The settlement was busy, almost too busy. People marched in straight lines, weapons gleamed in the sun, and the constant sound of drills echoed like a heartbeat that refused to rest.
Verus trailed behind Berry, his eyes wandering over the strange order of the place. Everything looked efficient, but something about it felt unnatural. Too rigid. Too rehearsed.
"Man, these guys look like they're preparing for a war, not surviving a shortage. If they put half that effort into farming, maybe they wouldn't need us."
Berry muttered, stretching his arms lazily.
Verus chuckled nervously.
"Keep your voice down. Someone might hear—"
Before he could finish, loud shouts broke through the air. The kind of shouts that weren't part of drills.
"HEY! GET BACK! DON'T MOVE!"
The two of them froze, then exchanged a glance. The voices were familiar. Without a second thought, they rushed toward the source.
