Iris moved silently through the dim corridors of the shelter, her steps soft but purposeful. She had just finished checking on Finn and Mira, ensuring they were asleep, their dreams undisturbed by the mission that weighed heavily on her heart. She couldn’t afford to let them know what was happening outside the walls of their home—not until it was over, and she could tell them that everything was going to be alright.

She paused at the doorway to their shared sleeping quarters, her gaze lingering on her younger siblings. Finn was sprawled out, one arm dangling off the edge of his cot, while Mira was curled into a small ball, clutching the edge of the blanket as if it were a lifeline. A soft sigh escaped Iris’s lips. They were still so young, too young to bear the burdens that the world had thrust upon them.

Closing the door quietly behind her, Iris set off to continue her rounds, making sure that the shelter was running smoothly in Alaric’s absence. Her mind was a swirl of emotions, a quiet storm that she kept carefully hidden beneath her composed exterior. It wasn’t just Alaric and Dante she was most worried about—Lily, too, had found a place in her heart. Despite all the uncertainty, despite the fear of being hurt again, Iris couldn’t deny that she saw her sister in Lily. And that made the stakes even higher.

As she reached the entrance to the shelter, Iris stepped outside, letting the cool night air wash over her. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the forest that surrounded their hidden refuge. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing her enhanced sight, letting her vision extend far beyond the immediate area. The world lit up in her mind’s eye, the flow of Essence revealing any potential threats lurking in the darkness. For now, all was still.

But her heart wouldn’t settle.

Her thoughts drifted to the team that had left earlier, now heading toward a dangerous ambush mission. Please, keep them safe, she wished silently, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon where they had disappeared. Iris wanted nothing more than to be out there with them, but she knew her place was here, guarding what they had built together.

As she turned to head back inside with the sun well above the horizon, a figure came running toward her. She quickly recognized Finn, his expression tense and demanding. “Iris! Where is everyone? Where did they go?” he demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.

Iris’s heart clenched. She had known this moment would come, but she had hoped to avoid it. Keeping her voice calm, she asked, “Where’s Mira?”

“With Lydia,” Finn replied, his tone impatient. “But where is everyone else?”

Iris placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, steering him away from the entrance. “They’re out on a mission, Finn. But we need to stay here and make sure everything is ready for their return. There’s still work to be done in the shelter. Why don’t you help me with that?”

Finn’s eyes narrowed, searching her face for the truth. Iris held his gaze steadily, her expression soft but firm. After a tense moment, Finn relented with a frustrated sigh. “Fine,” he muttered, though his worry was evident. Iris guided him back toward the shelter, relieved to have diverted his attention for now.

Once inside, Iris busied herself with tasks, doing everything she could to keep her mind from wandering back to the dangers the others were facing. But no matter how hard she tried, the silence of the shelter only amplified her fears. Every creak of the walls, every distant sound outside, set her on edge. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong.

And then, the quiet was shattered. The sound of hurried footsteps, voices raised in alarm—Dante had returned.

Iris’s heart skipped a beat as she rushed toward the commotion, her pulse quickening with every step. When she reached the entrance, her breath caught in her throat. There, in Dante’s arms, was Lily—no, Estelle, as her body limp, blood staining her clothes. For a moment, Iris couldn’t move, her worst fears crashing down on her all at once. But she forced herself to push the panic aside, knowing that this was not the time to falter.

She watched as Lydia took charge, her hands steady and her voice firm as she instructed Dante to bring Estelle to the back room for more intensive care. Iris wanted to rush to Estelle’s side, to do something—anything—to help, but she knew that she had to trust Lydia’s skills. Estelle was in the best possible hands.

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Forcing herself to turn away, Iris began to organize the returning group, her movements automatic as she processed the situation. There was no time to dwell on the fear that clawed at her insides. Alaric and the others were still out there, and they needed her to keep everything under control here. She would do what needed to be done, just as she always had.

But as she gave out orders and reassured the others, her thoughts kept drifting back to Estelle, and the hope that she would make it through this. Please, be okay, she thought, her heart aching with the weight of it all. I can’t lose you again.

