The echoes of falling soldiers still lingered in the air as Kai led his troops deeper into the forest. The enemy's charge had been broken, but they weren't safe yet. Somewhere beyond the trees, survivors of the hunting party were regrouping, and more reinforcements would surely follow.
Night was falling fast, the dense canopy above swallowing the last rays of sunlight. Kai knew they couldn't afford to stop for long, but his soldiers needed rest. Their battle-worn bodies could only push so far before exhaustion became more dangerous than the enemy itself.
"We set camp here," Kai decided, stopping in a clearing surrounded by thick brush. "No fires. We stay hidden."
Lyra nodded, already checking the wounded while Solis positioned scouts around the perimeter. Elira knelt beside Kai, tracing a rough map into the dirt with a dagger.
"The coalition won't stop after this loss," she murmured. "They'll be furious. Expect them to send even larger forces soon."
Kai's gaze hardened. "Let them come. We'll be ready."
Elira hesitated. "You're thinking of striking first."
He met her eyes. "The longer we run, the more ground we lose. If we don't take the fight to them, we'll always be on the defensive."
Lyra, overhearing, crossed her arms. "Attacking a force that big is suicide. We need a strategy."
Kai smirked. "That's exactly what we're going to make."
Solis approached, his expression grim. "Scouts found something."
Kai stood. "What is it?"
Solis pointed north. "An abandoned ruin. Old fortress, mostly collapsed. But it's positioned right where the coalition is heading. If we get there first..."
Elira's eyes widened. "We can turn it into a death trap."
A dangerous plan formed in Kai's mind. The enemy thought they were fleeing. Instead, they would be leading them straight into their own demise.
"Then we move at first light," Kai said. "And this time, we make sure they don't get up again."
The war wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was about victory.