**Chapter 9: Ambush in the Night**
The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting long shadows over the rugged terrain as Riven led his team through the dense forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, the only sounds the crunching of leaves beneath their boots and the occasional rustle of nocturnal creatures. The night was unusually still, the calm before a storm that hung heavy in the atmosphere. Riven knew better than to take it for granted.
They were on a mission to sabotage the enemy's supply lines—a critical strike that could cripple their war effort before it could even begin. They had been planning this for weeks, and now, as they neared their target, every instinct Riven had was on high alert.
Behind him, Kieran was scanning the forest, his hand on the hilt of his sword, while Lia stayed close, her silver eyes reflecting the moonlight as she observed their surroundings with a practiced calm. Zephyr, the wolf-like beast, padded along silently at Riven's side, his fur blending with the darkness, always aware, always ready.
Riven's mind raced as he thought of their objective. A small camp—less than thirty soldiers—guarding a stockpile of food and weapons. If they could take out the supply depot, it would delay the enemy's advance by days, perhaps even weeks. The element of surprise was their greatest advantage.
"Almost there," Riven murmured, more to himself than to the others.
Kieran shot him a glance. "I'd say 'too easy,' but something tells me you've got that look again. The one that says we're about to walk into a trap."
Riven didn't respond immediately. He wasn't sure what it was—some flicker of intuition or the sudden, nagging feeling in his gut—but something about the night felt off. The stillness. The absence of birds or the usual nocturnal sounds. It was as though the forest itself held its breath.
Lia noticed his hesitation. "You're right to be cautious," she said, her voice low but steady. "We'll need to be ready for anything."
Riven nodded. They moved forward, carefully avoiding the natural traps of the forest—rocky outcrops, hidden crevices, and thorny thickets that would give away their position. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the outskirts of the enemy camp.
The sight that greeted them was almost too perfect. The enemy soldiers were scattered, several of them sitting around a small fire, while others patrolled the perimeter. The stockpile of food and weapons lay exposed, an easy target.
"This is it," Riven whispered, drawing his sword. "Kieran, Lia, take the right. Zephyr, stay close. We'll hit them fast, disrupt their lines, and retreat."
The team split up, moving with practiced precision. Zephyr darted into the shadows, his blue-gray fur nearly invisible in the darkness. Kieran and Lia moved in sync, with Kieran taking the lead as usual, his sword flashing in the moonlight. Lia was close behind, her daggers glinting as she moved silently.
Riven watched them for a moment before his gaze flicked back to the stockpile. He raised his hand, signaling the attack. The plan was simple—hit hard and fast, and then vanish into the night. But even as he gave the signal, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
---
The first strike came like a lightning bolt. Kieran's blade sliced through the air, taking down two enemy soldiers before they even had a chance to react. Lia followed closely behind, her twin daggers flashing as she dispatched another soldier with a swift, lethal strike. Zephyr was a blur of motion, his teeth sinking into the neck of a guard before the man could scream.
But as the last soldier fell, the forest seemed to come alive with movement. From the shadows, more figures emerged—dozens of them, surrounding the small group in a perfect circle. Riven's heart sank. The enemy had known they were coming.
"We've been set up!" Riven shouted, barely dodging an incoming spear. "Fall back!"
But it was already too late.
From the trees above, ropes fell, and more soldiers dropped down, their movements swift and practiced. The perimeter of the camp had been lined with hidden traps—nothing short of a perfect ambush. Riven's mind raced. How had they known? Had someone betrayed them? Or was it just sheer coincidence?
Kieran cursed, spinning around to face the growing number of enemies. "This is not good," he muttered, his blade flashing as he cleaved through another soldier. "They're coming from everywhere."
Lia, her face grim, threw a handful of daggers into the crowd of enemies, taking down three more soldiers before they had a chance to get closer. But for every one they took down, two more seemed to take their place.
"We need to get out of here!" Lia called out, her voice strained as she fought off another soldier. "We've got no chance against these numbers."
But before Riven could respond, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble. He barely had time to look up before a massive figure appeared above them—a hulking, armored beast that seemed to eclipse the moon. Its eyes glowed red, and its body was covered in thick, black scales.
"Not one of theirs," Riven muttered, recognizing the creature. "It's one of ours."
Zephyr, however, reacted before Riven could process the situation. With a mighty leap, the wolf-like beast charged into the fray, tackling the creature to the ground with a force that shook the earth. The beast roared in surprise, but Zephyr held it down, sinking his teeth into its neck as the enemy soldiers hesitated.
"Get out of here! Now!" Riven yelled.
Kieran and Lia hesitated, exchanging a brief, worried glance, but they obeyed without question. They backed away, cutting through the enemy soldiers as they retreated. Riven's mind raced as he focused on Zephyr. The wolf had saved them—he had given them the chance they needed. But the beast's odds were now far worse than before.
"Zephyr, fall back!" Riven shouted.
But Zephyr didn't listen. His eyes locked with Riven's for a split second—an understanding, a final moment of trust. With a defiant growl, Zephyr dug in deeper, forcing the enemy beast to the ground.
"Zephyr, no!" Riven screamed.
The battle raged around him, but all he could hear was the pounding of his heart in his chest. Zephyr's struggles grew weaker as the enemy soldiers closed in, their weapons raised to strike. And then, with one final, heart-wrenching howl, Zephyr's body went still, his head dropping to the ground.
The battlefield fell silent, the weight of the loss crashing down on Riven like a physical blow. His vision blurred as he felt the connection he had shared with Zephyr—the deep bond forged through their shared battles—shatter in an instant.
"We have to go!" Kieran shouted, his voice harsh with urgency.
But Riven couldn't move. His body was frozen, his mind a whirlwind of grief and rage. Zephyr had saved them—he had sacrificed himself to give them a chance to escape. But Riven couldn't just leave him behind. Not like this.
Lia's hand gripped his shoulder, her voice soft but insistent. "Riven, we have to go. Zephyr wouldn't want you to die here."
Riven nodded numbly, his throat tight as he forced himself to look away from the fallen beast. They had no time for mourning. He had to survive—for Zephyr, for everyone.
With a final, wrenching glance at his loyal companion, Riven turned and followed Kieran and Lia, running through the forest, the weight of their loss pushing him forward.
---
**Aftermath**
By the time they reached the safety of the nearby hills, the sounds of battle were far behind them. The night had become eerily quiet again, but for Riven, the silence was deafening.
Kieran clapped a hand on his shoulder, but Riven didn't respond. His mind was too clouded, the grief too fresh. Zephyr had been more than a companion. He had been a part of Riven—his closest friend, his partner in battle. And now he was gone.
Lia sat beside him, her face grave. "We'll mourn him, Riven. When the time is right. But not now. Now, we focus on surviving."
Riven nodded silently, his eyes still staring at the empty night ahead of him. The enemy had won this round, but they wouldn't win the war. Zephyr's sacrifice would not be in vain.
Not if Riven had anything to say about it.