what was to come. The air was thick with tension, the kind that clung to your skin and made every breath feel heavy. Our plan to contact the Bear Clan and free Gunnar was in motion, but the risk of discovery hung over us like a blade poised to drop.
Evar, Murphey, and I gathered in a secluded corner of the camp, our voices hushed as we finalized the details. Gunnar had been prepped and was waiting for the signal, his eyes blazing with a mixture of hope and vengeance. This was his chance to escape, and he was placing his trust in us to make it happen.
"I'll handle the signal fires," I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins. "Once they're lit, the Bears will know to move. We need to time this perfectly—Gunnar has to be out of here before anyone notices..."
Murphey nodded, his expression grim. "David's men are on high alert, especially after bringing in a Bear warrior. They'll be suspicious of any movement, so we have to be quick and quiet."
Evar's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes scanning the camp. "We'll need to take out any guards that could interfere, but we can't leave a trail. If David finds out we've betrayed him, it's over."
I met his gaze, my resolve hardening. "We won't let that happen. This is our chance to gain the Bears as allies, and we can't afford to lose it."
With our plan set, we moved swiftly. Murphey and Evar positioned themselves near the tent where Gunnar was being held, ready to neutralize the guards as soon as the signal was given. I slipped away into the darkness, my steps silent as I made my way towards the mountainside where the signal fires were to be lit.
The climb was steep, the rocky terrain challenging, but Athena's strength and agility guided me. As I reached the designated spot, I paused to catch my breath, my eyes scanning the camp below. The tents were small from this height, the campfires like scattered stars against the darkened earth. Everything seemed calm, but I knew better—calm was often the precursor to chaos.
I quickly set to work, arranging the wood and kindling in the pattern Gunnar had described. The fires needed to burn in a specific sequence, a signal known only to the Bear Clan. With the preparations complete, I struck flint against steel, sparks flying until the flames caught and began to grow as I worked around it, making sure to kill the fire and start the next one in the correct order. The final fire crackled to life, its glow warming my face as I watched the signal spread across the mountain.
"It's lit," I murmured to myself. "Time to get back before anyone realizes what's happening."
I moved swiftly down the mountain, but as I neared the camp, I caught sight of a group of Lycans moving toward the area where I had just been. My heart pounded. They must have seen the light from the fire. They weren't supposed to be patrolling here tonight...
I quickly assessed the situation. There was no time to go back the way I came; they would be on me in minutes. Instead, I veered off the path, circling around to come at the camp from a different angle.
My pulse quickened as I crept closer to the camp, staying low and moving from shadow to shadow. The Lycans were close, their low voices drifting through the night. I could hear them discussing the fire, and my blood ran cold when one of them mentioned checking the prisoner.
I couldn't let them reach Gunnar. Without hesitation, I drew my dagger and moved toward the nearest Lycan, a soldier slightly separated from the group. With a swift, silent motion, I slashed his throat, catching him before he could fall and dragging him into the underbrush.
One down.
The other Lycans were still talking, oblivious to their comrade's fate. I needed to act fast. I continued to circle around, coming up behind the next closest soldier. This time, I went for a quick stab through the heart, my blade slicing through thin armour and flesh with deadly precision. He dropped held by my steady hands without a sound.
Two down.
Before I could move on the third, however, he turned, his eyes widening as he spotted me. He opened his mouth to shout, but I was faster. I lunged forward, slashing his throat as his voice came out as a garbled cry. His body slumped to the ground, blood pooling around him.
Three down. No alarms raised.
I paused, listening for any sign that the remaining Lycans had noticed something was amiss. They hadn't. Their voices were growing fainter as they continued up the mountain, oblivious to the fact that three of their comrades would never rejoin them.
With the immediate threat neutralized, I made my way back to the camp. My pulse was still racing from the confrontation, but there was no time to dwell on it. I had to reach Murphey and Evar before anyone else did.
As I neared the tent where Gunnar was held, I saw that Evar and Murphey had already taken care of the guards. Two Lycans lay slumped against the tent, their throats cleanly cut.
I slipped inside the tent, finding Gunnar standing with his hands no longer bound, his eyes wide with anticipation.
"The fires are lit. Your people will be on their way soon," I said, my voice steady despite the rush of adrenaline coursing through me.
Gunnar gave a curt nod, his expression hard. "Good. I'm ready."
Evar handed Gunnar a sword, his eyes gleaming with determination. "You'll need this if we run into trouble on the way out."
The Bear warrior took the weapon with a nod of thanks, his grip tightening around the hilt although he probably preferred an axe. "Lead the way."
With Gunnar now armed, we moved swiftly through the camp, sticking to the shadows as we made our way towards the perimeter. The plan was to slip out unnoticed, but that hope was dashed when we heard the alarm bells begin to ring.
"Damn it, someone's found the bodies or the prisoner missing," Murphey hissed, his eyes scanning the camp as Lycans and Jaguars began to stir. Yeah, it's not easy to dispose of the bodies in a camp full of people...
"Stay calm," I ordered, trying to keep my voice steady. "We're almost out. Gunnar, stay close."
We broke into a run, darting between tents as the camp erupted into chaos. Shouts rang out as soldiers scrambled to figure out what was happening. We were so close to the edge of the camp when a group of Lycans rounded the corner ahead of us, blocking our path.
"Take them down," I snarled, drawing my sword.
Gunnar roared, his massive form charging forward as he swung his blade with deadly force. He cut down the first Lycan with a single blow, his strength and fury unmatched. Evar and I moved in tandem, dispatching the remaining soldiers with swift, precise strikes, the cloaks we wore, floating around us.
The Lycans fell quickly, but not before one managed to let out a sharp whistle, calling for reinforcements.
"We need to move, now!" I shouted, grabbing Gunnar's arm and pulling him forward.
We broke free from the camp, sprinting toward the tree line where we could lose ourselves in the forest. Behind us, the sounds of pursuit grew louder as more soldiers joined the chase.
"We have to lose them in the woods," Murphey called out, his voice tight with exertion.
The forest closed in around us, the trees offering some cover as we ran. I could hear the Lycans crashing through the underbrush behind us, their howls echoing in the night.
Gunnar stumbled, but I grabbed his arm, keeping him on his feet. "Keep moving! We're almost there!"
We burst through the trees into a small clearing where the signal fires burned brightly. I could see shadows moving in the distance—Bears, answering the call.
"They're here!" Evar shouted, relief flooding his voice.
The Bears emerged from the darkness, their massive forms imposing as they moved to surround us. The Lycans skidded to a halt at the edge of the clearing, clearly outnumbered and outmatched.
"Retreat!" one of them shouted, and they turned and fled back into the forest, unwilling to face the wrath of the Bear Clan.
As the Lycans disappeared into the trees, I finally allowed myself to breathe. We had done it.
Gunnar turned to me, his expression fierce but filled with gratitude. "You kept your word. I won't forget this."
"You can repay me by helping us take down the Lycans," I replied, meeting his gaze. "We need allies, Gunnar. And I think you do too."
He nodded slowly. "You're right. The Bear Clan will stand with you, I'll make sure of it."
I didn't know how he could be so sure... unless... Gunnar wasn't just any warrior in their Clan.
As we made our way deeper into the forest, to the Bear Clan's hidden camp, I couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph. We had pulled off the impossible, and now, with the Bears on our side, we were one step closer to victory.
But as the night wore on and the reality of what lay ahead set in, I knew that the hardest battles were still to come.