The Ashen Rebellion

20 | A Ghost-town

NYSSA, TARRY, ARJUN, AND Lyra sat around a small campfire, eating breakfast in silence. The atmosphere was heavy, with Tarry and Arjun avoiding Nyssa's eyes entirely. Lyra seemed lost in thought, her spoon absentmindedly stirring her porridge. Nyssa's mind kept circling back to the previous night when she had taken a risk to save her brother. Would her friends see her actions as betrayal, or understand her desperate need to protect family?

Finally breaking the tension, Nyssa spoke up, her voice low and hesitant. "Guys," she began, rubbing her hands together in a nervous habit, avoiding their eyes. "I just want to say... that I'm sorry."

Lyra smiled reassuringly, but the unease remained palpable in the air.

"I know I've messed up, and I know I've betrayed your trust, but—" Nyssa paused, taking a sharp breath. "I'm not sorry for doing it. I'd do anything to save my brother... I'm just sorry for putting you guys at risk."

"It's cool," Arjun shrugged nonchalantly. "We understand."

"We understand?" Tarry echoed incredulously, suddenly standing up and surprising everyone. "When I did it, after my family was captured, you guys wouldn't stop talking about it. But when she does it, because she didn't get captured, it's okay? We understand?"

No one responded, the group left in awkward silence as Tarry stormed off.

"I've never seen Tarry so angry," Arjun remarked, breaking the silence. "It's kinda hot."

Just then, Kael emerged from the forest, sweat glistening on his skin, hair sticking to his forehead. "I've found a quicker path home—"

The group erupted into cheers, except for Nyssa, who had grown adept at reading Kael's body language. "What's the catch?" She asked, cutting through their celebrations.

"It cuts through an abandoned village," Kael replied somberly.

The group fell into a hushed silence. Traveling through abandoned villages was always a somber reminder of the people they had lost, the empty homes and deserted streets echoing with the ghosts of their failure.

"Where's Tarry?" Kael asked, scanning the group.

"I'll go talk to him," Lyra volunteered, and she hurried off in the direction Tarry had taken.

Kael glanced briefly at Nyssa before turning away. "Pack up, we leave in thirty."

Nyssa rolled her eyes but couldn't shake the unsettling dream she had the previous night. The words from the dream echoed in her mind: You can't trust them. Someone will betray you... Was it possible that Kael was the traitor? She thought back to all the times he had mysteriously disappeared, always managing to deflect their questions. She resolved to keep a close eye on him, ready to uncover any hidden truths within their ranks.

The rebels moved efficiently, the silence of their morning routine masking the underlying tension. As they prepared to leave, Nyssa's resolve only strengthened. She would watch Kael closely from now on.

The group of rebels trekked through the forest, the dense canopy overhead casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Insects buzzed incessantly, and the oppressive heat caused sweat to bead on their brows and drip down their necks. Birds chirped intermittently, and the occasional rustle of leaves hinted at small animals scurrying away. The air was thick with humidity, making every breath feel labored.

Tarry still avoided eye contact with Nyssa, but she brushed it off. She had already apologized, even if her heart wasn't fully in it.

Suddenly, Kael raised a hand, signaling for the group to halt. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on a persistent movement in the bushes ahead. "Stay alert. We're being followed," He whispered.