The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The sentinel army, Part 42

As the bird-ruh descended, the ground rushed up to meet them. The mechanical creature landed with a flourish in a hidden grove at the edge of the city, its massive wings folding neatly against its body. The moment the dust settled, Mer-Mer, Shadow-Cat, Spartacus, Ragnar, and Latina stumbled out from its grasp, breathless and disoriented.

"What now?" Shadow-Cat asked as she shook off her confusion, eyes darting around the shadowy grove filled with ancient trees and thick underbrush.

"Now," Mer-Mer said, scanning their surroundings carefully, "we regroup and figure out our next move. Solaris will know we've escaped and he won't rest until we're caught again."

Latina clenched her fists, her eyes gleaming with unquenched fury from her duel with Aurelius. "I want to finish what I've started—he's still out there, and his plans are more dangerous than ever."

"We need to find out where Solaris is hiding," Spartacus added firmly. "His forces likely have eyes all over this city. We can't let him anticipate our next steps."

Ragnar rubbed his neck where Latina had jokingly slapped him. "You people are too serious! We just escaped certain death in front of thousands! We should celebrate!"

"Celebrate?" Mer-Mer echoed incredulously. "Ragnar, we're on the run from a sorcerer who wants us dead!"

"Right," Ragnar chuckled. "But it's a good thing we're alive to be on the run! And think of all the glory that awaits us once we stop this fiend!"

Mer-Mer sighed but couldn't suppress a small smile at Ragnar's relentless optimism. It was contagious, even in dire moments.

Latina turned serious again as she paced in a tight circle. "We'll need allies if we want to confront Solaris directly. He'll have armies at his disposal."

"I know of a few who may be able to assist us," Spartacus said thoughtfully. ���The rebels are growing stronger in the southern part of the city—they've been actively opposing Batiatus' influence."

"Then let's go!" Shadow-Cat declared decisively. "We move swiftly and quietly; I can scout ahead with my shadows."

Just as they formulated their plan, a low hum filled the air—a sound too familiar to those who had faced Solaris' mechanical minions before. From behind the trees emerged a patrol of automaton guards, their gears grinding ominously as they marched forward.

"Quick!" Mer-Mer hissed under his breath. "Into the shadows!"

With practiced precision, he concentrated on drawing upon shadow magic as he slipped into darkness alongside Shadow-Cat, vanishing from view. Latina pulled Spartacus and Ragnar against a nearby tree just as the automatons approached.

"Search this area," one guard commanded in a metallic voice devoid of emotion. "They could not have gone far."

Ragnar's heart raced as he watched through slitted eyes while Mer-Mer gestured for silence from his hiding spot.

"Stay close," Spartacus whispered to Latina and Ragnar. "Let them pass."

They held their breaths as the mechanical sentinels scanned their surroundings with glowing red lenses that sliced through branches like knives through flesh...