Chapter 858

Tamir sat nearby, whittling a piece of wood with a blade far too sharp for casual use, but his hands were steady. Rhea lay wrapped in blankets on a cot not far from them, her body still weak from the last raid. She hadn't spoken since that night, but her eyes watched everything. Jude knew she was still there. Just quiet. Always quiet.

They couldn't stay here much longer. Their presence was known now, and although the last strike had crippled one of Ascendia's major hubs, it had also provoked them. Satellite feeds confirmed increased patrols in nearby sectors, security drones deploying in tight grids, and new units being airlifted in under the guise of "reconstruction assistance." They were tightening the noose, preparing for something. Jude had seen this before, when the enemy realized they couldn't control the fire, they smothered the entire forest. And they were the forest.