The group continued their trek through the soaked forest, the air thick with dampness and the echoes of the storm that had passed. Each step felt heavier, as if the weight of their mission pressed down harder with every mile. They walked in near silence, the only sound being the occasional snap of a twig or the rustle of leaves as a bird or small creature darted away.
Luke led the group with Darius just ahead, though he never let the man out of his sight. Raven and Ava stayed close behind, their eyes constantly scanning the surrounding woods. The tension among them had grown. Darius's revelation about the division within the resistance gnawed at all of them. It was clear now that their mission was no longer simply about finding allies. It was about navigating a minefield of competing agendas.
"I don't like this," Ava whispered, stepping up beside Luke. "He's hiding something. I can feel it."
