The sharp voice from outside suddenly cut through the mont.
"So of us are still working while you lot get cozy," a soldier grumbled, poking their head into the tent. "Don’t get too comfortable."
Zara stiffened at the intrusion, turning to glare at the soldier poking his head through the tent flap. His tone was gruff, but there was no real malice—just irritation laced with exhaustion.
Winter exhaled sharply, his hand flexing where it rested against Zara’s forearm. The mont of peace they’d stolen, rare and fragile, was shattered.
Zara forced herself to move first, shifting back from Winter’s side, though the reluctance in her muscles was undeniable.
Leo, however, was having none of it.
The boy clung to Winter with all the strength his small body could muster, burrowing into his side like an anchor against the world. His little fingers twisted into the fabric of Winter’s shirt, his face pressed stubbornly into his chest.
"Leo," Zara murmured. "We have to let him rest."
"Don’t wanna," Leo mumbled, pressing his face into Winter’s chest.
The dic sighed as they approached, rubbing their temples. "The kid can stay, but you need to get out of here for now," they told Zara. "He needs proper rest. And so do you, before you collapse where you stand."
Zara hesitated, looking between Winter’s pale face and Leo’s desperate grip.
She forced herself to nod. "Fine. Just... don’t let him push himself."
The dic snorted. "You think I’d let him?"
With one last glance at Winter, Zara turned and stepped outside.
*****
The camp was a ss of movent and exhaustion, a worn-out machine running on fus.
Zara walked through the worn-down pathways, stepping over discarded rags and half-nded gear. Soldiers clustered in groups, so sharing hushed conversations while others busied themselves with repairs.
Civilians milled around, crouched in corners, walking or standing in groups, the fears still very clear on their worn out faces.
People in varying degrees of injuries stumbling through the base.
A woman wrapped her hands, wincing as she tested the bruises forming along her knuckles.
Everywhere, the tension simred.
The air carried the stale scent of sweat, old blood, and dust from the rubble. Bodies were still being carried off to god knows where from the other d tents.
Zara ran a hand down her face and veered toward the ss tent. The sll of stale bread and sothing vaguely resembling coffee drifted through the air.
She grabbed a cup, lifting it to her lips.
The bitter taste scraped down her throat, but she welcod it.
"Didn’t think we still had coffee left," she muttered.
"One of the few luxuries left in this hellhole." A soldier slid into the seat across from her. Zara didn’t recognize him. Dark hair cropped close to his skull, and sharp brown eyes that carried a little too much awareness.
She stiffened but didn’t push him away. Who was he and what did he want?
"Are you talking to ?" She asked slowly.
The soldier smirked. "Long day. You looked like you could use company."
Zara narrowed her eyes slightly, but sipped her coffee. "That so?"
"Things are moving fast. Command is shifting focus to Sector 2." His tone was casual, but there was a prying edge to it.
Zara’s frown deepened. Why did he feel the need to tell her, a civilian, that?
The soldier continued. "Hope your guy in the d tent is recovering fast. We’ll need all hands."
Zara’s grip tightened around the cup. The implication wasn’t lost on her. This man or so people were watching Winter. Why? "He’s recovering."
"Good." The soldier took a slow sip of his drink, watching her. "It’d be a sha if he wasn’t fit to fight. So people might say that makes him... expendable."
A cold spike of unease ran down her spine. "You seem awfully invested."
The soldier smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Just looking out for the squad."
Zara forced a tight-lipped smirk. "Right. Well, I’ve got places to be."
She stood, discarding the rest of her coffee. The soldier didn’t try to stop her, but she could feel his gaze following her as she left the ss tent.
Why couldn’t they just be left alone in peace? The base was just destroyed seconds ago and now she has to worry about possibly being kidnapped by the military?
"Why do you hate so much?" She tilted her head towards the sky.
By the ti she returned to the d tent, a dull headache had settled behind her eyes. Inside, Winter was still asleep, his breathing slow and steady. Leo lay curled against him, a small hand fisted in his shirt.
