The journey back to the Outliers' camp was quiet, the wind whispering through the skeletal remains of trees and ash-covered ground as they walked. Ethan kept close to Amara, her sharp gaze always scanning their surroundings. The new group had proven useful, but Ethan could feel Amara's mistrust simmering just beneath the surface. Her voice was steady, her hand never straying far from her weapon. She had the talent and self-assurance to do this, but the prudence. Ethan did too. They soon arrived at a hidden place—some rocks, bits of metal from what seemed like an old crashed ship, and a hastily constructed tent. The Outliers were already there, setting up a fire and securing their supplies. It was little, but it was enough. Kael stood at the center of it all, his gaze steady as they approached.
Amara watched him all the way in through the shadows of the firelight. The other members of the Outliers looked rough but not unkind—they were warriors, scavengers, survivors. Some faces were scarred, some simply weary. They all looked like they had lived too many battles, spent too many uncertain nights. Ethan didn't like this feeling of being surrounded, but he could admit that there was something the presence of the Outliers brought—hope.
Kael stepped forward as they approached. His voice was calm, unshakeable. "Welcome to our camp. You'll need rest. We've got supplies, but they're limited. I hope you can trust that we'll all be working together from now on."
Amara crossed her arms. "Rest doesn't mean we trust you yet, Kael. You've given us words, but actions will prove whether you can back them up."
Kael didn't blink. His eyes searched hers for a beat before he nodded. "Fair. Trust is something built over time. All I can ask is that you let us have a chance to prove we are here to help."
Ethan couldn't help but be impressed by the confidence. There was no arrogance to that, only a sort of leadership that inspired respect without demanding it. But still, Ethan's doubts lingered. This trip wasn't going to be about blind faith.
The fire crackled as the wind tugged at the makeshift tent. Amara leaned back, her weapon close as she surveyed their surroundings once more. "How much do you know about the ruins?" Her voice was sharp, no-nonsense.
Kael hesitated, his eyes flicking back toward his group. "More than most. We've been studying them, mapping their depths, and learning what we can from their structures and remnants. They're ancient—older than anything we can comprehend. But they're also dangerous, unpredictable. We've learned that much the hard way."
"Dangerous?" Ethan asked, his voice cautious.
Kael nodded. "The ruins are alive in a way. They shift, react, and respond to those who enter. The deeper you go, the more they show you. and the more they try to destroy you. We believe there's a force at the heart of them, something buried, something ancient and powerful. Something that has the potential to reshape everything."
The words hung there in the air for a moment, carried by the sound of the wind and the crackle of the fire. Ethan felt Amara's gaze on him. She was thinking of all this—examining the implications of Kael's words.
"Why bring us here, Kael?" Amara asked again. This time, her voice was colder, more skeptical. "Why now? What do you expect us to do?"
Kael took a long breath, looking back at his team once more.
His words were spoken softly, cautiously. "Because you've been to the ruins. You've felt their pull, their danger. We can't do this alone, and your experiences could give us the edge we need. The ruins are too vast, too dangerous, for any single group to explore. We need allies, strength, knowledge. And we believe you can help us gain that." Kael's words had sunk deep into Ethan's gut as he knew how bad the ruins were. His experiences had proven it time and again, and yet… there was something about this Outliers' offer. Kael was right. Together, they might stand a chance in uncovering whatever secrets lay hidden there.
Amara glanced at Ethan, her voice low as she asked. "What do you think, Ethan?"
He felt his heart pulling him at. Too many unknowns. Too many threats. But then again, the inquisitive part that was always there; part of him, nudged him forward. Too much going on in the minds of people.
"I think we need to know more," he said finally, his voice low but strong. "Kael's words aren't lies. We have been within the ruins before, and we knew how deadly those were. But if something deeper existed, something much more important, right in the heart of it, then we should understand it. And maybe that can be the clue for survival.".
Amara hesitated, furrowing her brow. She looked at him for a moment, her face bright with the firelight dancing on it. Then nodded.
"All right. We'll stay for now. But we'll have to see if your intentions are pure or not."
Kael nodded slightly, his face impassive for a beat before nodding. "Fine. Rest. Tomorrow we start."
As the night turned cold, the group settled into the makeshift camp. Ethan could not help but notice how the Outliers worked together - efficiently, without hesitation. They were skilled, disciplined, and resourceful. He wasn't sure if he could trust them entirely, but they had given him something to think about.
The ruins had always been dangerous, but now they seemed darker than that, especially given these new alliances. Ethan could not help but feel that every decision they made was bringing them closer to a path from which there might be no return.
As the fire smoldered and the howling wind whistled down through the skeletal remains of trees, Ethan couldn't help but wonder what the next ruins would bring.
But deep down, he already knew: it would just get harder from here.
The question was whether they are prepared for what lies in front of them.