The journey back to the cave was a quiet one.
Every step they took was heavier than the last, their bodies bruised and worn, but their souls? Fractured.
Adrien's absence wasn't just felt. It hung over them like a stormcloud that refused to break.
When they finally reached the familiar mouth of the cave, the one that had once felt like a safe haven, it didn't offer comfort. Just a reminder of what they had before… and what they'd lost.
But something was off.
There were voices.
Weapons drawn, they approached with weary caution, until a group of figures stepped into view.
Humans.
Actual, living humans.
They wore light, tight blue Armor, bits of electronic comms gear strapped onto their ears together with patches of leather here and there along with individual weapons.
Their eyes were sharp, hands never straying far from their weapons, but there was no hostility in their stance. Just surprise. And relief.
One stepped forward. A tall man with buzzed brown hair and a sharp jaw, wearing a faded blue armband and carrying a longbow.
"There are actually people alive here," he said, eyes scanning their faces. "That's a damn miracle."
Han stepped forward cautiously. "We could say the same. We haven't seen another human in weeks."
The man nodded, then glanced toward the deeper forest.
"We felt the tremors. Then came the implosion. We thought something massive was emerging. Never expected to find people alive out here."
He extended a hand.
"And you thought to come here even then. Quite courageous of you."
"Darian. Scout for East Blue Alliance Camp."
Han took his hand and shook it, just barely.
Darian tilted his head. "You all look like hell. What happened out there?"
Han hesitated… then told him.
He told him everything, from the nightmarish horrors of the living forest, the creatures twisted by the Thrall, the psychic corruption, and the final battle where Adrien and the two gave everything to survive.
By the time Han finished, Darian's eyebrows were halfway up his forehead.
"You're telling me," he said slowly, "that all of that, the tremors, the screaming, the implosion, was you fighting some living, corrupted forest creature?"
Han nodded, dead-eyed.
Darian let out a low whistle. "And here I thought we were tough."
He looked at them again, this time with something close to awe. These weren't ordinary ascenders in his eyes, they were potential weapons in his eyes now. 'Hope they agree to come with.'
"I don't know how you pulled it off," he said, "but we need people like you. People who can fight."
Ria scowled. "We're not joining your little...army." She said, looking at the other guys behind Darian who hadn't spoken a word till now.
"Not an army," Darian said quickly. "Just a camp. East Blue's the largest survivor stronghold east of the Rift. Shelter, food, med, working comms. We've got it all. The boss is good man. I know it's not easy to trust someone in times like these, but I guarantee, we're building something over there. It's not too far."
Ria crossed her arms. "Why would we go with you?"
"Because you've got nowhere else," he said gently. "And because if your friend is still alive, if whatever took him didn't kill him outright, then he might show up there.
We've had stranger things happen."
That caught their attention.
Darian pressed. "You can come and go. But you need rest. Medical attention. Food. And… people."
Sarah looked up at him for the first time. "You really think he could still be out there, somewhere?"
"I don't know," Darian admitted. "But if he's alive, he'll be looking for survivors. And our camp is only getting bigger, anyone wandering around these parts is bound to find it. It's the best shot you've got."
The group exchanged glances. No one wanted to admit it, but they were tired. Broken.
Ria didn't speak for a while, then finally nodded. "Fine. But we're not soldiers."
Darian smiled faintly. "Wouldn't expect you to be."
As they began packing up their cave, Darian lingered by Sarah. "I know it's hard," he said quietly. "But loss is a part of life now. We survive, or we die. That's the world."
Sarah glared at him. "That doesn't mean we forget."
Behind her, Mel's eyes burned with restrained fury.
But they didn't argue further.
...
The group followed the scouts eastward, through safer paths and semi-cleared terrain. The landscape changed, less twisted, more alive.
By nightfall, lights glimmered ahead.
And beyond them, a sprawling survivor camp built from advanced tech, solid steel barriers, and the unbreakable will of humanity.
East Blue.
It was the start of something new.
But none of them could shake the feeling that Adrien was still out there. somewhere. he had to be.
...
East Blue wasn't what they expected.
After weeks of twisted trees, shifting terrain, and endless death, they expected more of the same, a fortified ruin maybe, or a glorified refugee pit.
But what they saw instead… was hope.
Children ran freely, laughing as they chased each other between houses that looked almost… normal.
Adults were hard at work, stacking lumber, mixing cement, wiring solar panels, tending gardens in makeshift greenhouses. Music drifted softly from a nearby square.
Laughter echoed from open windows.
It wasn't perfect. Not even close.
But it was something.
