The Dawn That Brought No Comfort
The second morning bled pale light through the mist.
The sun rose somewhere above, but its warmth never touched the forest floor. Instead, the fog thickened, swallowing golden rays until they became faint streaks of gray.
Kaen stood at the mouth of the cave, weapon in hand. His body was stiff from a sleepless night, every muscle wound tight like a bowstring. His eyes scanned the shifting haze, waiting for something—anything—to move.
No caws of crows.
No footsteps.
No whispers.
Just silence.
Behind him, the others stirred awake. Fin groaned as he stretched, his back sore from the rocky ground. Daren rubbed at his temples, as if every thought was a weight pressing down. Riku, as precise as ever, checked the edge of his blade. Lyra tied her hair tighter, her gaze sharper than yesterday.
But none of them said, "We made it."
Because the silence outside wasn't peace.
It was a warning.
Riku finally broke it.
"They've changed something."
Kaen turned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Riku's expression was unreadable, but his tone was certain.
"The Special Squad isn't waiting anymore. They're moving."
Cutaway – Another Team
Elsewhere in the forest, screams ripped through the fog.
A group of four trainees bolted through the undergrowth, eyes wide with terror. Their fifth member lay face-down in the dirt behind them, blood darkening the soil.
The Squad warrior who had ambushed them didn't chase. Instead, he crouched low, brushing fingers over the ground, studying their escape path like a hunter tracking prey.
Then, he smiled beneath his mask.
The scene cut to black just as the trainees' screams faded into silence.
Back to Kaen's Team
The group decided to abandon the cave. Even Fin, despite his trembling protests, didn't argue. Deep inside, he knew caves were coffins when hunters circled.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Lyra's sharp eyes caught something unusual — a branch, freshly broken, sap still wet.
She knelt, fingers brushing the wood.
"They're marking trails."
Kaen narrowed his eyes. "Meaning…?"
"They're guiding us. Herding us."
Daren cursed under his breath. "Like wolves."
Riku's lips thinned. "Not wolves. Hunters. Wolves kill when hungry. Hunters kill for control."
The words lingered, heavy in the fog.
The First Strategy – Camouflage
Hours passed. The fog thickened, muffling the world in gray silence. Every step could be the one that betrayed them. Every breath felt too loud.
Finally, Riku raised his hand. "We'll spread out. Not far—just enough so if they strike, they can't take all of us at once."
Lyra frowned. "Risky. If they isolate one—"
"—Then they waste time," Riku finished, calm as stone. "Time is survival."
The others reluctantly obeyed.
Fin crawled low near a fallen log, smothering himself in damp leaves. His heart hammered. Every rustle of wind became a phantom hand reaching for him.
Please don't find me. Please don't find me.
Then—footsteps. Slow. Measured.
Through the leaves, he saw a shadow pass. Tall. Broad. Masked.
A Squad warrior.
The figure paused. Tilted its head. Silence roared in Fin's ears. Sweat ran down his temple.
Then—the figure moved on.
Fin almost sobbed with relief. His entire body trembled, but he forced himself to stay still. Not prey. Not yet.
And in that terror, a spark flickered. I… survived that.
When the group reunited, Fin's lips trembled as he whispered, "I-I didn't run."
Daren, leaning on his sword, gave him a long look. His usual disdain softened—just slightly.
"…Good. About time you stopped being dead weight."
Fin blinked, stunned. For once, Daren's words weren't knives, but recognition.
The Second Strategy – Barricades
Later, they found an abandoned training post, half-collapsed. Daren slammed a plank against the wall, barricading the entrance.
"This'll slow them down. At least give us a warning."
Lyra shook her head. "Not enough. They'll cut through wood like paper."
But Riku studied the structure, then glanced at Kaen.
"A barricade isn't to stop them. It's to make them choose."
Kaen nodded. "Every choice costs them seconds. And seconds keep us alive."
They worked together, hammering, stacking, reinforcing. Even Fin dragged wood despite shaking arms. For once, no one told him to step back.
When it was done, Riku whispered, almost to himself:
"Survival isn't forever. It's just until the next moment."
Cutaway – Another Team's Desperation
Elsewhere, a team had built a pitfall trap. They huddled, whispering, desperate.
A Squad warrior approached. The moment his foot hovered over the trap, their eyes lit with hope—
—until he stopped, an inch short. Slowly, he tilted his head, amused. Then he leapt clean across.
Their hope shattered.
He turned toward their hiding place.
The scene cut to black as screams echoed.
The Third Strategy – Bait
By late afternoon, hunger gnawed at them. Exhaustion pressed down. Kaen's steps grew heavier, memories of his father gnawing at his resolve. Would you have survived this, Father? Or am I only pretending to be strong?
Then Riku spoke. "We need a false trail. Bait."
Fin flinched. "B-Bait? Like one of us—?"
"No," Riku cut in. "Not yet. We'll fake east, then double back west. They waste hours, we gain them."
Kaen volunteered to set it up. He tied scraps of cloth to branches, leaving scuffed footprints. His hands moved with grim certainty.
Father… I'll live. Even if I have to crawl through the mud. I'll live.
When he returned, Lyra's gaze caught his. No words passed. Her eyes said what he couldn't: You're not carrying this alone.
The Wolves Shift
Night fell. The mist turned silver under the moon, pressing close like a second skin.
Then—a whistle.
Not ahead. Not behind. From both sides.
Kaen's stomach dropped. "They're surrounding us."
Riku's jaw tightened. "Not surrounding. Driving us inward. Herding all survivors together."
Daren spat. "Damn wolves."
Lyra's voice was steady, though her knuckles were white. "If we're herded together… it's no longer survival. It's slaughter."
Fin's breathing quickened. "W-What do we do?"
Kaen gripped his weapon, his voice low but unyielding.
"…Then we don't run like cattle. We move like shadows. We bleed them time."
For the first time, his words weren't just quiet resolve. They were command.
And for the first time, the others followed without question.
Closing Scene – Wolves Watching
Far away, two Squad warriors stood atop a cliff, gazing over the mist-drenched forest. Their masks gleamed like pale moons.
"They've adapted," one murmured. "Clever little mice."
The other tilted his head. "Mice die in traps. Wolves set them."
The camera lingered on their silhouettes as the fog swallowed the forest below.