Maggie opened her eyes. The fog of her nap still clung to her, blurring the world around her. But it would clear up after a few blinks. She was leaning against a tree. Next to her, Dylan was sitting with his head covered in dead leaves, probably carried there by the wind.
He looked peaceful, eyes closed. His brown skin was bathed in the shadow cast by the branches above. He looked like he was sleeping.
It must have been noon. And Dylan, that bastard... was still meditating, more focused than ever.
Maggie turned her gaze away. Her eyes met Élisa's, who was happily devouring the last rations she had taken from their suitcase. When Élisa realized she was caught, she froze for a second... then calmly resumed chewing, as if nothing had happened.
Maggie sighed, then let herself slump against the trunk.
"I heard your conversation earlier. Well… bits of it, right before I completely passed out," she said, lifting her eyes toward the sky hidden behind the foliage.
"So what now?" she asked. "I mean… you gave us three options, and only one was really viable. We followed you. We destroyed that damn village, got attacked, chased… So what's next?"
Élisa slowly nodded. With a distracted gesture, she wiped the bit of food still at the corner of her mouth.
"Dylan's been meditating for almost three hours now. He's absorbing the anima gems one by one. And we bought that time."
Her voice had turned harsher.
"The creatures around here aren't all like those Scavengers. They don't yet know the village's been reduced to ashes. So, they're still avoiding the area, thinking it's part of their hunting ground. If you got to sleep, it's only because of the little reprieve we earned. There's never been a truly 'safe' zone in this forest. And now, we're in deep trouble."
She locked eyes with Maggie, cold and sharp. She wanted her to get it.
Maggie frowned.
"You mean… we're just gonna keep buying time?"
Élisa nodded again, leaning back as she took long gulps of water straight from the bottle. When she'd emptied half of it, she let out a soft sigh, almost involuntarily.
"Good. You get it. Because villages like that one? There are hundreds of them in a forest this big. They're divided into tribes. And for some reason, they're constantly at war with each other."
Maggie lowered her eyes, staring at the dusty ground.
That's why they'll be easier to hit, she thought.
But Élisa went on immediately, as if she had read her mind.
"We can't attack them. And we won't be able to — not even at full strength."
She paused for a beat before continuing:
"You're injured. And Dylan... even with his meditation and the gems, he can't take on an entire village of those demonic freaks alone. Their strength is comparable to humans, but they're more numerous, faster, and most importantly, they know this terrain."
Maggie slowly nodded. Each word sank in like a warm blade. And a bitter aftertaste filled her mouth.
"I guess you don't want to lead us to our deaths," she said. "It's not that I trust you... but I trust your survival instinct."
She stared straight into her eyes.
"So... what's your plan?"
A satisfied smile crept across Élisa's face. She blushed slightly, as if she'd just been praised.
"The idea came to me earlier. Like a spark, right at the perfect moment. You see those villages nearby? Three of them surrounded the one we burned down. And those three are constantly fighting over hunting zones. Each wants the best loot. So? Every expedition ends in a bloodbath."
She sat up straighter and clicked her tongue mischievously.
"So, the great me came up with a brilliant idea. We don't need to attack them. Well… not directly."
Her tone was more confident than ever — probably inflated by a full stomach.
"We're going to take the scraps."
---
"That sounds a bit simplistic… but I kinda see where she's going with it."
The familiar voice rang out beside them, pulling Maggie from her thoughts.
Dylan had gotten up from the ground, stretching slowly while brushing off the dead leaves that had settled on him. Maggie turned her eyes toward him — his gray pupils looked brighter than before, almost glowing.
"I feel strangely full of energy. Like a new force is flowing through me," he said, examining his trembling hands.
Then, regaining his composure, he continued with a half-smile:
"So… we're talking about picking up the scraps?"
Élisa jumped back in right away, as if she'd just been waiting for that cue.
"These creatures live in a society, even if it's primitive. They divide tasks. It won't be long before they send out scouts."
She leaned forward, more serious:
"And our role? It'll be to eliminate them — cleanly, without leaving a trace. As long as the zone seems protected, they won't dare venture too close."
A fiercer smile stretched across her lips.
"And while they fight each other for the spoils... Dylan here will slip between the trees, like a shadow. He'll pick them off one by one while they're distracted."
She gave him a confident wink.
"And of course, I'll be there to watch his back."
---
"Sounds like a good strategy…" said Maggie, her tone a bit hesitant as she looked back and forth between Élisa and Dylan. "But… how long do you think that'll work?"
Her voice sliced through the little bubble of pride hanging between the two "brains" of the group.
Élisa and Dylan turned toward her, their faces slightly frozen. As if, all of a sudden, she'd asked the question no one really wanted to face.
"We'll have to anticipate their reactions… if we ever get discovered," she continued, her gaze darkening a little. "I can't go along with a plan that has no depth or escape route."
A light silence fell. The leaves rustled up above. In the distance, a bird let out a hoarse cry.
Élisa crossed her arms, thoughtful.
"You're not wrong. It's not a perfect plan. But it's a start."
She shrugged.
"If we want to go further, we'll have to watch the routes, the patrols, and maybe capture a scout to pull some intel. That's when we'll be able to build some real groundwork… with a few detours."
Dylan sat back down again, this time cross-legged, hands on his knees.
"But Commander Maggie... you seem to have forgotten these creatures don't speak our language. It's impossible to get information from them."
He glanced at Maggie, his expression more serious.
"I think, for now, this is the best plan we've got."