CLOCKWORK HEARTS

The edge of despair

The camp was unusually quiet as dusk settled in, a heavy sense of foreboding hanging over everyone like a shroud. Clara moved among the tents, her eyes scanning the faces of those around her. She could see the fear etched in their expressions, the uncertainty that came from knowing what was soon to come. Despite the reassurances they had given, Clara knew that most of these people had never seen real battle. They were farmers, carpenters, traders. They weren't soldiers—but they were all that Mechanica had.

Tobias was at the far end of the camp, standing near a group of men who were working on fortifying the barricades. His gaze was focused, his posture tense, as he gave instructions on where to place the wooden spikes and how to strengthen the defenses. Clara approached him, her footsteps quiet on the packed earth.

- How's it going? - she asked, her voice low.

Tobias looked up, his eyes meeting hers with a tired smile. - Slowly, but we're making progress. The barricades won't stop them completely, but it'll slow them down. Give us a fighting chance.

Clara nodded, her eyes following the line of makeshift defenses that ran across the perimeter of the camp. - It's better than nothing. And it'll give the people here some hope, seeing that we're not just waiting to be attacked. We're ready.

Tobias's expression softened, his gaze lingering on her face. - How are you holding up?

Clara gave a small shrug, her lips curling into a faint smile. - I'm alright. Just trying to keep everyone focused. It's hard when you don't know what's coming.

Tobias reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. - We'll face whatever comes, Clara. No matter what it is, we'll find a way.

Clara looked at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. She knew the risks, knew that they were up against impossible odds, but having Tobias there made it feel less daunting. She squeezed his hand gently before letting go, her eyes shifting back to the barricades.

- We should check on Victor. He was working on setting up the traps near the eastern edge. If we can funnel them into one area, we might be able to keep them from flanking us - she said, her tone practical.

Tobias nodded, his gaze turning towards the east. - Let's go. We don't have much time before it's completely dark.

They made their way across the camp, the air growing colder as the sun disappeared beyond the horizon. Clara could see Victor in the distance, crouched near a set of trenches they had dug earlier. He looked up as they approached, his eyes narrowing slightly as he straightened.

- You two look like you've seen better days - Victor said, a hint of dry humor in his voice.

- We could say the same about you - Clara replied, a smile tugging at her lips. - How are the traps coming?

Victor wiped his hands on his trousers, nodding towards the trenches. - We've got a good line set up. If they try to come from this direction, they'll have a nasty surprise waiting for them. But we're going to need people stationed here to keep an eye on things. Traps won't help if no one's around to make sure they work.

Tobias frowned, his gaze scanning the area. - We'll need to rotate shifts. We can't have everyone out here all night, or they'll be too tired to fight when the time comes.

- I'll take first watch - Clara said, her voice firm. - I want to make sure everything is set up properly. Once we're sure it's all in place, we can start rotating.

Victor opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to think better of it. He gave a nod, his eyes meeting hers. - Just don't overdo it. We need you sharp when this all starts.