After ensuring that the immediate tasks were under control, Iris caught sight of Dante leaving the backroom where Estelle was being treated. Her heart lurched at the sight of him—his usually composed demeanor was gone, replaced by a haunted expression that she had rarely seen before. Without hesitation, she moved toward him, her pace quickening as she drew closer.

"Dante," Iris called softly, reaching out to steady him as she approached. His eyes, usually so full of fire and determination, were clouded with guilt and worry. She could see the turmoil written across his face, and it tugged at her heart.

“She’s going to be alright,” Iris began, trying to sound more confident than she felt. “Lydia is the best there is.”

Dante shook his head, his voice tight with emotion. “It’s my fault, Iris. I should’ve been the one to protect her, not the other way around. She threw herself in harm’s way to save me… I couldn’t even see the attack coming.” His fists clenched, and for a moment, Iris saw the flames flicker at his fingertips before he extinguished them, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

“Dante,” Iris squeezed his arm, trying to convey reassurance. “You can’t blame yourself for this. Estelle—Lily—she made a choice, just like you’ve made countless choices to protect us all. Right now, we need to focus on what’s next.”

Dante nodded, though the self-reproach in his eyes didn’t lessen. “I still have to make sure we weren’t followed. I need to cover our tracks, double-check everything.” He began to turn away, his mind already on the task.

“Let me help you organize a team,” Iris said, stepping in beside him. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

Together, they quickly gathered a few trusted members of the resistance, briefing them on the importance of ensuring that no one could trace their movements back to the shelter. As they prepared to move out, Iris could see the tension in Dante’s posture ease slightly, knowing that he was doing something to protect them.

But as Iris returned to the main area of the shelter to assist with the injured, she couldn’t ignore the undercurrent of unease that had settled over the group. It didn’t take long for murmurs to start spreading among the resistance members, whispers that grew louder as exhaustion and anxiety set in. Iris could hear the fragments of conversation as she moved through the shelter, attending to the injured.

“That mission was a trap, wasn’t it?”

“Someone must have known we’d be there.”

“Who tipped them off? There has to be a mole.”

As the talk grew more heated, suspicion inevitably began to turn toward the newest member of their group—Lily. Iris’s heart sank as she overheard someone question the masked woman’s loyalty.

“She’s hiding something under that mask, isn’t she? Why else would she cover her face?”

“Lily’s one of us,” another voice argued. “She fought alongside us, and she’s the one who’s in the worst shape. Why would she betray us?”

But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was taking root fast. Iris quickly intervened, her voice firm but calm. “Enough. We’re all on edge, but pointing fingers isn’t going to help anyone. We need to focus on what’s important—making sure everyone is safe and that we’re prepared for whatever comes next.”

The tension in the room didn’t dissipate, but the argument quieted as Iris’s authority took hold. She moved to redirect the conversation, but before she could, someone spoke up, their tone hesitant but probing.

“I... I remember seeing a glimpse of her face when Mira first brought her into the shelter,” the man said. “I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a scar. So why would she need to hide it?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and dangerous. Iris felt her heart sink as she realized how close they were to a tipping point. The truth about Lily—about Estelle—was something she had been grappling with herself, but now it was threatening to unravel in the worst possible way.

Just as she was about to respond, Dante returned, his presence immediately drawing the attention of those gathered. The look on his face was one of barely controlled anger.

“What are you saying?” Dante’s voice was low, dangerous, as he stepped forward. The room seemed to hold its breath as the tension thickened. “She’s fighting for us—nearly died for us—and you want to question her loyalty?”

Iris quickly moved between Dante and the others, her hands raised in a placating gesture. “Dante, please,” she urged, her voice soothing. “We’re all just trying to make sense of what happened. No one is accusing Lily of anything.” She turned to the group, her gaze sweeping over them. “We need to stay united. The enemy wants us divided—don’t let them win by turning on each other.”

Dante, still seething, backed her up with a sharp nod. “Iris is right. We need to trust each other if we’re going to survive this. Now, get back to work and stop with the paranoia. We’ve got enough problems without turning on each other.”

Slowly, the crowd began to disperse, though the unease lingered in the air. Iris exchanged a glance with Dante, silently grateful for his support, but she knew this wasn’t over. The questions about Lily’s true identity weren’t going away—they were just being pushed aside for now. And she could only hope that when the time came, they would be ready to face whatever truth was uncovered.