The day grew darker as Kirana and her group pushed deeper into the Ebon Forest. Fatigue etched itself into the faces of both villagers and soldiers who trudged behind her. The only sound that broke the silence was the crunch of dry branches beneath tired feet, while the air grew colder and heavier with each step.
"We can't keep going like this," Lyra said, walking beside Kirana. Her breath was shallow, but she tried to appear strong. "The children and the wounded won't last much longer if we keep moving without a destination."
Kirana gave a small nod, though her mind was still clouded with worry. She knew Lyra was right. If they didn't find shelter soon, the group would collapse before even thinking of resistance.
"Come on, let's look for a safe spot," Kirana said, masking the uncertainty in her voice. She pointed toward a dense cluster of trees. "There. We might find something."
They moved toward the darker part of the forest, and after a while, they stumbled upon a small plateau surrounded by natural cliffs. Tucked into the side of one of the cliffs was a cave, just large enough to shelter most of the group.
Kirana stopped in front of it, eyes sharp. "This will do. We can hold out here for a while."
Lyra nodded, immediately giving orders to the soldiers. "Set a perimeter. Traps and defenses around the area. We don't know when the Edena Forces will find us."
The group sprang into action. The remaining soldiers built makeshift barricades from branches and stones, while the villagers tended to the wounded and comforted the children. Kirana stood near the cave entrance, eyes scanning the darkened forest. Relief mingled with unease in her chest, this was a pause, not safety.
That night, while most had fallen into exhausted sleep, Kirana kept watch beside a small fire. The forest's silence felt ironic; the calm only heightened her vigilance. She clutched her bow tightly, eyes locked on the shadows.
"Don't you need rest?" Lyra's voice came from behind.
"I can't," Kirana replied without turning. "Not now. We're too exposed. If the Edena find us... this will all be over."
Lyra was about to speak when footsteps echoed in the distance. Quick, yet cautious. Kirana stood and raised her bow, motioning for Lyra to stay alert.
The steps grew louder until a man emerged from behind the trees. He looked worn, tattered clothes, a face streaked with dust. He raised his hands, showing he carried no weapon.
"Who are you?" Kirana demanded, her bow still drawn.
The man took a breath and answered hoarsely, "My name is Arven. I'm from a village beyond this forest. I saw you from afar... and I knew you were fleeing the Edena."
Kirana studied him with suspicion. "Why are you here? Were you spying on us?"
Arven quickly shook his head. "No, no! I want to help. I know a place, safer than here. A small village on the other side of the forest. The Edena Forces have never reached it. If you follow me, I can take you there."
"And we're just supposed to trust you?" Lyra cut in, eyes sharp.
"I understand if you don't," Arven said, sincerity in his voice. "But I wouldn't be here if I didn't care. I heard what happened to your village. I've lost everything too. I just want to help."
Kirana was silent for a moment, locking eyes with him. She searched for signs of deceit, but found only honesty, and the same exhaustion she felt in herself. At last, she lowered her bow.
"If you're lying, you'll regret it," Kirana said coldly. "Take us there. But if this is a trap, I'll kill you myself."
Arven nodded. "I understand. I just want to lead the way."
The next morning, after a sleepless night of planning, Kirana led her group behind Arven through hidden trails in the forest, paths unknown to the Edena. The journey was long and grueling, but Arven guided them with unwavering focus.
At last, after hours of walking, they reached a secluded valley nestled between mountains. A small village lay ahead, surrounded by fertile fields and a clear river. It looked like another world, far from the ruins they had left behind.
"This is it," Arven said, relief in his voice. "The Edena hold no power here. You can start over."
Kirana stood atop a hill, eyes on the peaceful scene below. Relief washed over her, but with it, a sense of great responsibility. This wasn't the end of their fight. It was only a breath between battles.
"Thank you, Arven," she finally said. She turned to her people, hope blooming in their tired faces. "We'll stay here. But don't forget... this isn't over. There's still so much to do."
Nods of understanding followed, and the group began moving toward the village. Kirana remained for a moment, eyes fixed on the valley with renewed resolve. This was only the beginning of a new chapter in their resistance.
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Eldar Village
Mornings in Eldar always began with the scent of dew rising from leaves, but today carried a tense stillness. Kirana, Lyra, and Arven sat in a small hut, listening to a trader who had just arrived with news from the outside world.
"The Desert Forces aren't a myth, miss," said the trader, a sun-worn old man with silver hair and weathered skin. "They're real, and they've become a nightmare for the Edena. Fast, without warning, and gone before reinforcements arrive."
Kirana narrowed her eyes. "Do you know what they're like? How many of them?"
The trader nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. "Not many. A few hundred, maybe. But they know the desert like their own breath. They don't use Edena tech, but their weapons, bows, spears, sand traps, deadly. And there's talk of someone they call the 'Desert Ninja.'"
"Desert Ninja?" Lyra leaned in. "That's a bit dramatic, isn't it?"
"Not just a name," the trader replied seriously. "A shadow killer. Moves like wind, unseen. He slips through Edena defenses, slays commanders, vanishes without a trace. Even Valarion's special forces fear his name."
Arven scoffed, trying to hide his unease. "Sounds too good to be true."
Kirana raised a hand. "It's not about whether the story's exaggerated. What matters is, they're real, and they're fighting the Edena. If they've disrupted mineral excavation, their strength is real."
"Exactly, miss," said the trader. "They hit Edena convoys recently. Heavy losses. And those minerals, they fuel the Edena war machine."
Kirana leaned back, deep in thought. "They might be the allies we need. But we have to find them first."
The trader shook his head. "They don't show themselves easily. Always moving from oasis to oasis, never using known routes. They appear only when they choose to."
That night, Kirana and Lyra sat on a hill overlooking the village. The stars shone bright, but Kirana barely noticed. Her gaze was fixed on the dark horizon.
"You sure about this?" Lyra finally asked.
Kirana nodded without turning. "We don't have many choices, Lyra. Valarion won't stop hunting us. We need allies. If the Desert Forces are as strong as the trader says, they could be our last hope."
"But they might not trust us," Lyra said, doubt in her voice. "You know how desert people view outsiders."
"It's a risk we have to take," Kirana replied firmly. "They fight the Edena without advanced tech. That means they have courage and brilliance. We need people like them."
Lyra sighed, worry in her eyes. "I just hope you know what you're doing, Kirana. We've already lost so much. I can't bear losing more."
Kirana turned to her friend, eyes blazing with resolve. "I won't give up, Lyra. I made a promise, to my mother, to Raka, to everyone we've lost. I'll fight to the end. Valarion may be powerful, but he is not invincible."
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Portrait of the Desert Forces
In the heart of the endless sands, the Desert Forces move like ghosts. They dwell in hidden oases and caves untouched by Edena maps. Their bases are never permanent, only tents that vanish in hours.
Their soldiers wear lightweight garb in the color of sand, cloaks that blend with their surroundings. Their weapons are simple but deadly: poison-tipped arrows, spears with curved blades, and sand traps capable of disabling Edena vehicles. They use desert animals, camels, falcons, for transport and scouting.
But their greatest weapon is strategy. The Desert Forces wield terrain knowledge as their sharpest blade. They ambush Edena supply lines, strike when least expected, and lure enemy legions into carefully laid traps.
Among them, one figure is whispered in awe, the 'Desert Ninja.' Rarely seen, but known to all in the Edena ranks. An unstoppable assassin, vanishing like a shadow beneath the blazing sun.