The forest was silent as Enno, Senna, and the small team returned to camp with Teris in tow. The weight of his warning hung heavily in the air, pressing down on them like a storm cloud. They had only just struck a blow against Valtoria, but now they faced something far worse than retaliation—a full-scale assault designed to wipe them out.
As they entered the camp, the fighters turned to look at Teris, their faces a mixture of shock and suspicion. Whispers spread through the crowd as they realized who he was—the spy who had betrayed them, now standing among them once more.
Senna raised a hand, silencing the growing murmur. "We have more important things to worry about right now," she said, her voice sharp. "Teris has information that could save all of us. Listen to him."
The fighters quieted down, though the tension remained. Teris stood in front of the group, his eyes filled with fear and guilt. He looked like a man haunted by his own choices, and for a moment, Enno almost pitied him.
"They're coming," Teris said, his voice trembling. "Valtoria's planning an attack on the camp. They know where we are. They're going to hit us with everything they have."
A ripple of fear passed through the crowd. Enno could see the fighters exchange uneasy glances, their confidence shaken by the revelation. The camp had been their sanctuary, their one place of safety, and now even that was at risk.
"How long do we have?" Daron asked, his voice calm but tense.
Teris shook his head. "I don't know. Days, maybe. But they've mobilized their forces. It's going to be bad."
Senna stepped forward, her gaze hard. "Then we have no choice. We need to move the camp. If we stay here, we're dead."
A Decision to Make
The camp was a hive of activity as the resistance scrambled to prepare for evacuation. Enno and Senna gathered the leadership team to discuss their next move, the weight of the situation heavy on everyone's shoulders.
"We can't just run and keep running," Enno said, his voice filled with frustration. "If we abandon the camp, we lose everything we've built. Valtoria will track us down, and eventually, there will be nowhere left to hide."
Senna nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "I know. But we're out of options. If we stay, we're walking into a massacre. We need to relocate and regroup. Then we can figure out how to strike back."
Daron crossed his arms, his face set in a grim expression. "But where do we go? Valtoria's got eyes everywhere. If they're sending their full force, there won't be many places left for us to hide."
A heavy silence fell over the group as they considered their options. They were facing impossible odds, and for the first time since the resistance had begun, it felt like they were truly outmatched.
Enno looked at Senna, the weight of leadership pressing down on him. "What do you think? Do we run?"
Senna's eyes were distant, her mind racing with possibilities. After a long pause, she spoke, her voice firm but laced with uncertainty. "We relocate the camp. We'll find a place in the mountains, somewhere defensible. We need time to regroup, to plan our next move. But we can't keep running forever. Eventually, we'll have to make a stand."
Enno nodded, though the doubt still gnawed at him. They were losing ground, losing time. And with every step they took, Valtoria was closing in.
The Camp Prepares to Move
The evacuation of the camp was a delicate operation. Fighters and support staff moved with purpose, packing supplies, dismantling tents, and preparing to leave behind the place they had called home for so long. The sense of urgency was palpable—every moment spent preparing felt like another moment lost.
Enno oversaw the preparations, his heart heavy with the knowledge that this might be the last time they could regroup. Teris's warning had rattled everyone, and while Enno wanted to believe they could outsmart Valtoria, the reality of their situation was becoming harder to ignore.
As he moved through the camp, he caught sight of Teris sitting alone near the edge of the clearing, his shoulders slumped. Enno hesitated for a moment before approaching him.
"You shouldn't be alone right now," Enno said quietly, standing next to Teris.
Teris didn't look up. "I'm already alone. No one trusts me. They think I'm still working for Valtoria."
Enno sighed, crouching down to look Teris in the eye. "You made a mistake. A big one. But you're here now, trying to make it right. That's something."
Teris finally looked up, his eyes filled with regret. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I thought I could protect my family, but I ended up getting more people killed."
Enno studied him for a moment, the anger and betrayal he had once felt toward Teris softening. The young man was broken, haunted by his choices. Enno knew that feeling all too well—the weight of guilt, the burden of past mistakes.
"You still have a chance to help," Enno said, his voice steady. "But you have to fight for it. We're all fighting for something here."
Teris nodded slowly, though the fear and uncertainty lingered in his eyes. "I'll do whatever it takes to make it right."
Enno stood up, offering Teris a small, grim smile. "Then you're with us."
A New Threat
Just as the camp was nearing completion of its evacuation preparations, the sound of approaching vehicles broke through the stillness of the forest. The fighters froze, their eyes wide with fear as they looked toward the sound.
"They're here," Senna said, her voice low but filled with urgency. "Move! Everyone, move!"
Panic rippled through the camp as the fighters scrambled to get the last of the supplies packed. The sound of vehicles and the faint hum of drones grew louder, closer.
"They've found us," Daron shouted, his voice barely audible over the growing chaos. "We don't have much time!"
Enno's heart pounded in his chest as he grabbed his weapon, his mind racing. They had planned to evacuate before Valtoria's forces arrived, but it was too late. The enemy had found them, and now they were out of time.
"We need to hold them off long enough for the others to get away," Senna said, her voice sharp with determination. "We can't let them reach the camp."
Enno nodded, his jaw clenched. "Let's go."
The Battle Begins
Enno, Senna, and a group of fighters took up defensive positions at the edge of the camp, their weapons ready as the sound of Valtoria's forces grew nearer. The vehicles broke through the trees first, followed by squads of enforcers, their black armor gleaming in the fading light.
"Wait for it," Senna whispered, her eyes locked on the approaching enemy.
The tension was suffocating, every second stretching into eternity as they waited for the right moment. Then, as the first squad of enforcers crossed the threshold into the camp, Senna gave the signal.
"Now!"
Gunfire erupted, the sound deafening as the resistance fighters opened fire on the advancing enforcers. The camp was engulfed in chaos, the peaceful clearing transformed into a battlefield.
Enno moved with precision, firing at the enforcers as they pushed forward. He could see the drones hovering overhead, scanning the area, marking targets. They were vastly outnumbered, but they had the advantage of knowing the terrain.
"Fall back in stages!" Enno shouted, signaling to the fighters to retreat slowly, maintaining their defensive line as they moved back toward the evacuation point.
The air was thick with smoke and the sound of gunfire, and the ground trembled beneath the weight of the vehicles. Enno's heart pounded in his chest as he fought, every move calculated, every shot measured. This was their last stand—at least for now.
A Costly Escape
The battle raged on, but despite their best efforts, the resistance was being pushed back. Valtoria's forces were relentless, and the fighters were struggling to hold the line.
"We need to get out of here!" Daron shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Enno glanced at Senna, who nodded grimly. "We can't hold them off any longer. We need to retreat."
Enno signaled for the fighters to pull back, covering their escape as they fled deeper into the forest. The camp was lost, but the resistance had survived. For now.
As they ran, Enno's mind raced with thoughts of what came next. They had bought themselves time, but Valtoria wouldn't stop. The fight was far from over, and the next battle would be even harder.