0219 -

Mara moved to the edge of the clearing, her eyes peering into the forest. "They should be here soon. The clearing is a good spot for regrouping."

As if on cue, a rustling sound came from the opposite side of the clearing. Kaito and Selene emerged from the underbrush, their faces showing signs of exhaustion but relief. Kaito's gaze quickly assessed Wei Lin's group. "You made it. We were starting to worry."

Wei Lin nodded, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "We encountered a patrol, but we managed to avoid them. Did you encounter any problems?"

Selene shook her head. "We had to be careful, but we avoided any major issues. The diversion seems to have thrown them off track."

The group began to relax slightly as they gathered in the clearing, the danger of their immediate surroundings momentarily abated. Kaito, always the strategist, immediately got to work. "Let's review what we've found and plan our next steps. We still have much to do."