The Shackles and The Sunshine

The night air was thick with tension as Aiden sat by the fire, the warmth doing little to ease the chill of Lira's accusation. Finn's laughter, once a source of hope in the group, now felt like a dagger twisting in his chest.

He turned to Lira, who crouched beside him, her face illuminated by the flickering flames. "If you're wrong…"

"I'm not," Lira said firmly. "Think about it. He's the one who suggested the southern route before the patrol found us. He's always eager to join missions but stays just close enough to avoid the thick of it. And the patrol? They didn't just stumble onto us. Someone told them where to look."

Aiden clenched his fists, his thoughts swirling. Finn had been the youngest in their group, a beacon of innocence in a war that had robbed them of so much. Could it all have been a façade?

"We need proof," Aiden said finally. "I won't act on suspicion alone."

Lira's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "I'll keep an eye on him. But Aiden… if he betrays us again, there won't be time for proof."

Aiden said nothing, the weight of her words settling over him like a shroud.

The group moved again the next morning, the forest stretching endlessly before them. Aiden's gaze lingered on Finn more than once as they walked, watching for any sign of duplicity.

By nightfall, they reached a small cave hidden in the hills, their new temporary base. Cara worked with Garron to set up a perimeter, while Lira busied herself with the supplies they had salvaged.

Aiden found Finn sitting on a rock at the edge of the camp, his face tilted toward the stars. He approached slowly, his heart heavy.

"Finn," Aiden began, sitting beside him.

The boy turned, his wide eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and uncertainty. "Yeah?"

"You've been with us since the beginning," Aiden said, choosing his words carefully. "You've grown a lot, but I know this fight hasn't been easy for you."

Finn's expression faltered, his shoulders sagging. "It's hard. I mean, I want to help, but… sometimes, it feels like I'm just slowing everyone down."

Aiden studied him, searching for deceit, but all he saw was vulnerability. He placed a hand on Finn's shoulder. "You're not slowing us down. You're part of this, Finn. And we need you."

The boy smiled faintly, and Aiden felt a flicker of doubt about Lira's accusations.

Two days later, they received word of a high-ranking kingdom official traveling through the area. It was a rare opportunity—capturing or eliminating this official could deal a significant blow to the enemy.

The group devised a plan to intercept the official at a narrow mountain pass. Lira insisted Finn join them, her sharp eyes betraying her suspicion.

As the ambush unfolded, everything seemed to go smoothly. The group moved into position, and Aiden prepared to unleash a wall of fire to block the official's retreat.

But something went wrong.

The guards accompanying the official were already on high alert, moving with precision that suggested they'd been tipped off. The group was quickly outnumbered, forced into a desperate fight.

"Fall back!" Aiden shouted, his flames holding off the advancing soldiers just long enough for his team to retreat.

They regrouped in the woods, bruised and shaken. Lira's gaze immediately locked on Finn.

"Someone told them," she hissed. "They knew we were coming."

Finn's face turned pale. "I-I didn't do anything! I swear!"

"Then who?" Lira snapped, advancing on him.

"Enough!" Aiden's voice cut through the tension. "We'll figure this out later. Right now, we need to move."