THE LEGEND OF THE ARACHNID

RETURN OF ASHES

The Arachnids were returning to their headquarters at Stone Ridge, an old isolated building in this remote town, formerly a warehouse which served as their hideout. The failure of their mission hung heavy in the air, and everyone stood in silence, their eyes avoiding those of Grim, who walked in the lead, his features hard.

Once gathered in the main room, Grim turned suddenly to Lorry, his gaze sharp.

Grim: (arms crossed, face tense) Lorry, why didn't you ambush Caleb and his gang like you planned? This was the heart of the plan.

Lorry: (looks down, lets out a sigh) Grim... look, it turned out differently. When we arrived, they were already surrounded. Caleb and his guys… they had taken a lot. And there was Hart, this dog of a commander, with his division.

Vera: (crosses arms, shakes head) Gideon Hart. He and his men surrounded Caleb like vultures. They seized him and his gang. But... the worst part was that he no longer had the loot on him.

Grim: (frowning) What do you mean, no more loot?

Lorry: (nods seriously) I took my binoculars to see from afar. Caleb and his guys were in a bad state, some on the ground, others almost crawling. But not a bag, not an ingot, nothing that resembles loot. And their horses, most of them were dead. Nothing remained of their wealth.

Big Tom: (shakes his head, darkly) This isn't normal, Grim. Caleb may be a bandit, but he's not a jerk. If they were robbed, that means they encountered someone even tougher on the way.

Stanley: (frowns, intrigued) Another gang, you think? It's plausible. They may have already been attacked before Hart got his hands on them.

Vera: (thinks, a piercing look) If that's the case, then it wasn't a gang of broken arms. Caleb and his men were in bad shape, sure, but it felt like a defeat of a different kind. Almost… a vendetta.

Grim: (clenching his fists) Have you noticed any clues? Marks, something that would tell us who went after them before Hart?

Lorry: (nodding slowly) We saw tracks...and deep scratches in the trees, way too clear to be natural. It seems like someone wanted this to be seen, as a warning.

Stanley: (thinking out loud) A signature. As if they wanted us to know that it was their move. And let's stay away.

Big Tom: (rubs his beard, grimly) Well, they picked the wrong people to impress. We don't play with Arachnids.Grim: (stares at each gang member, determined) Whoever it is, they've taken what's ours. Caleb was our prey, and Hart, that damned commander, outran us. But if this gang is lurking in our area, they have no idea what a mistake they made.

Vera: (cold smile, arms crossed) If Caleb survives Hart, we could pull the worms out of him. And if he doesn't survive, well... we'll find them ourselves.

Grim: (face dark, voice harsh) These dogs took our loot, and what's more, they mock us with their signs. So listen carefully: we search every corner, and if we find a lead, we follow them. They will understand who holds the reins here.

Big Tom: (smirking) We may have lost this battle, Grim, but the war is far from over. Those who got in our way will learn to regret it.

Stanley: (clapping his hands, looking determined) That's what I like to hear. This shadow gang or Hart, it doesn't matter...none of them know what they've unleashed.

Grim: (stares at the team, implacable) By tomorrow, I want the whole country to know we're back. We'll take control back, piece by piece, and when Hart or this gang resurfaces... they'll regret ever stepping foot in our territory.

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The Arachnids, even frustrated and overwhelmed by their setback, found within themselves a new rage. The quest for loot resumed, and the name of the Arachnids would echo in every corner of Stone Ridge and far beyond, marking the start of a merciless war.