A town. A future.
"Holy crap," Ria whispered, eyes wide.
Even Alex, who hadn't cracked a smile since Adrien vanished, let her guard down a little. "They built all this in just a month?"
"Well yes," Darian said as he led them in. "The number of people gathering here made it easier. The system store has been a lifeline for us. We built fast. Learned even faster."
Han looked around, suspicious but impressed. "This is… organized. How?"
"We've got structure," Darian replied. "Leadership. Systems. Not perfect, but it works. It's a start."
He stopped in front of a modest cottage near the outer ring. Stone base, wooden walls, reinforced windows, solar panel atop the roof.
"This one's yours. You can settle in, I'll send someone to call you tomorrow."
Mel blinked. "We get a house?"
"Everyone does. that's the plan, well people are sharing right now and there's five of you," Darian said with a grin. "Settle in, clean up. You'll meet the boss in the morning. Rest while you can."
They stepped inside cautiously. The warm air hit them first, followed by the smell of cedar and fresh linen.
The living room had a fireplace, already crackling. Each of them had their own room. Clean beds. Soft sheets. Privacy.
For the first time in weeks… they could breathe.
No rot. No shadows whispering in the woods. No beasts clawing at the doors.
That night, they didn't sleep well, each to their own thoughts, hoping, wishing that Adrien was out there somewhere.
Regardless, the system had notified them of the completion of the mission, but they all tuned it out. Surely, they could look at it some other time. Noone was in the mood.
...
A knock at the door brought them back to the present.
Another scout, this one younger, cleaner. He greeted them with a respectful nod.
"Darian asked me to bring you to the commander."
They followed.
The path led to the heart of East Blue, a large structure made of welded steel and salvaged concrete. Inside, ragged maps covered the walls, numerous people up and about doing supply counts, and sector reports.
And in the centre, standing with arms folded over his chest, was Draven.
He was a wall of muscle, thick neck, squared jaw, and scars that suggested he was never an ordinary civilian in his life. His presence filled the room. The kind of man who didn't have to raise his voice to command a room.
He was brimming with confidence and charisma.
Yet when he spoke, it was with surprising warmth.
"You're the group Darian pulled out of the woods."
Han stepped forward. "Yeah. We are."
Draven looked them over, eyes sharp. Calculating.
"I've read the report. What you did out there... It's hard to believe."
"Believe it," Ria said, voice low. "We lost one of our own out there."
Draven grinned. "Oh, I do. The forest is quieter now. Less howling. Less madness. You made a dent in that cursed place. That earns you something."
He stepped around the short table and extended a hand, first to Han, then to each of them in turn.
"I'm Draven. Head of East Blue. We don't rule here. We lead by doing. We work, we fight, we protect our own."
Mel asked the question on everyone's mind. "What do you want from us?"
"Only what you're willing to give," Draven said. "Darian tells me some of you are strong. Fighters. Maybe more. We need that. But I won't force it. However, this world we now live in, it's cruel, we need you need us. Maybe some of you can fight, but what of the other two," he looked at the older ladies, " you can't keep running forever, settle down thing about it."
He looked at them, gaze steady. "Help us protect what we're building, and you'll have food, shelter, and allies. In return, you fight when it matters. You help when it counts. Like every other person in this place."
Sarah stepped forward, hesitant. "What if… what if we don't stay?"
Draven nodded. "Then we still help you. We don't cage people here."
That took them all by surprise.
"I won't pretend to understand your loss," Draven continued. "But you fought something few could stand against. You survived. That's not something I take lightly."
He walked around the table, studying them. "This place, East Blue, is built on the backs of survivors. Fighters. Builders. Thinkers. And I see all three in your group. We offer safety, food, shelter. In return, we ask for cooperation, respect, and strength when needed."
Han crossed his arms. "You want us to work for you."
Draven smirked. "I want you to be part of something again."
Silence.
Then he added, "I know you're holding onto hope. That your friend might still be out there. You'll be free to look for him. We won't stop you. But I also want you to know that this place could be a home. Until you decide what's next."
That struck a chord.
Sarah stepped forward. "You'd really let us go back? To the forest?"
Draven nodded. "If you choose to. But not alone. We don't send anyone into the wild without backup. We lost too many that way."
Ria met his gaze. "And if we decide not to fight for you?"
"Then you live here in peace," Draven said simply. "No one is forced. But I'll be honest, this world isn't kind to bystanders. Sooner or later, danger finds everyone. Better to face it prepared."
There was another long pause before Han finally said, "We'll think about it."
Draven nodded. "Good. You've got time."
...