The map lay spread across a wooden table in the centre of the dimly lit black tent, its edges held down by small rocks to keep it flat. Faint black ink detailed the surrounding terrain, marking both natural features and man-made structures.

  Their base was positioned near low hills. To the north stretched a dense forest labelled “The Ironwood”, with a stream, “Water’s Creek", winding through it and feeding into marshy boglands to the west. Open fields lay to the east, cutting through an overgrown path called the “Old Merchant Road”. South of the fields, the map marked dry, rocky terrain known as The Barrens. At the far northern edge was the enemy base, Fort Blackridge, perched on a steep ridge and surrounded by barricades and lookout towers.

  “Which path do you want to take?” the man asked, his sharp gaze flicking between Cole and Jake as they studied the map.

  Cole examined their options. Heading directly north through, The Ironwood, would be the fastest route, but it was likely the most heavily guarded. Following Water’s Creek westward would let them skirt around the enemy’s defences, but the marshy boglands would slow them down significantly—and they didn’t know how much time they had. Taking the eastern fields and the Old Merchant Road would be faster than the boglands and less risky than a direct route, but the open terrain made it easier to get caught. Heading south into The Barrens was out of the question; the detour would take far too long.

  “What do you think, Jake?” Cole asked, glancing at his focused face.

  Jake’s fingers tapped the edge of the table in rhythm, his brow furrowed in concentration. “West. If we get caught, we won’t stand a chance.”

  Cole nodded. The trial wasn’t a game; every choice could cost them their lives. It seemed safer to take the long way around.

  “Wrong answer,” the man interjected sharply, his tone leaving no room for argument. “You’ll go straight through The Ironwood. If you’re not skilled enough to avoid detection, you’re not skilled enough to gather anything useful for me.”

  Cole’s jaw tightened, and he caught the faint grinding of Jake’s teeth. ‘Why even ask in the first place? Making us go through that route is going to be the reason you won’t get your stupid information.’ he thought bitterly, but he held his tongue.

  “Leave now. Return within six days—three days in, three days out,” the man instructed curtly, rolling up the map and passing something to Cole. “Here’s a compass. It’ll guide you.”

  Cole glanced at the compass and almost laughed bitterly. ‘Even if there’s a tracker in this thing, removing it would just confirm our betrayal. They’ve thought this through.’ Their situation felt like a cruel joke, but there was no point in arguing.

  They stepped out of the tent into the crisp night air, the cold biting at their skin. Cole adjusted the black cloak draped over his shoulders, pulling the hood snugly over his head to shield himself from the chill.

  “Shall we get moving, then?” Jake asked, his voice low as his hand tightened around the rifle-spear strapped to his side.

  Cole nodded silently, his eyes fixed on the dark outline of The Ironwood looming in the distance. The forest awaited them, and with it, their trial was finally starting to pick up.

  ***

  Cole eventually walked past the wreckage, he previously had run from. Now that the smoke had cleared, he could see the destruction in its true form. Many bodies laid on the floor, their crimson blood dried up, staining the dry dirt ground. A black banner laid in the middle of the battlefield, showing the side they were currently on had won that battle, claiming the territory.

  Jake stopped beside him, his face grim as he surveyed the scene. He muttered, his voice low. “This was carnage.”

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  Cole nodded, his expression unreadable.

  “Let’s keep moving,” He said quietly.

  The towering trees of The Ironwood soon came into view, their dark, gnarled branches intertwining like skeletal hands reaching for the sky. The air grew cooler beneath the canopy, and the moonlight struggled to break through the thick foliage, casting the forest in a dim, silver, eerie glow.

  As they ventured deeper, the sounds of the occasional rustle of leaves and the faint trickle of Water Creek could be heard nearby. The path ahead was uneven, littered with exposed roots and fallen branches that made each step a calculated effort.

  “We should stick to the creek,” Cole suggested, his voice breaking the silence. “It’ll help mask our footsteps.”

  Jake scanned ahead, acknowledging the truth in Cole’s words. “Good idea.”

