The morning began like any other.
The outpost thrummed with quiet life — metal boots on stone, the hiss of steam through pipes, distant clatter of breakfast trays. Routine was comfort; routine meant safety.
Kael tightened the straps of his uniform, glancing once at the scar that ran across his shoulder — a souvenir from Ravenwood. The ache was gone, but the memory hadn't faded.
Outside, the corridors glowed faintly amber. Lira was already awake, reviewing mission data on a flickering monitor. Taro leaned half-asleep against the wall, a slice of toast hanging from his mouth. Rin was sharpening his blade, expression unreadable.
"Morning, Captain," Rin said dryly. "Ready for another day of glorious inactivity?"
"You could try enjoying it," Kael replied. "Rest is part of training."
"So is boredom," Rin muttered.
Before Kael could answer, the intercom crackled.
A voice — clipped, urgent — echoed through the hall.
"All active units report to the briefing chamber. Commander Voss presiding. Priority level: Two."
The toast dropped from Taro's mouth.
"Level Two? That's higher than a patrol call."
Lira shut down her monitor. "Something's wrong."
---
When they entered, the chamber was already full — mid-rank hunters lined along the walls, some whispering nervously. The large display at the front showed a frozen map of Ravenwood, blinking red.
Commander Arden Voss stood beside it, hands clasped behind his back. His expression was carved from stone.
"Three nights ago," he began, "we dispatched a squad to investigate, secure and purge any remaining Wendigo presence in Ravenwood. Communication was steady until twenty-four hours ago."
He paused, pressing a switch. The screen shifted — static, broken audio, fragments of screams cut short.
"These were the last transmissions received before the line went dark."
The room was silent. You could hear the hum of the projector.
"We've attempted long-range scans, signal recovery, and drone recon. Nothing. No readings. No survivors located."
Someone near the back cursed under their breath.
Arden's gaze swept the crowd. "Effective immediately, the region is designated Black Zone. No civilians allowed within twenty miles. The Corps will dispatch secondary response teams for reconnaissance and recovery."
He turned his eyes toward the Ash Unit.
"That includes you."
---
After the assembly dispersed, Kael's team remained behind.
"Sir," Kael started, "I thought we were grounded."
"You were," Arden said evenly. "But the veterans' silence changes that. You've seen Ravenwood firsthand, you understand its layout, its hazards. That makes you the most suited team to re-enter."
Rin's jaw tightened. "We're sending rookies to clean up after elites? That's suicide."
Arden met his eyes. "If I had more men, I wouldn't ask. But we're stretched thin. You won't be alone — support units will be deployed to nearby sectors. Your task is recon, not confrontation."
Lira frowned. "And if confrontation becomes unavoidable?"
"Then survive," Arden said. His tone left no room for argument.
He stepped closer to Kael. "You'll move at dusk. Prep your gear, replenish supplies, and review your combat data from the last mission. Dismissed."
---
The group left the hall in silence. The news weighed heavier than their gear ever could.
Taro was the first to speak.
"Do you think they're… all dead?"
"Veterans don't just vanish," Lira replied softly. "But something in Ravenwood changed."
Rin kicked a loose bolt across the floor. "We should've stayed there. Maybe we could've stopped it."
Kael stopped walking.
"No," he said quietly. "We weren't ready then. Maybe now we are."
He looked at his teammates — tired, scarred, but stronger than before. The quiet bond between them didn't need words.
---
The smell of oil and steel filled the armory.
Kael slid his blade into its sheath, testing the balance. The edges shimmered faintly in the artificial light.
Across the room, Lira calibrated her weapon sensors; Rin replaced his blade's core; Taro packed the med-kits and explosives.
They moved in silence, efficient and practiced.
"Back to where it all started," Rin muttered, fastening his coat.
"And maybe where it ends," Taro added with an awkward chuckle.
Kael's gaze hardened. "Not for us."
He fastened the insignia on his collar — the mark of the Ash Unit. It caught the light briefly before fading back into shadow.
---
When the alert bell finally rang, the base dimmed to red.
Engines roared in the hangar below, boots thundered in unison, and cold wind slipped through the open gates like a whisper.
Kael led his team toward the transport bay. The world above waited — silent, frozen, and hungry.
"Ash Unit, moving out," he said into his comm.
Arden's voice replied, low and steady. "Bring them home, Kael."
The lift doors closed, sealing the warmth of the base behind them.
And once again, the hunters descended into the cold.