Ominous News

Late-morning sunshine cast dappled light across the orchard settlement, warming the newly grown rows of produce and reflecting off the watchtowers that stood guard along the perimeter. The orchard staff went about their tasks with a lighter step after the modest festival they had recently shared, the memory of laughter and fleeting dances between Leila and Kai still fresh in the community's collective mind. Even Tamsin's faction had briefly set aside their usual wariness, participating in the orchard's joyful gathering with minimal grumbling.

But the orchard's delicate peace was, as always, tinted by the underlying fear of infiltration and leftover sabotage. The orchard donkey, now a much-loved fixture, ambled contentedly by a feed bin near the courtyard gate, occasionally letting out a soft bray. Orchard watchers, armed and attentive, ran routine checks around the orchard's walls, scanning for any sign of sabotage or infiltration – whether from the rumored mole or a new threat entirely. Despite the orchard's cautious optimism, a sense of tension lingered in the warm summer air, as though waiting for the next storm to arrive.

Shortly before midday, a subdued alert spread among orchard watchers: a lone traveler approached the orchard from the east, waving a white scrap of cloth as a peaceful signal. Under Tamsin's wary supervision, the orchard donkey was hitched further back from the gate, orchard staff parted ways, and a small group of watchers—led by Darren—took positions on the gate's rampart. From afar, the figure appeared to be a trader, possibly an itinerant peddler or messenger who roamed enclaves exchanging news and minor goods.

Leila, in the middle of conferring with Fiona about farmland expansions, paused to listen when Darren called her name. Orchard staff parted to let her through, orchard donkey snorting softly as though curious about the newcomer. She exchanged glances with Tamsin, who merely gave a curt nod, infiltration wariness evident in the watchers' guarded stances.

Under watchtower shadows, Leila stood at the orchard's main gate, orchard donkey tethered out of immediate sight. The watchers unbarred the heavy wooden doors just enough to admit the stranger into the courtyard. A hush spread through orchard staff and Harriet's group, orchard donkey letting out a soft bray that seemed to echo everyone's quiet apprehension.

The traveler stepped in cautiously, arms spread in a gesture of peace. He wore dusty clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and carried a small pack that jingled faintly with each step. Tamsin's watchers searched him thoroughly for weapons—finding only a small knife, some herbal pouches, and a battered ledger for note-taking. Orchard donkey flicked its ears, orchard watchers exhaled slowly as the traveler lowered his arms.

"I mean no harm," he said, voice rasping from thirst. "Name's Everett. I'm a traveling trader, been making rounds to enclaves up north and west. Heard good things about your farmland."

Leila measured his posture, orchard donkey flicking its tail in the background. "Welcome to the orchard, Everett," she said evenly. "We keep infiltration checks strict these days. You have news or goods to trade?"

Everett nodded, producing a small leather pouch from his pack. "Herbal salves, maybe some seeds. But more importantly… I bring tidings you might want to hear. Word's traveling about a regrouping band of raiders—folks say they have cunning leadership now. Not sure if it's Jace or someone else, but it's got enclaves nervous."

A palpable stillness fell over the orchard courtyard, orchard staff exchanging uneasy looks, Harriet's group bristling, orchard watchers scanning the perimeter for infiltration or sabotage attempts. The orchard donkey let out a low grunt, as if sensing tension. Leila's heart pounded. Could it be Jace again?

"Where'd you hear this?" asked Darren, crossing his arms. Tamsin's watchers hovered behind him, orchard donkey observing from a short distance away.

Everett sighed, removing his hat. "A few enclaves near the old highway. They claim raiders are organizing, small but well-coordinated. No direct mention of Jace or Ellie, but folks suspect it could be them or someone equally cunning. They vanish quickly, leaving little sign besides looted supplies."

Leila tried to steady her breath. No direct mention of Jace… but cunning leadership. Fear pulsed in her veins, orchard donkey braying again in the hush. Memories of infiltration nightmares, sabotage attempts, the heartbreak that never fully healed from Jace's betrayal—all threatened to surge forward. She clenched her fists, orchard watchers exchanging cautious glances.

Kai, who had been quietly listening near the orchard donkey, stepped forward. "We appreciate the warning," he said calmly, orchard donkey flicking its ears at his movement. "Any clue if they're heading this direction?"

Everett shook his head. "Hard to say. Some enclaves are gearing up defenses—like Redwood, Willow Bend. They're all rattled. Thought I'd share it here, since I pass through. These enclaves fear infiltration or sabotage might be next."

Leila let a tense exhale slip. We can't ignore this. Whether it's Jace or a new threat, infiltration was always their MO. Tamsin's watchers eyed her expectantly, orchard donkey letting out a short bray that felt almost like punctuation. She forced composure, orchard donkey's comedic presence ironically highlighting the orchard's anxious hush.

After orchard watchers concluded infiltration checks on Everett—confirming no immediate threat or hidden sabotage—he was allowed to rest in a guarded bunkhouse. Mark took a moment to chat with him about trade goods, orchard donkey rummaging near a feed trough. Harriet's group hovered, orchard staff finishing midday chores. Tamsin's watchers circulated around storerooms to ensure infiltration or sabotage wasn't slipping by amid the new arrival.

