The Black Wolves were already awake when Finley returned probably his last talk with Selke. Their exosuits glowed faintly in the morning light armour plates painted with streaks of grey and black. They were moving with a sort of quiet precision - no shouting, no wasted motion. The Wolves never needed to be loud to show their readiness.
At the centre of this organised chaos stood Thane.
He was a thin man, and it was almost comical how small he was compared to the other men of the group. His hair was long and messy very different from the military standard crew cut. And yet was was respected highly for his lethal precision one the battlefield. Finley knew that Thane was a man he could trust to have his back in a unfavourable situation.
Right now Thane was silently adjusting the straps of a bullet proof vest on Millie the large vest designed for the smallest women in the military was still too big for young little Millie.
Kavok had already done his own and was helping Mercy with hers, he instantly noticed when Finley walked over his ears picking up the faint footsteps Finley's exosuit made with the stone pavements.
Sharp senses Finley mused as he walked through the rows of supply crates. The soldiers straightened and saluted as he walked by but he barely noticed. He was more intent on checking whether all the necessary equipment was packed.
His eyes scanned the boxes sweeping over all the equipment thermal guns, rations and medical supplies first Then moved onto the vehicles. The jeeps sat in a neat line, engines already warm after its recent use. Fuel was being refilled and the tire pressure was being checked and double checked.
Finley ran his hand over the hood of the first jeep, he could feel the faint vibrations of metal under his palm. He would have much preferred the Albatross but the highspeed vessels were being used for the war
The plan was simple on paper, yet in his head it would be hard to achieve
Travel to the northern pass on jeeps they needed to create as much distance between them and the frontlines. The average speed of a hellhound was definitely much faster than the speed of a child like Millie. At the northern pass it would take 14 days to get to the northern sea and from there the sky skiff.
Finley exhaled ever so slightly, watching how his breath faintly turn to mist in the cold northern air. Fourteen days of the impossible. Fourteen days to escape through dangerous territories hunted by who knows what.
He glanced towards the edge of the camp where the three children had now all been kitted up and thane stood next to them at attention ready for his captain's orders. Mercy and Millie's small horns protruded from the top of their head glinting faintly under the sun. Kavok stood ready like he would have to fight tooth and fang to survive.
This was it. The next fourteen days would determine life or death it would determine whether this continents last embers of hope could live.
"Captain" a soldier called from behind "all units are ready for departure"
Finley nodded once and spoke quietly to himself
"And We're Off"