The faint light of dawn filtered through the cracks in the ranger station, revealing the injured faces of Nathan, Scarlett, Lang, and Serena.
Nathan leaned against the wall; exhaustion etched into his countenance.
"We can't stay here," he said, breaking the heavy silence. "They'll regroup and hit us harder."
Lang nodded grimly.
"They know we're vulnerable. Moving now is our only shot."
Scarlett's eyes flickered toward Ethan, whose presence felt more suffocating than reassuring. His supposed betrayal loomed like a shadow over their fragile alliance. Yet, in this moment, she couldn't afford the luxury of mistrust—not when their lives depended on every move being precise.
....
"We need to split up," Ethan said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Nathan's glare was immediate.
"That's suicide." He replied sharply.
"No, it's strategy," Ethan countered.