Leila retreated to a quiet corner near the orchard fence, orchard donkey's bray echoing from behind the stable. Kai followed her, orchard watchers giving them a respectful berth. She leaned against a fence post, orchard donkey's mild noise fading, orchard staff busy at farmland expansions. Her mind churned with half-buried panic: If Jace is truly behind this new raider band…

She glanced at Kai, orchard watchers faintly passing along the orchard walls. He recognized the dread in her eyes. "You think it's Jace, don't you?" he asked gently.

She swallowed, orchard donkey's distant bray seeming too cheerful for her swirling fear. "Yes. Or Ellie. Their cunning infiltration style—we've seen it. The orchard's not safe if they're reemerging. My nightmares… they never left entirely. Now they're roaring back."

Kai reached out, almost touching her arm, orchard watchers discreetly looking away. She let him rest a hand on her sleeve, orchard donkey letting out a small huff behind them. "Hey," he said softly, "We overcame infiltration attempts, sabotage, undead swarms. We can handle this, too."

Her throat tightened, orchard donkey's comedic presence overshadowed by her pounding heart. "I know logically. But I can't shake the memory of him leaving me to die. Every rumor of a cunning raider band tears open that wound. I can't bear to see the orchard fall to infiltration because I wasn't vigilant enough."

Kai nodded, orchard watchers at the orchard gate finishing shift changes. "We'll keep watchers posted, infiltration checks strong, orchard donkey logs updated. You're not alone in this, Leila."

She exhaled slowly, orchard donkey's bray drifting from across the courtyard. "I appreciate that." She stepped away, orchard watchers continuing infiltration rosters. She recalled how the slow-burn romance threatened to thaw her fear, but Jace's specter overshadowed it again, stoking nightmares. Not ready yet, her mind repeated.

As dusk settled, orchard staff gathered in subdued clusters near farmland edges, orchard donkey tethered in the courtyard. Tamsin's watchers patrolled the orchard walls with heightened vigilance. Harriet's group offered to reinforce some farmland fences in case these rumored raiders advanced. The orchard donkey brayed occasionally, orchard watchers scanning the horizon with rifles in hand.

In the orchard's makeshift meeting area, a short assembly was held. Leila, Tamsin, Mark, Darren, Fiona, and Harriet's group leaders listened as orchard watchers updated infiltration checks, orchard donkey logs, leftover sabotage concerns. The orchard donkey's presence reminded them of day-to-day chores that needed normalcy, even as infiltration fear gnawed at them.

Everett, the traveler, joined briefly under watchers' supervision, reiterating the rumors—no direct mention of Jace/Ellie by name, but enclaves suspect cunning leadership. Tamsin grumbled about infiltration or sabotage possibly intensifying if these raiders decided to focus on the orchard's farmland bounty. Harriet's group nodded in subdued agreement. Mark assured them the orchard donkey stable and storerooms were locked down each night.

Leila addressed the orchard staff, orchard donkey letting out a final bray that carried across the hush. "We remain watchful," she said, voice calm but strained. "No infiltration or sabotage sign is too small. Redwood and Willow Bend stand with us if we face a raider threat. Our watchers and farmland expansions won't falter."

A ripple of tense agreement followed. Tamsin's watchers saluted, orchard donkey snorting as orchard staff parted ways, infiltration checks continuing. The orchard's hush deepened—the new rumor of cunning raiders had spiked old dread.

That night, watchers roved the orchard perimeter, orchard donkey dozing in its stable, orchard staff asleep in bunkhouses, Harriet's group assigned quarters, Tamsin's watchers finishing infiltration rounds. But in her modest quarters, Leila found no rest. Memories flared in half-dream states: Jace smiling coldly, infiltration sabotage unraveling the orchard from within, undead swarming as she cried out for help. She jolted awake, sweat on her brow. The orchard donkey's faint noise offered no real comfort.

She sat up, trembling. The orchard watchers outside presumably cycling infiltration checks. Is Jace truly behind these rumored raiders? She imagined Ellie cunningly blackmailing enclaves, infiltration or sabotage crippling them. A wave of fear knotted her chest. We can't let it happen again.

Despite exhaustion, her mind refused sleep—flashbacks of betrayal, sabotage, infiltration. She wondered if Kai was similarly restless. Yet her fear overshadowed any notion of seeking him out. She curled on her bunk, orchard donkey's distant bray occasionally drifting through the night. Tomorrow, we fortify more.

By dawn's first gray light, orchard watchers concluded another infiltration-free night, orchard donkey awaiting its morning feed. The orchard staff stirred, Harriet's group preparing farmland tasks, Tamsin's watchers re-checking storerooms. Leila emerged from her quarters, eyes shadowed by sleeplessness. She forced composure as orchard watchers approached, orchard donkey flicking its tail. Another day of orchard life, overshadowed by tension.

Fiona greeted her gently, orchard donkey snorting near the feed trough. "You look tired," Fiona said with concern. "Nightmares again?"

Leila nodded stiffly, orchard watchers discreetly stepping away. "Yes. Rumors of cunning raiders, infiltration, or sabotage… it all triggers old wounds."

Fiona exhaled sympathy, orchard donkey braying softly. "We'll stand together, Leila. This orchard overcame infiltration before. We're stronger now."

Leila mustered a half-smile, orchard donkey's comedic presence ironically offsetting her grim mood. "We have to be," she said, steeling herself. The orchard donkey let out a final bray as orchard watchers signaled shift changes, infiltration checks rolling on.