The second day dawned over Refuge, and the settlement stirred with uneasy energy. The defenses were in place, but the weight of the coming fight hung over every movement and conversation. Grizzley stood at the east wall, staring out over the barren horizon. The wasteland stretched endlessly, silent and still, but he knew better than to trust the quiet.

Mara approached, her bow slung over her shoulder. She leaned against the barricade beside him, her eyes scanning the distant tree line. “Any sign of them?” she asked.

“Not yet,” Grizzley said. “But they’re out there. Just watching. Waiting.”

Mara nodded, her gaze hardening. “Figures. Magnus doesn’t do anything without testing the waters first.”

Grizzley grunted in agreement. “We’ll see how much they’ve got left after tomorrow.”

Down below, Sam was leading a group of residents in makeshift drills. Lila stood among them, gripping her spear tightly as she mimicked her father’s movements. Sam barked instructions, his voice carrying over the sounds of boots scuffing the dirt and the occasional clang of a poorly balanced weapon.

“You’ve got one shot, so make it count!” Sam called out. “Thrust and pull back fast—don’t waste time admiring your work. Reset your stance and be ready for the next one.”

Lila reset her stance, the tip of her spear glinting in the faint sunlight. She glanced up at her father, who gave her a quick nod of approval. “You’re getting it, Lila. Just stay steady.”

She hesitated for a moment, lowering her spear. “Do you think… do you think I’ll actually have to use it?”

Sam’s face softened, and he crouched down in front of her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I hope not, kiddo. But if you do, you’ll be ready. And I’ll be right there with you.”

Lila nodded, her grip tightening on the spear. “I won’t let them hurt us.”

Sam gave her shoulder a squeeze, the faintest flicker of pride breaking through the worry on his face. “I know you won’t.”

Grizzley watched the exchange from the wall, his expression unreadable. He couldn’t decide if it was good or bad that the girl seemed so ready for what was coming. Maybe it didn’t matter. In this world, readiness was survival.

The morning bled into afternoon as the final touches were made to the defenses. Ezra worked near the southern wall, testing the tension on a row of tripwires that connected to a series of spiked logs, each one carefully balanced to fall at the right moment. His hands moved quickly, but his mind was elsewhere, his jaw tight as he replayed the confrontation with Marcus the night before.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

He felt the presence before he heard the footsteps. Turning, he saw Marcus standing a few feet away, flanked by a guard. The man looked pale, his face lined with exhaustion and guilt.

Ezra straightened, resting his hands on his hips. “What do you want?”

Marcus raised his hands slightly, a gesture of surrender. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to see how things are going.”

Ezra scoffed, shaking his head. “You don’t get to play concerned now. You’ve done enough damage already.”

Marcus flinched at the words, his shoulders slumping. “I never wanted it to go this far. You have to believe me.”

“I don’t have to believe anything,” Ezra snapped. “The only reason you’re still here is because Grizzley thinks you’re worth keeping alive. Don’t make me question that.”

The guard cleared his throat, stepping forward slightly as if to deescalate the tension. Marcus dropped his gaze, retreating a step.

“I’ll stay out of your way,” Marcus muttered.

“You’d better,” Ezra said, turning back to his work.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the settlement. Grizzley called a meeting near the main fire pit, gathering the core group—Sam, Mara, Ezra, Lila, and even Marcus, who stood under watch. Residents lingered nearby, their expressions grim as they listened from the edges of the circle.

Grizzley’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Tomorrow, Magnus is coming. You all know that. And you know we’re outnumbered.” He let the words hang for a moment before continuing. “But we’re not outmatched. We’ve got defenses in place, and we’ve got something his people don’t—a reason to fight.”

Sam nodded, his arm resting protectively around Lila’s shoulders. “We’ve got each other. And that’s more than they can say.”

Mara stepped forward. “The traps are set, the walls are fortified. Everyone knows their role. We stick to the plan, and we hold the line.”

Ezra remained silent, his eyes on the fire, his fingers fidgeting with the hilt of his knife. Marcus stood on the edge of the circle, his face pale as he shifted uncomfortably under the weight of the group’s glares.

After a moment, Grizzley spoke again. “Rest while you can. Tomorrow’s going to be hell.”

The final hours before dawn were filled with quiet preparations. Grizzley sat alone near the eastern gate, sharpening his machete in slow, deliberate strokes. Sam and Lila joined him, sitting close but silent, the firelight casting flickering shadows over their faces.

“Do you ever think about what comes after?” Lila asked suddenly, breaking the stillness.

Grizzley looked up, his expression unreadable. “After what?”

“All of this,” she said, gesturing vaguely. “After the fighting. After the wasteland.”

Grizzley was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Haven’t thought much about it,” he admitted. “Guess I’ve been too busy trying to get through the now.”

Sam glanced at his daughter, his hand resting lightly on her knee. “There’s always something after,” he said quietly. “We just have to survive long enough to get there.”

Grizzley gave a faint nod, his grip tightening on the machete. “Let’s hope we live to see it.”

As the fire crackled softly, the three of them sat in silence, waiting for the dawn that would bring the storm.