Inside the valley…
Ethan and the others were already awake.
The poison had been fully purged from their systems, and most of their injuries were patched up thanks to Henry's healing.
Everyone had regrouped, but the mood was heavy.
Ethan stood there, brow furrowed in thought.
This was, without a doubt, the first true failure since the Fallen Star Squad had formed. Sure, they'd been injured in past fights—it came with the job—but they'd always completed their objectives in the end.
Not this time.
They'd walked away with nothing. Just bruises and frustration.
Then again, none of them were strangers to setbacks. In fact, a hard loss like this might actually do the squad some good in the long run.
Ethan wasn't the type to take failure lying down. He was methodical, always analyzing, always learning; and he had a stubborn streak a mile wide.
Right now, he was stuck trying to figure out a way to take down those Ironback Rats.
