Verayth led by example and hoped onto the wagon, followed by Ardyn Sylros, who took the reins of the horses.
Elijah and Taelia shared a glance before joining everyone else on the wagon.
The wagon creaked as it rolled over uneven dirt paths, its wheels groaning against the rocks and mud.
Ferik Aelar's ember eyes kept a watchful eye on the surroundings, his sharp gaze darting to every shadow that shifted in the sparse forest.
Behind them, the rest of the team sat in tense silence, the jostling of the wagon doing little to ease their nerves.
Slender trees stood spaced apart, their spindly branches weaving a patchwork of light and shadow across the forest floor.
Elijah kept his eyes down, and his thoughts churned. Their plan to maneuver behind enemy lines depended on speed and discretion.
Eventually, they would have to abandon the wagon and continue on foot.
Hours stretched on, the wheels carving deep ruts into the soft earth. The horses' breaths came in heavy bursts.
Ardyn suddenly pulled the reins back, bringing the wagon to a stop, he turned back at the team, seeing everyone's exhausted eyes, he said.
"How about we stop here for the evening? we've more or less completed half the journey by now".
"No, it's too early". Elijah cut in before Verayth could answer.
Ovarth scowled at Eljjah, but hid it as quickly as it came. "Ardyn is right, we need to save our strength... I know you just became a soldier, but there's a pattern to these things".
First Lieutenant Verayth raised her head, the sun was going to fall soon, but they still had about two hours of brightness.
Verayth turned to Elijah.
"Do you really think we should keep going?".
Elijah stared back into Verayth's beautiful ocean blue eyes.
"The main force is depending us, by tomorrow morning they will once more be attacking the Thalorian main force, we need to get in position hours in advance so we can limit our casualties, even if it means moving through the night".
Ovarth clenched his fists as Verayth nodded to Elijah.
"Verywell then, we'll keep moving, but the horses can't cross that".
Verayth raised her hand and pointed to a mountain that pieced into the approaching shadows, the mountain was the shortest way the team could get behind enemy lines.
Taelia's face went pale, clearly the prospect of crossing such a tall mountain didn't sit well with her, but she still maintained her silence, and disembarked with the rest of the team.
Vornak Ziek stretched his old back and groaned in satisfaction, while Ferik Aelar lit up the torches with his flaming head.
Ardyn Sylros didn't argue anymore and simply did as the Lieutenant ordered, he grabbed pairs of climbing spikes from the supplies.
The climbing spikes were the kind that looked like gloves and boots, but with spikes attached underneath, the perfect tools for scaling a mountain such as this one.
The group didn't wait for the sun to completely set, they tied the horses to a nearby tree and began climbing.
The fastest was naturally Ardyn, he even carried the most supplies on his back, followed by the Lieutenant and Ovarth.
Surprisingly, the old man was keeping up, he even carried several supplies aswell, Ferik Aelar was slower than Taelia, probably because, unlike Taelia, he actually carried some supplies with him.
Elijah was the last, not because he couldn't go faster than Ferik or Taelia, but simply because he couldn't go faster than Ardyn.
The hours bled into one another as they climbed, the once warm air turning frigid with the sun's descent.
The wind picked up as they neared the peak, even the torches Ferik lit up couldn't help much at this point, they began to go out, one by one.
"I can see the top". Ardyn yelled to the rest of the group.
Taelia heaved a sigh of relief, she reached her limit over an hour ago, but didn't want to seem like the complaining type, so she remained silent.
But as she prepared to continue climbing with renewed hope, her foot slipped on a loose patch of gravel. A scream tore from her lips as she lost her grip, her body swinging wildly downward.
The group froze, horror etched into their faces as Taelia desperately thrust out a hand, her climbing spike latching onto the rock.
The sharp, metallic sound echoed like a death knell. She hung suspended for a moment, her panicked breathing audible even over the roaring wind.
But the momentum of her fall had sent her careening toward Elijah. Before he could react, her spiked boot collided with his face.
The sickening crunch of bone reverberated through the air, followed by an unnatural stillness.
Elijah's head snapped back, and his body went limp, his climbing spikes failing to hold him against the rock. For a heart stopping moment, he dangled lifelessly before his weight began to drag him downward.
"Elijah!" Verayth's voice cut through the silent still night of the windy mountain.
Taelia, still trembling from her own near death experience, stared in stunned silence, her face pale from fright.
The team was frozen, their collective breath stolen by the sight of Elijah's lifeless body falling into the darkness.
[NOTICE]
You have died.
Penalty, imposed.
Triggering revive point.
...
Elijah opened his eyes once more, the familiar pain tearing through his nerves, but he clenched his jaw till they creaked.
"Are you alright Elijah?".
Elijah steadied his breath and looked down at the Lieutenant, her face was clothed in worry, His body stopped shaking, but he was still out of sorts.
"Elijah!". She called out once more.
Elijah was taken aback.
"Didn't I just die... why ain't I back in the trench?".
Elijah raised his head, he was surrounded by high ranking officers, and after adjusting his gaze a little to the left.
He made eye contact with the Major, the Major was a man with a calm exterior, but a pressuring gaze, his eyes were like that of a falcon, and same for his hands that resembles the talons of one.
The Major's lips parted.
"Are you alright son, you seemed shaken there for a moment?".