Ezekiel and the rest of Team Five had been traveling for nearly a full day.
The sun had risen and set twice since they'd left headquarters, marking the passage of time with long shadows and fading light. Their muscles ached from the constant movement, their eyes burned from lack of sleep, and the weight of their gear pressed heavily on their shoulders. The mission was simple, at least on paper. Reach the assigned location. Search the area. Report back. Then return home. A straightforward reconnaissance operation that should have taken hours, not days.
At least, that was how Ezekiel expected it to go.
