Horizon before dawn

Albedo was tending to the Nora prisoners while I stood guard, scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble.

The prisoners were outcasts, accused of straying too close to the old metal ruins, a forbidden act among the tribe. A Carja patrol had captured them a few days ago, and their condition spoke volumes about the ordeal they'd endured. Bruised and battered, they were in no shape to be moved anytime soon. 

Albedo, knelt beside them, her voice calm and steady as she tried to coax them into conversation.

"What are your names?" she asked, carefully dabbing a damp cloth on the older man's wound.

The man flinched but said nothing, his jaw tight with distrust. Beside him, the younger prisoner shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Albedo and me.

"You're safe here," Albedo continued, undeterred by the silence.

"No one will harm you. I only wish to help."

The boy finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Safe? With the Carja nearby?" He shot her a wary glance, his words laced with bitterness.

The older man grunted.

"Why do you care? I can see those seeker marks on you, you will go back to the tribe and leave us to root here." 

"That's not going to happen," Albedo said firmly.

The boy hesitated, then asked, "Why? What do you want from us?"

"Nothing," Albedo replied gently. "Sometimes, people help simply because they can. Tell me what happened? How did you end up near the ruins?"

The man glared at her but, after a long pause, muttered.

"Hunting. Strayed too far, that's all. Didn't realize how close we were until it was too late."

"And the Carja?" Albedo prompted.

"They were waiting for us," the boy said, his voice trembling. "Like they knew we'd be there. Ambushed us."

I frowned, scanning the landscape again. "Strange. The Carja don't usually patrol that deep into Nora lands unless…" I trailed off, a thought forming but not yet solid.

Albedo noticed my hesitation but didn't press. Instead, she focused on the prisoners.

"What's important now is that you're alive. You'll need to rest and regain your strength before we decide the next step."

The older man scoffed.

"Decide what? We're outcasts. The Nora won't take us back, and the Carja will kill us if they find us again."

"Not if we keep you hidden," Albedo said firmly. "But you'll have to trust us."

The boy studied Albedo's face, as if searching for some sign of deception. Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained guarded.

"I'll trust you… for now."

After taking care of the bodies and setting traps outside, I ducked into the cave. It was Albedo's turn to patrol while I ate something and spoke with the Nora prisoners.

Their names were Cam and Web. Cam, the older one, carried himself with a grim weariness, while Web, younger than me, had a nervous energy that made him fidget constantly.

I sat down near the small fire, the faint warmth a welcome relief from the chill creeping into the cave.

"Do you know of any other Nora being held captive?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Cam shook his head slowly.

"No. As outcasts, we didn't talk much to the tribe. No one wants to risk guilt by association." He paused, his brow furrowing. "But… the Carja mentioned sending us to Devil's Thirst. Maybe there's more of us there?"

Devil's Thirst. Once a bandit camp, it was now rumored to be a Carja outpost. If what Cam said was true, then it was almost certainly full of prisoners, and heavily fortified.

"Devil's Thirst," I murmured, my mind already running through possibilities.

"It's a dangerous place. If the Carja have taken over, it'll be crawling with soldiers."

Web, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward.

"But if there are others like us there… you're going to help them, right?"

His wide eyes were filled with both hope and fear.

"I don't leave people behind. If they're there, I'll do what I can. But rushing in blind would only get us all killed."

Cam grunted in agreement. "You'd need to scout the place first. See what you're up against. If it's anything like the patrol that caught us, they'll have more than just soldiers."

I glanced toward the mouth of the cave, where Albedo's silhouette was barely visible against the fading light.

"I'll talk to Albedo when she's back. We'll figure out a plan."

Web's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you."

Cam didn't say anything, but the look he gave me was one of grudging respect.

I turned my attention to my food, the taste bland but welcome after the day's events, but my mind was already on Devil's Thirst and what we might find there.

At dawn, I set out alone to scout Devil's Thirst. The Nora prisoners, Cam and Web, were still in no condition to move, their injuries keeping them bound to the safety of the cave. Albedo had volunteered to stay behind, guarding the entrance and tending to them while I carried out the dangerous task ahead.

I moved carefully, sticking to the shadows and avoiding open ground, knowing that every step brought me closer to enemy territory.

By midday, I had reached Devil's Thirst. The place lived up to its grim name. What was once a desolate bandit camp had transformed into a bustling Carja outpost, a hive of activity built on cruelty. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter in pairs, merchants and slavers bartered openly, trading in lives as if they were goods to be bought and sold.

The sight made my stomach churn, but I forced myself to focus. I activated my Focus, the faint blue light flickering to life. Through its lens, I began tagging the soldiers, one by one. Their numbers were staggering, more than thirty, spread across the camp. Some stood guard at key points, while others moved in predictable patrols, their routes weaving through the outpost like clockwork.

Among them were slavers, their carts loaded with supplies and the hollow-eyed prisoners they had already claimed. I spotted cages at the far end of the camp, crammed with people, Nora and others. They were weak, malnourished, and stripped of any hope.

I crouched in the underbrush, recording their movements and scanning for weak points in the defenses. The Focus highlighted a few possibilities: an unguarded section of the northern fence, a small stockpile of blaze barrels near the center of the camp, and a narrow path leading to the ridge above the outpost.

My mind raced, piecing together a plan. I'd need to strike quickly and decisively, sowing chaos before the soldiers could rally. The blaze barrels could provide a fiery distraction, while the ridge offered a vantage point for picking off key targets. But with their numbers, it wouldn't be enough to rely on stealth alone.

I clenched my fists, frustration and determination warring within me. This wasn't just about freeing prisoners anymore, it was about dismantling the cruelty that had taken root here.

I retreated slowly, careful not to draw attention. Back at the cave, I'd share what I'd seen with Albedo and the others. Together, we'd come up with a plan to strike back and bring this outpost to its knees.

For now, all I could do was prepare. The lives of my people depended on it.