Rynna’s hand rested on the hilt of one of her swords, the worn leather grip familiar under her fingers. She adjusted the folds of her cloak, pulling the fabric tighter against the biting night air. “We won’t win by hiding out in here all night.”
Bran shot awake with a snort, immediately alert. “Yeah! Let’s go!” He scrambled to his feet, brushing the red dust from his pants and bouncing on the balls of his feet. “What’s the plan?”
Rynna stood, crossing her arms. Usually, Taren would have already taken charge of the situation by now, but his silence stretched on. Rynna suppressed a frown. She needed to get them out of this cave and away from Renji.
“How about Scout Formation Eagle?” she suggested, nudging Taren with her foot until he reluctantly stood. “We’ll use the point of the formation to bait out other groups.”
“Oh, and I get to be the bait!” Bran practically jumped up and down.
“Exactly.” She didn’t need to look at Bran to see his entire body practically vibrating with energy.
Taren let out a long exhale. “Of course, you’re the bait.”
“I am the best bait.” Bran grinned smugly.
“That you are, my friend.” Rynna smiled.
And he was. Beyond his loudness and the impression that he’d make an easy target, Bran could take more hits and keep swinging better than anyone else in the unit. The kid never gave up.
“All right, let's move,” she said, turning to leave.
“No goodbye?” Renji’s voice echoed from the cave, a bitter edge laced beneath the mock cheerfulness.
Rynna didn’t bother looking back; her stride never faltered.
“I see,” he muttered darkly, the quiet rage beneath his words unmistakable as Taren and Bran caught up with her.
“Bye, Renji!” Bran called, waving back, missing the potential danger. “Good luck! Find us if you’re ever in Ember Reach!”
“Let’s go.” Taren grabbed him by the elbow.
“Oh, I will!” Renji called after them, his voice ringing with barely concealed fury. “And Taren,” he added, his tone chilling, “think about what I said.”
Taren’s face tightened with anger, but he kept walking, his jaw clenched as he ignored the Tide Reach Hollow-born behind them.
Putting distance between themselves and the cave, the silence stretched out under the pale light of the desert moon. The chill night air contrasted sharply with the day’s searing heat, and the desert had transformed into a hauntingly beautiful landscape. Shadows stretched long over the sands, and the distant dunes shimmered silver in the moonlight. They regrouped near a jagged rock formation once they were far enough from the cave.
Bran crossed his arms, frowning. “Hey, why were you both such assholes to Renji? He seemed like a nice guy.”
“He wasn’t a nice guy, Bran,” Taren spat. “And one day, your idiocy is going to get you killed.”
“Harsh.” Rynna’s eyes widened.
Taren’s jabs at Bran hadn’t stung with any force for over a year.
“Whatever.” Bran rubbed his arm where Taren had grabbed him earlier. He scanned the horizon. “What direction? East?”
Rynna shrugged, her focus on Taren. “Sure. It’s as good as any. Don’t get too far from us and stay alert.”
Bran took off with a burst of energy, his figure quickly disappearing into the desert, and Taren moved to take his position beside Rynna.
“You okay?” She stopped him with a light touch on his arm. “What did he say to you?”
“Nothing.” Taren grimaced.
“Come on.”
Taren clenched his fists before he finally relented. “Just something about why my parents were executed.”