Zara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Sighing, she reached down, brushing a hand through Leo’s tangled hair. He stirred but didn’t wake.
She adjusted the blanket over them both, her exhaustion dragging at her bones.
Maybe she could just sit for a mont. Just long enough to—
Sleep pulled her under before she could finish the thought.
*****
A sudden loud voice from outside jerked Zara awake.
What?! What was happening now?! When had she fallen asleep?!
Winter stirred beside her, his muscles tensing instinctively, his body shifting into alertness despite his exhaustion.
Leo stirred with a small yawn, pressing his face into Winter’s chest. "Wha’s wrong?"
Zara exhaled, running a hand over her face. "False alarm," she muttered. "Not even for us."
The tent flap lifted, and the dic returned, unimpressed to find them all awake.
She huffed, stepping up to Winter’s cot.
"Since you’re awake, you can drink sothing." She handed him a canteen and a protein bar.
Winter grimaced as he tore the wrapper. "If this tastes as bad as it looks, I’m blaming you."
He took a bite and imdiately made a face.
The soldier on the next cot snorted. "You should be glad you’re eating at all."
Winter made a vague noise of agreent but still looked like he was considering spitting it out.
"Tastes like dirt."
"Look, Leo, Winter isn’t eating his food," Zara said, looking at Winter smugly.
Leo picked his head up with a pout and patted Winter’s jaw gently. "Mommy said to always eat your food. Dont be bad."
Winter sputtered in mock betrayal as he looked down at the disapproving toddler.
Zara smirked but didn’t say anything. The tent filled slowly as more soldiers wandered in, so to check on the wounded, others murmuring among themselves.
Zara listened absently, their voices blending with the background noise—until sothing caught her attention.
"...they’re still debating about Sector 2."
Her spine stiffened.
"...lot of researchers missing. Command’s scrambling to figure out what the hell happened."
A flicker of unease ran through her.
Winter noticed. His hand found hers, squeezing briefly before he pretended he hadn’t.
Zara turned to him. "They’re talking about Sector 2. About the researchers."
Winter exhaled, jaw tightening. "Not surprising." He glanced down at himself, frustration flickering across his face. "I need to be up and moving."
"You need to heal," Zara reminded him.
"Can’t do much of that while lying here useless."
Before she could argue, a soldier stepped up, voice raised over the low hum of the room.
"All those able to move, head to the vans. We’re mobilizing to Sector 2."
The air shifted. Soldiers stirred, boots scuffing against the ground as they moved.
Winter let out a slow breath.
"Guess that’s our cue."
Leo clung tighter, his small hands fisting Winter’s shirt in protest.
"No. Stay."
Winter sighed, running a tired hand through the boy’s hair. "C’mon, kid. Let go."
Leo shook his head against his chest.
"Leo," Zara said gently, crouching beside them. "We have to go."
Leo looked up at Winter, reluctant but trusting.
"I’m not going anywhere." Winter reassured. "Gotta stretch my legs, kid."
After a mont, he slowly let go.
Zara moved beside him. "You shouldn’t push yourself."
"I won’t." He smirked at her. "That’s what you’re here for, right?"
She rolled her eyes but held out her hand.
Winter moved stiffly, hissing under his breath as he swung his legs over the cot. Zara stepped in, slipping her other arm under his to help.
Stepping outside was like being doused in cold water. The fresh air hit them hard,
like a reset.
The camp was alive with movent. Vans were being packed, orders were being exchanged, and people were getting ready.
The world hadn’t stopped just because they’d stolen a mont.
Zara’s exhaustion settled even deeper in her bones. When would they get to actually rest?
Winter nudged her with a smirk. "You look half-dead."
She rolled her eyes. "Thanks."
They sank onto an empty bench, watching the sky.
Winter reached for her hand again. This ti, he didn’t let go.
Leo stirred, rubbing his eyes. He saw Winter and imdiately reached for him again.
Zara smirked. "Guess he likes you now."
Winter arched an eyebrow. "Everyone likes ."
She snorted. "Sure they do."
"Let’s get goin’! The vans are ready!"
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