RETRIEVING CAMP PHOENIX: INVESTIGATION

Early the next morning, the sun crested the horizon, bathing the landscape in a golden hue. Ling Li, Shi Min, Mushu, Pharsa, Goldie, and Tod gathered their gear, the air heavy with anticipation and uncertainty as they set out on foot toward Camp Phoenix. The journey was long—ten miles of rugged terrain, winding paths, and dense underbrush—but they were determined. Each step brought them closer to the Camp, a place shrouded in mystery and danger.

As late afternoon approached, they reached a vantage point overlooking the Camp, its boundaries hazy against the backdrop of the setting sun. They made a collective decision to remain concealed, unwilling to throw themselves into the chaos that pulsated like a heartbeat below.