"Let's head to the mountains," Crimson said, his voice steady and commanding.
"We can use my ship—it's fast!" Gale chimed in.
"No," Crimson replied firmly. "We're going on foot. She'll be expecting us to come."
"That's exactly why we should use it!" Gale shot back, his frustration spilling over as he threw his arms in the air. "We'll get there faster and have the upper hand!"
"Gale, listen," Lilith said sharply, stepping between the two. Her tone carried the weight of authority. "Crimson's right. If we show up on the ship, she'll see us coming a mile away. We need to catch her off guard."
Gale's brow furrowed, anger simmering as he glared at Lilith. "And what makes you so sure of that, huh?"
Lilith sighed, her voice softening as she pressed on. "Because the way she controlled the Dream Walkers… the way she spoke through you and Miles… that's not the Nox we once knew. She's not herself anymore. She's changed."
Gale's fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he mulled over her words. Finally, he let out a reluctant scoff. "Fine. We'll go on foot. But if she's changed," he added, his voice rising with venom, "it's because of this jerk right here!"
He jabbed a finger toward Crimson, his eyes blazing with resentment, before storming out of the cave.
Crimson stood motionless, the weight of Gale's accusation settling over him. Lilith sighed, rubbing her temples. "Well," she muttered, "that is the truth."
Crimson smirked faintly, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You think I don't know that."
Miles scoured the now-crowded expanse of Willow Haven, his boots crunching softly against the ground until his eyes landed on the ship. His heart raced as he climbed aboard the flying vessel, its sleek, weathered frame. Standing at the helm, he glanced around the deck, his brow furrowing as uncertainty set in.
"How did Crimson steer this thing again?" Miles muttered, his voice wavering. He approached the wheel tentatively, his fingers brushing over its intricate carvings. "Hmm, maybe like this," he mused aloud, reaching for a nearby lever.
Before he could pull it, a voice cut through the stillness. "No, not that one! Pull this instead!"
Miles whipped around, his hand instinctively flying to the hilt of his sword. His eyes darted across the deck until they landed on Vondak, who stood a few feet away, his blue hair shimmering under the moonlight and his dark, black eyes glinting with amusement.
Startled, Miles stepped back, gripping his sheathed sword tightly. "What the hell, Vondak? Can't you announce yourself like a normal person?"
Vondak approached with an air of confidence, his boots clanking against the deck. He tilted his head, a sly grin curling his lips.
Miles narrowed his eyes, his grip on the sword tightening. "What do you even want? You've got a knack for showing up at the worst possible times."
Vondak stopped a step away, leaning in close enough that Miles could feel his breath. He met Miles's gaze, his grin widening. Then, without breaking eye contact, he reached behind Miles and casually pulled a lever.
"This lever," Vondak said smoothly, his tone laced with smug satisfaction. The ship rumbled to life beneath them, gears clicking and whirring as the vessel began to hum with energy.
Miles staggered slightly as the ship shifted. His jaw clenched, both in embarrassment and irritation. "Would it kill you to just tell me that instead of being weird?"
"I will be coming with you, Miles. I also have business in Alpha Dawn?" Vondak quipped, stepping back with a mock bow. "Now, are you going to take the helm, or should I fly this thing myself?"
Miles let out an exasperated sigh and brushed past him toward the wheel. "You can come along, just stay out of my way."
Vondak chuckled, leaning casually against the mast. "As you wish, Captain."
Crimson, Lilith, and Gale moved cautiously through the dense woods, the moonlight filtering through the canopy above, casting silver streaks across the forest floor. The air was thick with the hum of nocturnal life, and the faint crunch of their boots was the only sound breaking the stillness.
Lilith glanced up at the glowing orb in the sky, her brow furrowed. "I just hope Miles is going to be safe," she murmured, her voice tinged with worry.
Crimson walked beside her, his tone dismissive as he replied, "Believe me, after what he pulled back there, he's going to be just fine."
Gale, striding ahead with purposeful steps, scoffed audibly. "If I were you, Lilith, I wouldn't trust a single word that comes out of his mouth," he said, throwing a sharp glance over his shoulder.
Lilith sighed, sensing another fight brewing, but Gale pressed on. "And who the hell was that kid anyway? Another one of your friends, Crimson? Someone else you'll conveniently leave behind when things go south?"
Crimson smirked faintly, but his tone turned sharp. "Didn't you just say not to trust a word I say? So why ask?"
That was all it took. Gale's temper snapped like a dry twig. He stopped abruptly, turned on his heel, and stormed toward Crimson. "You, downright asshole," he snarled, his voice low and menacing.
Before anyone could react, Gale bit down hard on his thumb. Blood dripped from the wound, but instead of falling, the crimson liquid shimmered and hardened, forming a jagged, sharp stake in his hand. In a single, fluid motion, Gale lunged at Crimson, knocking him to the ground with a force that made the earth tremble.
Pinned beneath Gale's weight, Crimson managed a strained laugh. "You always did have a flair for dramatics," he said, his voice tight but defiant.
"Shut your mouth!" Gale growled.
"Enough!" Lilith shouted, her voice echoing through the woods. She rushed forward, grabbing Gale's arm and wrenching him back with surprising strength.
"Get off him, Gale!" she barked, standing between the two as Crimson coughed and rolled onto his side.
Gale reluctantly let go of the stake, which dissolved back into droplets of blood. "You think this is over?" he hissed, pointing a finger at Crimson. "It's not."
Crimson propped himself up on one elbow, his expression unreadable. "You really need to work on that anger problem, Gale. It's not healthy."
Lilith glared at both of them, exasperated. "If we're going to find Nox, we need to stop fighting each other. Save your energy for later. We'll need it."
The three stood in strained silence, the forest's symphony of nocturnal sounds filling the air. A chilling sensation crept over them as if unseen eyes were watching from the shadows.
I have a feeling that we are being watched, Crimson exclaimed, as he dusted himself off and rose to his feet.