The cool wind tugged at the tattered edges of the scout's dark fur as he stood atop the city walls, eyes scanning the horizon. For the Shadowalker, this part of the wall was the least liked among his peers because it faced the treacherous mountains and the chilling river. But he had learned to appreciate the solitude it offered, away from the constant chatter and clamor of the city below.

However, today, there was an unsettling weight in the air. The winds whispered secrets they hadn't before, the distant trees seemed to be rustling with more than just the breeze, and the mountains, always majestic, felt oppressive. The sun was rising, the light showing early morning mist that rose lazily from the grassy planes at the foothills.

His eyes, accustomed to the dim lights and the deep shades of the night, flicked to a small disturbance in the terrain. Just for a moment, it looked like the top of a human head, an unfamiliar sight in these lands. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, melting back into the earth.

The scout blinked, trying to dispel the oddity from his sight. Could it be a trick of the light? An illusion birthed from the weariness of his long shift? He rubbed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to push the feeling of unease to the back of his mind.

"This has been a long shift," he mused internally, taking a moment to stretch his limbs. Maybe the weariness was playing tricks on his senses. Yet, a part of him, deep inside, tingled with an alertness he hadn't felt in years. As if to make him even more uncertain, he thought he felt some tremors below the wall. He planted his four paws firmly on the wall, looking around with wide eyes.

But no one had reacted in the settlement, so he decided to shake it off, reasoning with himself that he was just being overly cautious. But as he resumed his patrol, every shadow, every rustle, and every whisper of the wind made him more alert, his instincts telling him that the long quiet that had blanketed their city might soon be disrupted. He only had a small amount of time left in his shift, anyway.

Then, a new scent filled his nose. Something he had never smelled before. What was that? Something was definitely wrong.

Curiosity piqued, the scout paused and took a long, deep inhale. The smell was odd, out of place in the familiar backdrop of earth, moss, and the damp coolness of the surrounding forest. This was... fresher, like an open field after a summer rain, combined with something metallic, like cold steel. And maybe leather?

He tried to place the scent in his vast memory of smells, but it eluded him. The Shadowalkers, for all their prowess, relied heavily on their sense of smell just as much as their sight and hearing. Each scent told a story, and this one was a mystery. He strained his ears, but heard nothing out of the ordinary.

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Furrowing his brow, he tried to discern where the smell was coming from. The wind carried it from the direction of the mountains and the river. Was it possible that someone had come from that direction? The very thought sent a chill down his spine. That route was deemed inaccessible, especially from the river's side.

Deciding it was best to report this unfamiliar scent to his superiors, the scout returned to the city before the horn rang. He hoped that he was wrong, that it was just some natural occurrence he hadn't encountered before. But deep down, an alarming sense of dread began to root.

***

Rubbing my temples, I took a moment to gather myself amidst the elemental chaos, my eyes darting to the earth mage who was making his way toward me. He was muddy, with sweat streaming down his brow. He seemed drained, like he had poured every ounce of his energy into the task I gave him.

It had been a stressful few hours as we made our way down the river, crossing at certain points with ice and earth bridges. My team was exhausted and needed to rest while I put the fire and water mages to work.

"Report, Eldrin," I called out, motioning for him to come over. I fired up my party interface to monitor everyone's mana usage.

Wiping the mud off his hands, he gave me a weary nod, "The inner walls have weak points, especially near the western gate. The rumbling did more than we hoped. I've created fissures deep enough to exploit. Taking away the earth from that location will do it."

I nodded, thinking about the steam cannon I had brought. "Nice. What did you see?"

He took a moment to catch his breath, his eyes drifting to where our fire mages worked closely with the water mages. With synchronized movements, fireballs were being thrown into the water, sending thick clouds of steam into the air. The water mages, showing impressive skill, were bending and shaping these clouds, moving them strategically over the mountain pass toward the city. The ice mages waited for their turn, relaxing near the river.

The sight was mesmerizing. The steam clouds hung heavily, becoming a curtain that would soon envelop the city, obscuring their vision and dampening their senses.

"Guard patrols are still frequent, but their numbers seem... off. I couldn't spot many on the walls, which was surprising. I heard noises from the inner parts of the city."

I nodded. "They probably don't get attacked very often up here, if ever."

He sighed, looking toward the mages working on the clouds. "Whatever we're doing, we should do it fast. Those clouds won't last forever."

I agreed. "Once the clouds blanket the city, it will be game time."

Mara wiped some water from her brow. "They're doing good. It's getting pretty cloudy in here. We should be in for a show once the ice mages cool it."

"You ready? I need you to keep these guys in the right positions out there! I don't have any other way to communicate with everyone."

Mara nodded. "I'm ready. I can feel the presence of the monks. They're here, waiting for us. At least three spirits and a lot of mana."

I gave her a kiss and one last look. "Let's get our squads in position."

I clapped my hands together, trying to rally everyone's spirits. I jumped on a nearby ledge, and everyone looked up at me."Alright, team, this is it. We have one shot at this, and we need to make it count. Let's get into position and wait for our signal. The moment those clouds cover Niridge, we strike."