  The creek’s gentle gurgle filled the silence as Cole and Jake walked cautiously alongside it, their movements muffled by the water’s soft rush downstream. The weight of their mission hung heavy, yet the serenity of the forest lulled them into a false sense of calm.

  Jake broke the silence first, his voice quiet but tinged with curiosity. “What do you think Bea and Hunter are up to right now?”

  Cole raised an eyebrow. “Bea? She seemed sharp so she is probably fine.”

  Jake smirked faintly. “Yeah, sounds about right. I bet she’s already got half the trial figured out.”

  “And Hunter?” Cole asked, glancing at Jake as they navigated around a particularly thick tree root.

  Jake chuckled lightly, a vein threatening to bulge out his head. “Either he’s charging headfirst into danger, or he’s playing the long game. Probably both.”

  Cole gave a plain nod. “If he doesn’t get himself killed first.”

  Jake’s smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. “You think they’re doing better than us?”

  Cole hesitated, scanning the trees for any signs of movement before answering. “Maybe. But that doesn’t matter. We’ve got our own path, and they’ve got theirs.”

  Jake nodded, though a flicker of doubt crossed his face. “Guess we’ll see who makes it out of this in one piece.”

  As the hours passed, the strain of the journey began to show. Jake stifled a yawn, his steps becoming more sluggish. Cole noticed and stopped near a cluster of thick trees where the ground was relatively flat.

  “Take a nap,” Cole said, gesturing toward the base of a nearby tree. “You’ve been dragging your feet for the last half hour.”

  Jake hesitated. “What about you?”

  “I slept earlier,” Cole replied, scanning the surrounding forest. “Just don’t snore.”

  Jake smirked, dropping his pack and leaning back against the tree. “Thanks.”

  It didn’t take long for Jake’s breathing to even out as he dozed off, his rifle-spear resting loosely against his shoulder. Cole leaned against another tree, keeping his eyes on the shadows shifting in the moonlight. The forest was unnervingly quiet, except for the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a nocturnal bird.

  His mind drifted to their conversation about Bea and Hunter. Were they safe? Were they even alive? Although Cole and Jake barely knew Bea and Hunter—or even each other, for that matter—they couldn’t help but hope the others were holding their own.

  He lifted his gaze, his eyes drawn to the moon above, barely visible through the trees. The pale orb hovered high in the sky, suspended like a distant pearl, casting a soft, silver glow over the forest. He reached out, fingers stretching toward it, the gaps between his hands revealing its luminous surface, as if he could touch the very thing that seemed to watch over them from afar.

  For a brief moment, he felt a strange sense of peace.

  ‘I can do this.’ He thought to himself, whilst looking at Jake who was in deep sleep.

  Time crept by, and the first hints of dawn began to seep through the canopy, casting the forest in a faint grey light. Cole nudged Jake awake.

  “Time to move,” Cole said, his voice low.

  Jake stretched and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, yawning. “What’s the plan?”

  “Move from the creek, stay hidden within the trees, and keep quiet. It’s nearly daylight, so we’ll need to be extra careful.”

  Jake nodded, rising to his feet and gathering his things. They set off again, the forest growing more vibrant as the sunlight filtered through. The gentle sounds of the creek were a constant companion, masking their movements as they pushed forward deeper into the forest.

  Cole halted abruptly, holding up a hand. Jake froze behind him, his gaze following Cole’s line of sight.

  In the distance, barely visible through the trees, were figures—several of them—moving in their direction. Their golden and white armour glinted faintly in the light, marking them as their current enemies.

  Jake’s grip tightened on his weapon, his voice barely a whisper. “What do we do?”

  Cole didn’t respond immediately, his mind racing. They were outnumbered, and any sound would give away their position. The creek they had relied on for stealth now felt useless within the true face of danger.

  The figures grew closer, their presence looming like an unspoken threat.

  “Stay low,” Cole finally murmured, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air. “And don’t make a sound.”