The forest still clung to an eerie silence, the aftermath of the ambush weighing heavily on Ronon and his companions as they made their way through the dense woods. Every step forward was a reminder of how close they had come to death—and how much worse things would become.
"We need to head back to Lormund," Kellan muttered, wiping the blood from his sword. "We barely made it out of that ambush, and the Circle will be sending more after us."
Ronon, who had been leading the way, paused for a moment. His thoughts raced. The ambush had been too well-executed, too precise to be just chance. The Circle was escalating, and their enemy's patience was thinning.
"We can't go back yet," Thalia interjected, her eyes sharp as she scanned their surroundings. "Not without more information. The Circle's growing bolder, and if they're making a move, we need to know what it is before they strike Lormund again."
Jorin grunted in agreement, though the toll of battle was evident on his face. "Thalia's right. We need to get ahead of them. The ambush... it was meant to delay us."
Ronon glanced at his companions. They had been through so much together, and now they were being forced into a corner. The mission they were on was becoming more treacherous by the minute, and Ronon could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. If they failed to gather enough intelligence, Lormund—and the kingdom—would fall.
As they ventured deeper into enemy territory, the weight of their mission became more oppressive. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows through the trees. Their destination was a Circle outpost, rumored to hold vital information about the enemy's next strike. But reaching it would be no easy feat.
Hours passed, and the forest thinned, revealing a rocky ridge that overlooked the plains below. In the distance, the faint glow of a campfire flickered—likely the Circle's outpost they were searching for.
"There it is," Ronon said, pointing toward the distant light. "That's where we'll find what we need."
Kellan nodded. "But it's too exposed. We can't just walk in there."
"I'll go," Thalia said firmly. Her voice was calm but filled with resolve. "I'm the best at moving unseen. Let me slip in, get the information we need, and get out. You three can cover me from a distance."
Ronon shook his head. "It's too risky. The Circle knows we're hunting them. If something goes wrong, we won't be able to get to you in time."
Thalia's eyes met his, unwavering. "We don't have a choice. If we wait too long, they'll move whatever information they have, and we'll lose our chance. Besides, I can handle myself."
For a long moment, Ronon hesitated. He trusted Thalia with his life, but the thought of her going in alone, with no backup if things went south, gnawed at him.
"We can't afford to lose anyone," Ronon said, his voice low but firm. "But you're right. Time's running out."
Kellan and Jorin exchanged uneasy glances, but neither spoke. They knew the stakes.
Thalia gave a small nod of appreciation before slipping into the shadows. Her form seemed to vanish into the night as she moved toward the outpost, a wraith in the darkness.
Ronon, Kellan, and Jorin took up positions along the ridge, keeping their eyes trained on the camp below. The minutes stretched on, each one heavier than the last. The tension was palpable as they waited, hoping for a signal that Thalia had made it in and out safely.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle cut through the air—the signal they had been dreading. Thalia was in trouble.
Ronon's heart lurched. "We have to move, now!"
Without hesitation, the three of them sprinted down the ridge, crashing through the underbrush. As they neared the outpost, the sound of clashing steel reached their ears. Thalia was fighting for her life.
Bursting into the clearing, they found her surrounded by a squad of Circle soldiers. She fought with relentless ferocity, her twin daggers flashing in the firelight, but it was clear she was outnumbered.
Ronon charged in, his sword cutting through the first soldier in his path. Kellan and Jorin followed suit, evening the odds as they joined the fray. The battle was chaotic, a blur of steel and blood, but the Circle soldiers were relentless.
Thalia was breathing hard, her movements slowing as the toll of the fight became evident. "They were waiting for me," she gasped, slashing at another attacker. "They knew."
Ronon's mind raced. It was a trap, just like the ambush in the forest. The Circle had anticipated their every move. And now, they were all caught in it.
"We have to fall back!" Kellan shouted, deflecting a blow aimed at his head. "There's too many!"
But before they could retreat, one of the Circle's elite warriors stepped forward, his black armor gleaming in the firelight. His eyes locked onto Thalia, and with a swift, merciless strike, he drove his blade deep into her side.
"Thalia!" Ronon's voice tore through the chaos as he rushed to her side, catching her before she collapsed to the ground.
The elite warrior smirked, pulling his bloodied blade free and turning his attention to Ronon.
Jorin and Kellan fought off the remaining soldiers, but Ronon's focus was on Thalia, her blood staining his hands.
"We... we have to finish the mission," Thalia whispered, her voice barely audible. "For Lormund."
Ronon shook his head, his heart breaking. "No. I'm not leaving you."
Thalia's hand gripped his, her strength fading. "You have to. If you don't, all of this... it'll be for nothing."
Tears stung Ronon's eyes, but he nodded. "I swear, we'll finish it."
Thalia's eyes closed, her grip loosening. Her sacrifice, made in the name of the cause, would not be in vain.
And as Ronon rose to his feet, his resolve hardened. The Circle would pay for this.