The riverbank was quiet except for the rush of water and the distant hum of insects.
The calm was deceptive, a cruel contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.
Emily sat with her back against a moss-covered rock, her body aching and her mind racing.
Her rifle lay across her lap, its barrel scorched from overuse.
Theo paced nearby, his hands clenched into fists,His usually light-hearted demeanor was gone, replaced by a taut frustration that made the air feel heavy.
Damien, as always, was composed, crouched at the water's edge as he filled a canteen.
Emily broke the silence first. "We're lucky to be alive."
Theo stopped pacing, his eyes blazing as he turned to face her. "Lucky? That was a slaughter! They were ready for us, Emily.
They knew exactly what we were planning."