Dishonor From Nightmares

Chapter 19

Josh's distaste for the soggy squelch beneath his boots was palpable, his face contorting in a subtle grimace as each step sank into the muddy earth. His mutterings were swallowed by the enveloping forest, a vent for his frustration. Casting a vigilant glance around, he clutched his weapon with the firmness born of experience, a reassuring weight in his grip.

His attention pivoted to Brad, whose voice reverberated inside his helmet, a lifeline to the mission's plan. The words promised simplicity, yet Josh's skepticism lingered like a shadow. The forest's silence seemed to hang on every word, waiting for the unraveling of their intent.

As they ventured further into the woods, dappled sunlight filtering through the thick canopy, Josh's unease ebbed. The solitude of their presence offered a semblance of reassurance, but he remained a sentinel by Brad's side, a silent guardian ready to act.

Intrigued by a curiosity he couldn't suppress, Josh initiated a private transmission, his voice a murmur through the comm. His inquiry held a thirst for knowledge, craving more than the surface details. His desire for understanding mirrored the forest's quiet thirst for rain.

A chuckle crackled through the communication channel, mingling with the rustling leaves and distant birdcalls. Brad's response, a balm to Josh's curiosity, urged him to ease his grip. The tension in his fingers eased marginally, a subtle unclenching of the hand that held the potential for destruction and defense.

With the easy cadence, Brad wove an explanation into the forest air. Once teeming with life during warmer nights, the werewolf camp now lay abandoned. A forlorn outpost in the heart of the wilderness. Their mission held a purpose beyond the obvious, a mosaic of strategy painted with the colors of tactical wisdom.

Brad's words painted a picture of two paths diverging before them. If the presence of the lupine beasts graced their journey, they stood as the harbingers of their expulsion, a reclaiming of territory. But in the absence of fur and fang, a fire would cleanse the camp of its past, a controlled exorcism of the supernatural. It was a reminder that subtlety was their greatest weapon in this dance between man and beast.

The private transmission resonated with the echoes of unspoken agreement, Josh's terse response acknowledging the inherent risks. As if sensing the unvoiced thoughts, Brad's silence spoke volumes, a silent camaraderie in shared understanding.

Josh's steps quickened, a crispness in his movements as he walked, his gaze sweeping across the forest's expanse. Each rustle and shadow became a potential harbinger, and his fingers danced over the weapon's well-worn contours. He inhaled deeply, the scent of damp earth mingling with his resolve, and exhaled his doubts into the canopy above.

A shake of his head dispelled the residual frustration as if he could physically cast aside the weight of unanswered questions. Forward they pressed, Brad and Josh, companions bound by purpose, their footsteps weaving a tapestry of determination upon the canvas of the forest floor.

They arrived at the campground shortly after, and Brad gave them the order to spread out. Josh hesitated briefly before he sighed, shook his head, and decided to go in a different direction, in the order of the cabins. As Josh climbed the stairs, they stopped at each door to give each of them a stealthy test before becoming frustrated and beginning to kick them in. Josh became increasingly relaxed as he settled into his routine because of the lack of signs of activity. Break the door down, look inside, and then continue. After discovering a map on a board, he looked at it and noticed how large the camp was. He frowned slightly and pondered where the best place to look would be. After a short while, he decided to investigate the counselor's cabin, which was situated in a remote part of the facility. He pondered whether or not any werewolf could be cunning enough to conceal themselves in there. After hearing the beep from his helmet, he turned and saw other soldiers splattering lighter fluid around the area. He shook his head slightly before turning off the alarm and walking toward the councilor's cabin.