Breaking point

The wind whistled through the trees as Caden and Jasmine approached the farm, the familiar sight of the weather-beaten buildings coming into view. Though they had returned with the stolen battle plans that could change the course of the war, the air was thick with an uneasy silence. The farm, once bustling with the resistance fighters preparing for battle, now seemed deserted.

Jasmine glanced at Caden, her face etched with concern. "Something's wrong."

Caden nodded, scanning the area with narrowed eyes. The usual guards stationed at the farm's perimeter were nowhere to be seen. There was no movement, no sound of clattering weapons or murmured conversations. The stillness was unsettling, setting his instincts on edge.

"Stay close," Caden murmured, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.

As they approached the main building, a figure emerged from the shadows—Garret. His face was grim, his armor scuffed and bloodied. Caden's heart sank at the sight of him.

"Garret," Jasmine called out, quickening her pace. "What happened?"

Garret's expression was hard, his eyes dull with fatigue. "We were attacked. They came in the middle of the night—raiders. We fought them off, but it cost us."

Caden clenched his jaw, the familiar sting of frustration flaring in his chest. They had been gone on their mission, gathering crucial information to gain an advantage over the king's forces, and yet the farm had been left vulnerable.

"Where is everyone?" Caden asked, his voice low.

Garret gestured toward the barn. "The wounded are inside. We've lost a few, but most of us survived."

Jasmine's face paled. "Lila? Anais?"

Garret shook his head. "They're alive, but Lila was injured. Anais is tending to her."

Caden felt Jasmine's hand tighten around his arm. He could see the worry in her eyes, the guilt she carried despite knowing they had been out fighting for the same cause. He placed his hand over hers, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

"We'll check on them," he said softly. "But first, we need to see what else is happening."

Garret sighed heavily, running a hand through his messy hair. "They knew we were weak. They targeted us because of our numbers. I don't know if it was the king's men or just some opportunistic group looking for supplies, but we weren't prepared."

Jasmine stepped forward, her eyes hardening. "We'll recover from this, Garret. We always do. But we need to be smarter next time."

Garret gave a tired nod. "I hope you're right."

With that, Caden and Jasmine made their way to the barn. The sight that greeted them inside was one of chaos and suffering. The wounded lay on makeshift cots, blood-soaked bandages covering their wounds. Anais moved from person to person, her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked to keep everyone stable. Lila was lying on a cot in the corner, her face pale, her leg wrapped in bandages.

Jasmine hurried to Lila's side, kneeling next to her. "Lila…"

Lila offered a weak smile. "I'm fine, just a scratch."

Jasmine's eyes flicked to the blood-soaked bandages, her mouth tightening into a thin line. "It's more than a scratch."

Caden stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over the wounded fighters. The air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, and the grim reality of their situation settled over him like a weight. They had lost good people, and even more were barely hanging on. The farm, their stronghold, had been compromised.

"We can't stay here," Caden said, his voice low but firm. "Not like this. If they know we're vulnerable, they'll come again. And next time, we might not be so lucky."

Anais glanced up from her work, her face drawn with exhaustion. "Where would we go, Caden? We don't have the resources to move everyone, especially not the wounded."

Jasmine looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "She's right. Moving now would only weaken us further. We need a plan."

Caden paced, his mind racing. They had the battle plans—the key to turning the tide in this war—but what good were they if their people couldn't survive long enough to use them?

He stopped in front of Jasmine, his eyes meeting hers. "We have to defend this place. Fortify it. We can't afford to lose the farm, not when it's all we have."

Jasmine stood, her expression resolute. "We'll make it happen. But we need everyone on board. We'll have to rebuild, set up stronger defenses, and keep watch day and night."

Caden nodded. "I'll talk to Garret. We need to organize everyone who's still able to fight."

Jasmine gave him a small nod, and as she turned back to Lila, Caden couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He had promised to protect her, to keep her safe, and yet here they were, teetering on the edge of ruin.

Leaving Jasmine to comfort Lila, Caden made his way back outside. He found Garret organizing a small group of survivors, their faces haggard but determined. Caden joined them, his mind already working on a plan.

"We need to fortify the perimeter," Caden said, addressing Garret and the others. "Set up traps, reinforce the fences, and have someone on watch at all times. We can't afford to be caught off guard again."

Garret nodded, his expression grim but focused. "We've already started repairs, but we'll need more supplies. The raid hit us hard."

"We'll scavenge what we can," Caden replied. "But we need to prioritize defenses. If we can hold out long enough, the battle plans we retrieved will give us the edge we need to strike back."

One of the younger fighters, a boy barely old enough to hold a sword, spoke up. "And if they come again? What if they overwhelm us?"

Caden's gaze was steady as he answered. "Then we fight. We protect this place with everything we have. We can't afford to lose, not now."

Garret clapped Caden on the shoulder. "We'll be ready. We'll make sure of it."

As the group dispersed to carry out their tasks, Caden took a moment to breathe. The weight of leadership pressed heavily on him, but he couldn't afford to falter. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

When he returned to the barn, Jasmine was waiting for him. She didn't speak, but the look in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. They were in this together, no matter the cost.

"We'll get through this," Caden said softly, pulling her into his arms. "We always do."

Jasmine rested her head against his chest, her voice barely a whisper. "I just hope we're strong enough."