Chapter 7: The Road to Crosswind Ridge
The caravan rolled smoothly over the rough terrain, the wheels creaking in rhythm with the horses' steady trot. Colt sat still, hidden behind the barrels on the back of the cart, trying his best to keep quiet. Every now and then, he would peek over the edge of the cart to catch a glimpse of the guards ahead, but they seemed too preoccupied with their own conversation to notice the two stowaways.
Ash, sitting next to him, didn't speak much, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. She had a quiet intensity about her, one that Colt admired. He, on the other hand, couldn't sit still for too long. His mind raced with thoughts of what lay ahead—what would happen when they reached Crosswind Ridge, and how they would navigate the dangers waiting for them.
"So," Colt whispered, breaking the silence, "what's the plan once we get there? Are we just going to walk up to the Red Sparrow's lair and ask him to play nice?"
Ash glanced at him, her lips twitching into a half-smile. "You've got a lot of questions, don't you?"
Colt grinned. "Hey, I'm just making sure we're on the same page. I mean, I know you're the brains of this operation, but it wouldn't hurt for me to know what's going on, right?"
Ash let out a soft sigh and nodded. "Fine. Here's the deal. Once we reach Crosswind Ridge, we're going to stick to the shadows and observe. I know the area around the ridge pretty well—there's a small cave system not too far from the main path. We'll use it as a hideout for the night."
"Cave system?" Colt's eyes widened. "That sounds cool! Like a secret lair."
Ash shot him a look, and Colt quickly added, "Uh, I mean, a hideout. A secret, safe hideout. For the night. Got it."
She smirked again, clearly not buying his attempt to look serious, but she didn't say anything further.
As the caravan continued on, Colt felt his excitement build. He couldn't wait to see Crosswind Ridge, even though he knew it would be dangerous. It was the kind of adventure he thrived on—the kind that kept him on his toes and made him feel alive.
After a few hours of steady travel, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the plains. The caravan slowed to a stop as the guards called out to one another, signaling that they were approaching a camp for the night. Colt felt his stomach twist in anticipation. This was it—the first test.
Ash leaned over and whispered, "Stay low. Don't make a sound. We don't want to attract any attention."
Colt nodded and held his breath, crouching behind the barrels. The guards dismounted, preparing campfires and setting up tents as they talked about the next leg of their journey. Colt watched them closely, noting their every move. He was used to sneaking around, but this was a whole new level. Every step counted.
As the night grew darker, the sounds of the camp began to fade, replaced by the chirping of crickets and the rustling of leaves. Colt and Ash remained hidden, blending in with the shadows. They waited until the guards were settled around the fire, distracted by their food and conversation.
"That's our chance," Ash whispered.
Colt barely had time to react before Ash grabbed his arm and pulled him off the cart. They quickly ducked behind a nearby tree and made their way toward the cave system Ash had mentioned earlier. The moonlight barely illuminated their path, but they moved silently, carefully avoiding any cracks or twigs that might give them away.
The cave entrance was just ahead—a small opening between two large rocks, barely noticeable unless you knew where to look. Colt was impressed. Ash wasn't just smart—she was thorough. They slipped inside without a sound, the cool air of the cave enveloping them.
Inside, the cave was narrow but deep, the walls jagged and rough. It wasn't much, but it would provide them with the shelter they needed for the night.
Ash set down her pack and sat against the cave wall. "We'll rest here until morning. We'll be safer than out there with the guards."
Colt nodded, but his mind was still racing. "I can't believe we're actually doing this," he muttered. "We're sneaking through Red Sparrow's territory. This is insane."
Ash looked at him with a serious expression. "It's not insane if you're smart about it. We have to think ahead, Colt. This isn't a game. If we screw up, we won't get another chance."
Colt took a deep breath, his playful grin replaced by a more determined look. "I get it. But don't worry—I'm not backing out now. I'm in this all the way."
Ash gave him a small smile, the first genuine one he'd seen from her. "Good. Because we're not just getting past the Red Sparrow. We're taking him down."
Colt raised an eyebrow, surprised by her intensity. "Wait, what? You're serious?"
Ash nodded, her eyes filled with determination. "He's just a puppet. The real people behind this mess are the ones controlling everything. If we take him out, we take a step closer to ending this whole thing. But we have to be careful. One wrong move and everything could fall apart."
Colt felt a surge of excitement. The stakes were higher than he had ever imagined, but now he knew that he wasn't just on an adventure—he was part of something much bigger.
As they settled in for the night, Colt couldn't help but think about the journey ahead. Crosswind Ridge would be full of dangers—maybe even more than he could handle. But he had Ash by his side, and together, they had a real chance to take down the Red Sparrow and his entire network.
And Colt knew one thing for sure: no matter how tough things got, he wasn't backing down. Not now. Not ever.