Terra Preta

The assault

By the time the group gathered at the edge of the camp, the sky had turned a dull gray. Orion, Elara, Ren, and the others stood in tense readiness. Their eyes darted between Marlow and the shadowy wilderness. The atmosphere around them tense, carrying a faint, eerie rustle of leaves that felt like a warning.

Orion exhaled slowly, his breath a visible mist in the heavy air. This day felt different, he could sense it in the air, it was as if the air became suffocating, thicker and more oppressive.

Elara standing next to him, her rifle slung across her back, stepped into view. Her red hair was pulled back in a tight braid, though strands had begun to escape and frame her face, adding to the exhaustion etched into her features. She was pale, her usually steady hands trembling ever so slightly. Her eyes were shadowed from lack of sleep, but beneath the fatigue lay an unyielding resolve.

Marlow stepped before them, jaw set, his eyes dark. "You know the plan," he said, his voice low and resonant, cutting through the thick tension in the air. "Move fast, stay close, and don't get cocky."

Orion's gaze lingered on Elara, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Ready?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He could see the tension in her posture.

Elara met his gaze, a playful smile curving her lips. "As much as I could be." she replied, her voice laced with a quiet confidence that belied the tension in the air.

Sensing his worry over her, Elara reached out and gently cupped his cheek, her touch a soothing balm on his troubled spirit. "Hey," she murmured, her thumb tracing a soft line along his jawline. "I will be fine."

Elara's smile widened, a spark of warmth flickering in her eyes. "We'll see this through," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Together"

A moment stretched between them, charged with unspoken emotions, a silent promise that they will get through this.

Ren's voice, laced with a dry humor, cut through the air as she cleared her throat loudly. "Alright, lovebirds, " she said, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword "Save this lovey-dovey stuff until you get a room later... preferably one with a reinforced door. "

A blush crept up Elara's cheeks as she shot Ren a playful glare. Orion chuckled, the tension momentarily broken

Orion then turned his gaze toward the others. The Vanguard—Ren, Ronan, Anya and a few others—were gathered near the edge of the camp, every one of them had lost something—someone—to the creatures that had descended upon their world. And every one of them knew that today, they might lose more.

The group moved quickly through the city, or more precisely the wreckage of what had once been a city. Some buildings lay crumbled, overtaken by wild growth, the streets were cracked and uneven, as if nature itself had turned against humanity and broken ;streetlights here and there, their wires hanging loose in the mist.

They moved quickly, the minutes blurring together. After what felt like an eternity, Marlow stopped.

"Crawlers," He whispered, his eyes narrowing as he pointed toward a distant building. Orion followed his gaze. Something was moving—a shadow darting behind a broken wall.

Marlow then made a quick motion to spread out, and the group fanned into position, their spears and knives at the ready. The old plaza was just twenty minutes ahead, but they'd have to lead the creatures right into it, when the army is attacking. Their timing had to be perfect.

"Twenty targets at six o'clock, ten at nine. We have almost fifteen minutes to maneuver before the army comes. Maintain absolute silence. Any unnecessary noise could compromise the entire operation." Marlow said, his gravelly voice cutting through the tense air.