The group had spent enough time on the move, following the trail well into the night. While the rush to escape the Ragetooth Hound had left them exhausted, they had pressed on long after ensuring the beast wouldn't be returning. Their bodies ached from the pace they had kept, but none had suggested stopping before now. The tracks remained visible under the faint moonlight, curving deeper into the trees, guiding them forward.
Leon finally exhaled, stretching his arms slightly before rolling his shoulders. "We stop here," he said, voice firm but calm.
Reid didn't argue, immediately lowering his pack. Laina followed his lead, rubbing the back of her neck as she glanced around the clearing they had chosen. Kara settled beside her, silent but attentive. Arin, never one to waste time, stretched lazily before dropping onto the ground, already adjusting for comfort.
They rummaged through their packs, pulling out foldable sleeping bags—practical, lightweight, and easy to carry. Each person unfolded theirs, laying them flat against the dirt before settling in.
The driver stood slightly apart from the group, shifting his weight. He hadn't unpacked anything, hadn't even attempted to sit down. Laina was the first to notice.
"You don't have your own?" she asked, watching him closely.
He hesitated, then shook his head. "Didn't exactly plan for camping out."
Laina pressed her lips together before nudging the spare bedding toward him. "Use these. It's better than sleeping straight on the ground."
The driver hesitated, then nodded, lowering himself onto the offered sleeping bags. His movements were deliberate, slow, almost cautious, but he didn't protest the arrangement.
The group settled, the silence stretching between them now that the exhaustion had caught up. The driver, as if sensing that introductions were long overdue, finally spoke.
"My name's Dalen."
Nobody responded immediately, though it wasn't out of rudeness—just fatigue.
After a moment, Kara sighed, rolling onto her side. "Figured you'd introduce yourself eventually."
The driver gave a weak smile, rubbing the back of his hand. "Wasn't sure if I was actually staying."
Arin snorted, shifting his position. "You weren't, but here we are."
Leon barely paid attention to the exchange. His focus had drifted elsewhere, settling on a thought that had been gnawing at the back of his mind. Something about the driver didn't sit right. He had followed them without issue, kept pace without showing strain, and despite claiming he had been hiding all this time, he looked far from weak.
He activated Analyse, watching as the system flickered to life.
[Name: Dalen]
[Rank: Unregistered]
[Strength: 19]
[Speed: 15]
[Vitality: 14]
[Ability: None detected]
Leon's fingers curled slightly against the fabric of his sleeping bag.
Reid caught the slight shift in Leon's posture, reading the change immediately. "Anything?" he asked in a low tone.
Leon closed the screen quickly, adjusting his position as if it didn't matter, but Reid wasn't convinced. Neither of them let their guard down, keeping their eyes open for as long as their bodies would allow.
Sleep won anyway.
---
Laina woke in the middle of the night, her breath steady as her eyes opened naturally. The clearing was quiet, undisturbed, but something felt different. She blinked a few times, pushing herself up on her elbow before looking around.
Then, without meaning to, she stiffened.
The driver's sleeping bag was empty.
So was Kara's.
Her pulse picked up speed, her breathing slowing as she scanned the area, looking for movement, listening for sound. Nothing. She sat up fully, pressing her palms against the dirt, forcing her body to wake up.
"Kara?" she called, voice quiet but firm.
No response.
She inhaled sharply, turning toward the others. "Wake up."
Leon stirred first, blinking rapidly as he sat up, his mind sluggish with sleep. "What?"
Laina was already on her feet. "The driver and Kara are gone."
Reid was up immediately, reaching for his sword out of instinct, though there was no immediate sign of danger. Arin groaned as he pushed himself upright, squinting toward the empty sleeping bags.
Leon rubbed his temple, scanning the clearing. The bags were placed aside neatly—no rush, no mess, no sign of struggle. Just as if someone had gotten up normally and walked away.
His expression darkened slightly.
Laina pressed her lips together, glancing toward Reid before voicing the thought forming in her mind. "If he drove the caravan for 'them'… why would they just drop him off?"
Silence stretched between them.
Leon's mind ran through the details.
Reid had already reached the answer. "How come he wasn't hungry after seemingly going four days without food?" he muttered.
Leon exhaled lightly. "And he knew how to keep up."
The realization came slow, sinking in rather than crashing down.
Arin straightened his back, adjusting his grip. "We find them. Now."