The Shackles and The Sunshine

The betrayal lingered in the camp like a shadow, casting doubt and unease over the group. Though Lira was gone, the damage she left behind was undeniable. Aiden carried the weight of her actions as he paced the edge of the camp.

"She was one of us," Garron said, breaking the silence as he approached. His deep voice carried both frustration and regret.

"She was," Aiden agreed, his tone heavy. "And now we have to live with what she did."

"We can't let it slow us down," Cara said, stepping into the conversation. Her expression was determined, but her voice was soft. "If the kingdom thinks we're weakened, they'll push harder."

Aiden nodded, clenching his fists. "We use this. The kingdom will expect us to retreat, to scatter. But instead, we strike back."

---

That evening, Aiden gathered the group around the fire. He spread a new map across a flat stone, the faint glow of the flames illuminating the marked locations.

"This is our next target," Aiden said, pointing to a heavily fortified outpost near the border of the forest. "It's where the kingdom stores weapons and armor for their patrols. If we take it out, we cripple their supply chain."

Finn shifted nervously. "But isn't it heavily guarded?"

"It is," Cara said, leaning forward. "Which is why we won't attack head-on. We'll infiltrate, sabotage their stockpile, and slip out before they realize what's happening."

Garron grunted in approval. "A quiet job. I like it."

Aiden looked around the group, his gaze firm. "This is our chance to show the kingdom that we're still here, still fighting. Are you with me?"

The group nodded, their expressions resolute.

The outpost loomed before them in the moonlight, its wooden walls casting long shadows over the surrounding forest. Aiden crouched behind a cluster of bushes, the faint glow of his fire barely visible as he held it in check.

"Remember the plan," he whispered. "Cara and Finn, you take the left side and create a distraction if needed. Garron and I will handle the explosives."

The group split into their assigned roles. Cara led Finn along the perimeter, her sharp eyes scanning for weaknesses in the defenses. When they found a gap between two guards, she signaled for Finn to move ahead.

Inside the outpost, Aiden and Garron moved with precision. They avoided the main pathways, sticking to the shadows as they reached the stockpile.

"Here," Garron whispered, placing small clay pots filled with Cara's carefully crafted explosives among the weapons and barrels of oil.

Aiden focused, his hand hovering over the pots. He ignited a small flame, setting a timed fuse that would give them enough time to escape.

The sound of footsteps echoed nearby, and Aiden froze. A patrol was approaching, their voices low but growing louder.

"Hide," Aiden mouthed to Garron.

The two men pressed themselves against a stack of crates as the guards passed, their conversation mundane but tense.

Once the patrol moved on, Aiden signaled for Garron to follow. They slipped out of the stockpile area and back toward the perimeter, where Cara and Finn were waiting.

"All set?" Cara asked.

"Let's move," Aiden said.

The group retreated into the forest, the outpost shrinking behind them. Moments later, a deafening explosion rocked the air, flames shooting into the sky as the kingdom's stockpile was reduced to ash.