The morning sun climbed lazily over the farm, its warmth chasing away the last traces of frost. The air was heavy with the familiar scents of hay, damp earth, and livestock. Despite the serene setting, an air of quiet tension hung over the group as they went about their tasks.

Kade lingered near the barn, his small frame dwarfed by the towering stacks of hay. His gaze darted nervously to the others, unsure where to start or what to say. Alexander approached him with a kind smile, holding a pair of tools in his hands.

“Here,” Alexander said, offering Kade a broom. “Let’s start with the basics. This place doesn’t clean itself.”

Kade hesitated but eventually took the broom, gripping it like it might bite. “Thanks… I think.”

Nearby, Ronan leaned against a fence post, arms crossed as he watched the scene. “Great. Another pair of hands that don’t know what they’re doing.”

Sorin snorted from his spot under a tree, where he was supposed to be mending a bridle. “Cut the kid some slack, Ronan. We all start somewhere. Except you—you probably started with an axe.”

Ronan shot him a glare but didn’t reply, his attention shifting back to Kade. “Just don’t break anything, kid.”

Gabriel’s voice cut through the mild bickering as he approached, his boots crunching on the frost-covered ground. “If he breaks something, he’ll owe us. Let’s see… how about two weeks of work for every tool you lose?” His green eyes flicked to Kade, who looked down sheepishly.

“Gabriel,” Alexander said with a touch of exasperation, “he’s just a kid.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “And? He’s still eating from your share.” He crossed his arms and gestured to the tools. “Get to work.”

Kade nodded quickly, scurrying toward the barn. Alexander watched him go, then glanced at Gabriel with a faint frown. “You could try being a little less harsh.”

Gabriel shrugged. “I could. But what would be the point?”

Sorin smirked, leaning back against the tree. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to think we’re running a charity here.”

“More like a lost-and-found,” Ronan muttered, turning away to continue mending a broken fence.

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The morning passed with relative calm, though Kade’s clumsy attempts at cleaning tools and stacking hay drew a few grumbles from Ronan and a lot of silent, pointed looks from Gabriel. Despite his struggles, Kade persisted, his determination catching Alexander’s attention.

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“Not bad,” Alexander said as Kade wiped sweat from his brow, having finally managed to clean and organize a set of farming tools.

Kade looked up, startled by the praise. “Really?”

“Really,” Alexander replied with a nod. “Keep at it.”

Ronan, who had been working nearby, huffed. “Don’t inflate his ego. The kid’s barely keeping up.”

Alexander raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you could give him a few pointers instead of standing around criticizing.”

“Oh, sure,” Ronan said dryly. “I’ll get right on that.”

Sorin chuckled from a distance. “Careful, Ronan. You’re starting to sound like Gabriel.”

Gabriel, leaning against the barn with his arms crossed, didn’t bother responding. Instead, he pushed off the wall and walked away without a word, leaving the others to their work.

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By the time the group gathered for dinner that evening, Kade seemed more at ease. He sat at the edge of the table, quietly eating the modest meal of bread and stew. The others ate in relative silence, the occasional sound of clinking spoons breaking the quiet.

It was Kade who finally spoke, his voice hesitant. “I… I just wanted to say thanks. For letting me stay here.”

Ronan grunted in response, while Sorin offered a half-hearted, “Don’t thank us yet.”

Alexander, ever the optimist, smiled at the boy. “You’re part of the group now. Just pull your weight, and you’ll be fine.”

Kade nodded, though his gaze dropped to his bowl. After a long pause, he added, “The people I was running from—they’re not going to stop looking for me.”

Gabriel’s spoon paused mid-air, his green eyes narrowing slightly. “What kind of people?”

Kade hesitated before answering. “A gang. They’re based in Kaelholm. They forced me to steal for them. I only ran because I… I couldn’t do it anymore.”

The table fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Jordan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke. “If they’re looking for you, they’ll come here eventually.”

Gabriel set his spoon down, his expression unreadable. “If they do, they’ll regret it.”

Alexander frowned. “You’re not seriously suggesting we wait for them to show up, are you?”

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his gaze cold. “Why not? It’s easier to deal with them on our terms.”

Sorin smirked, his tone light. “Always the practical one, aren’t you?”

Alexander shook his head. “No. We can’t let them bring trouble here. We need to stop them before they have the chance.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

“We go to Kaelholm,” Alexander said firmly. “Find the gang and deal with them.”

Ronan raised an eyebrow. “Bold move. But are you sure you’re ready for that?”

Jordan nodded thoughtfully. “It’s risky, but he’s right. We can’t afford to let them make the first move.”

Gabriel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fine. But if this goes south, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Sorin grinned. “I knew you couldn’t resist a little excitement.”

Gabriel shot him a glare. “Let’s just get this over with.”

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The chapter closes with the group preparing to leave the farm once more. As they set out under the pale light of dawn, Gabriel lingers behind for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

“This better not be a waste of time,” he mutters before following the others.

The farm fades into the distance as the group ventures back toward Kaelholm, their path uncertain but their resolve firm.