The first light of dawn filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the ground as Luke, Ava, and Raven prepared to depart. The air was crisp, carrying a sense of unease, as if the very earth knew the danger they were about to face. Luke cinched his pack tighter, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. Ava stood beside him, her eyes distant as she checked her weapons, clearly still processing everything Raven had told them.
Raven, however, seemed more at ease in the early morning light. She was focused, her eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting the mercenaries to appear at any moment. There was something about her—a quiet determination, a steely resolve—that Luke couldn't quite place. He wondered just how much more she knew, what secrets she was keeping hidden even from them.
