Business bay

Chapter 5: A Day in the Bay

The next morning, Tommy awoke to the sound of something snapping. Before he could even register what was happening, his bed flipped over, sending him tumbling to the floor in a mess of sheets and pillows. He landed hard, groaning as he tried to figure out which way was up.

"Bitzel!" Tommy yelled, already knowing who was responsible.

Laughter echoed from the doorway, and sure enough, Bitzel stood there, arms crossed and looking far too pleased with himself. "Payback, mate."

Tommy untangled himself from the sheets, grumbling as he sat up. "I should've known you'd pull something."

Bitzel shrugged, his grin never fading. "You should've seen it coming, Sunshine. I mean, after that mess you made with my traps yesterday? This was the least I could do."

Tommy shot him a look, but despite his irritation, he couldn't help the smirk creeping onto his face. "Fine, you win this one."

Bitzel chuckled, offering Tommy a hand. "Come on. The others are already up. We've got a lot to do today."

Tommy raised an eyebrow, curiosity sparking. "What's the plan?"

"Axel and Deo are taking us out beyond the Bay's borders. We've been scouting some new areas, and it's time you got a proper tour."

Tommy felt a flicker of excitement. It had been too long since he'd stretched his legs outside of Business Bay, and the thought of an adventure made his pulse quicken. "Hell yeah. Let's get to it, then."

By the time Tommy reached the center of Business Bay, the others were already gathered, weapons and supplies at the ready. Axel leaned against one of the walls, his red eyes scanning the horizon as Deo stood beside him, adjusting his sunglasses with his usual calm demeanor. Luke was finishing packing supplies, and Wisp was making sure everyone had enough healing potions in case things got rough.

Tommy joined the group, stretching his arms and cracking his knuckles. "So, what's the plan, boys?"

Axel grinned, tossing Tommy a sword. "We're heading east today, beyond the old borders. There's been some movement out there—nothing dangerous yet, but it's good to know what's going on."

Deo gave a nod, his voice steady. "We're sticking together, though. No wandering off, Sunshine."

Tommy rolled his eyes, but there was a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you."

Axel patted Tommy's shoulder as they started walking. "Don't worry, Icarus. We'll keep you out of trouble... for now."

The group made their way through the thick woods surrounding Business Bay, the tall trees casting shadows over the path as they ventured deeper into the wilderness. It was quiet, save for the crunch of leaves beneath their feet and the occasional chirp of birds in the distance. But despite the calm, there was an underlying sense of anticipation in the air—like something was brewing just beyond the horizon.

Tommy walked between Axel and Deo, his sword resting casually on his shoulder. It felt good to be out here again, surrounded by his boys, away from the confines of the Bay. There was something freeing about it, the endless possibilities that came with venturing into the unknown.

"So, what are we expecting to find out here?" Tommy asked, glancing at Axel.

Axel shrugged, his eyes scanning the treetops. "Could be anything. Rumor has it some of the old factions have been stirring again. Might be some new ones too. Either way, it's good to get a lay of the land."

"New factions, huh?" Tommy smirked. "Wonder if they've heard about Icarus yet."

Deo chuckled, adjusting his sunglasses. "Doubt it. But they will."

As they continued walking, Luke and Bitzel fell into step beside them, their banter light and easy. Bitzel was going on about the new traps he'd been designing—something involving lava, pressure plates, and what sounded like an unnecessarily complicated redstone circuit. Tommy didn't understand half of it, but Bitzel's enthusiasm was contagious.

Wisp, ever the calm voice of reason, walked a few steps behind, keeping a watchful eye on the group. He wasn't just their healer; he was their anchor. No matter how chaotic things got, Wisp was always there to balance them out.

They reached the eastern edge of the forest by midday, the trees thinning out to reveal a wide-open plain that stretched as far as the eye could see. The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the landscape. It was peaceful—almost too peaceful.

Tommy stopped, squinting into the distance. "Looks quiet."

"Too quiet," Axel muttered, his red eyes narrowing.

Deo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the horizon. "Keep your guard up."

The group moved cautiously across the plain, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of life. It didn't take long before they spotted something—small traces of a campfire, long since extinguished, and footprints leading away from the site.

"Looks like someone's been here," Luke said, kneeling down to inspect the footprints.

"Recently?" Tommy asked.

"Hard to tell," Luke replied, standing up. "Could've been a day or two."

Axel knelt beside the fire pit, running his fingers over the cold ashes. "Whoever they were, they weren't here long."

Bitzel, always eager for a bit of mischief, grinned. "Maybe they saw us coming and ran. Can't blame 'em, can you?"

Tommy chuckled, but there was something about the stillness that nagged at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. "Keep moving," he said, gripping his sword a little tighter. "Let's see what else we can find."

As the group continued their exploration, they came across more signs of life—old campsites, abandoned tools, and tracks that led deeper into the plains. It was clear that people had been moving through the area, but whoever they were, they were keeping a low profile.

After hours of walking, they finally reached a small hill overlooking the plains. From there, they could see for miles, the horizon stretching out like a vast, untouched canvas. It was breathtaking, but there was something else too—something unsettling about the emptiness.

Axel stood at the edge of the hill, his arms crossed as he surveyed the landscape. "There's definitely something going on out here."

Deo nodded, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses. "We'll need to keep an eye on this area. Could be nothing, but it's better to be prepared."

Tommy stood beside them, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The itch for action was growing inside him, but for now, they had to play it safe. Still, there was something about this place—about the way it felt like it was holding its breath—that made Tommy's pulse quicken.

"Whatever it is," Tommy said, a smirk playing on his lips, "we'll be ready."

The group made their way back to Business Bay as the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest. Despite the strange emptiness they had found, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air. They had scouted the area, marked the campsites, and now they knew more than they had before.

But as they approached the Bay's gates, Tommy couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to change. The world outside was stirring, and it wouldn't be long before the Bay found itself in the thick of it.

Deo clapped a hand on Tommy's shoulder as they entered the Bay. "Not bad for your first trip back, Sunshine."

Tommy grinned, the nickname feeling like a badge of honor now. "Told you I've still got it."

Axel, walking ahead, turned back with a sly grin. "We'll see how long you can keep it, Icarus. Things are just getting started."