By midday, they had cleared the worst of the woods, finding a cave hidden behind a collapsed mining shaft. Inside, it was dry, dark, and barely safe—but it would do.
Aria built a fire while Rhea tended to Kael's wound with surprisingly steady hands. Kael groaned but didn't complain. Much.
"I've had worse," he muttered.
"Then maybe you should stop running into bullets," Rhea replied. A spark of something—humor?—flickered in her.
Aria smiled faintly. "You two are getting along."
Kael rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it."
They sat in silence as the fire crackled.
Then Aria said, softly, "We need a plan. We can't just keep running."
"There's a safehouse in Sector Delta," Kael offered. "My old unit stashed weapons, tech... identities."
Rhea looked between them. "And after that?"
Aria met her gaze. "We find the others. If there are more like you... we bring them home."
Rhea's lips parted, stunned. "Home?"
"Yes," Aria said. "One we build ourselves."