The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the forest as Zyner, Rolf, and Lina moved cautiously through the underbrush. The sound of rustling leaves and distant hoots of owls filled the night air, heightening the tension in Zyner’s chest. 
Lina led the way, glancing back at them with wide, frightened eyes. “It’s not far. Just a little further,” she urged, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” Rolf asked, his voice low and steady, trying to keep the mood serious. “We can’t afford to get lost out here.”
“I know it is! I swear!” Lina insisted, her urgency making Zyner’s heart ache for her. “I saw them take him this way.”
Zyner looked at Rolf, concern etched on his face. “We need to trust her, Rolf. If she says this is the way, then we follow.”
Rolf sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, but we need to keep our voices down. If there are soldiers around, they’ll hear us.”
The trio pressed on, moving carefully as they navigated through the thick trees. The further they went, the more Zyner could feel the weight of their mission pressing down on him. 
“Do you think we’ll find him?” Lina asked, her voice trembling.
“We’ll do everything we can,” Zyner replied, trying to infuse as much reassurance into his tone as possible. “Just keep focusing on your brother. We’ll get him back.”
“What if they hurt him?” Lina’s voice cracked, and Zyner could see the fear etched in her features. 
“We’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” Rolf said firmly, his expression softening as he glanced at the girl. “You’re brave, Lina. Just keep your head up.”
As they trudged deeper into the woods, Zyner’s mind began to race. Thoughts of Kira flashed in his mind—where she was, what she was doing, and whether she was safe. He felt a pang of guilt for leaving her behind, but the look in Lina’s eyes had propelled him into action.
“What’s your brother like?” Zyner asked, trying to distract Lina from her worries.
“He’s funny,” Lina said, a small smile creeping onto her lips despite her fear. “He always makes jokes about everything. Even when he gets in trouble, he finds a way to make me laugh.”
“That sounds like a good brother,” Rolf added, encouraging her to share more.
“He is! He’s always looking out for me, too. He said he’d protect me from the soldiers, but then…” Her voice faltered, and tears welled in her eyes.
“We’ll make sure he’s okay,” Zyner reassured her, gently squeezing her shoulder. “You’re going to see him again. We’re not giving up.”
Lina nodded, wiping her eyes as they pressed on. A few moments of silence passed, the tension palpable. Suddenly, a faint sound reached their ears—a rustling, accompanied by low voices.
“Do you hear that?” Rolf whispered, his posture shifting into one of readiness. 
Zyner nodded, straining to listen. “It’s coming from up ahead. Stay close.”
They crouched low, moving stealthily toward the noise. As they crept through the brush, they finally spotted a flickering light between the trees—a campfire.
“Look!” Lina whispered urgently, pointing toward the source of the voices. “That’s them! That’s where they must be!”
Zyner could see a group of men gathered around the fire, their silhouettes stark against the flames. He counted four soldiers, their faces shadowed but the threat in their postures unmistakable.
“We need a plan,” Rolf murmured, eyeing the soldiers with concern. “We can’t just rush in.”
“Maybe we can create a distraction,” Zyner suggested, his mind racing. “If we make a noise over there, it might draw them away from the fire.”
Lina’s eyes brightened. “I could throw a rock! It’ll make a loud sound!”
“Good idea, but we’ll need to time it right,” Rolf replied, looking at Zyner. “You’ll need to get close enough to grab Tomas while I keep an eye on the others.”
Zyner nodded, his heart racing. “Let’s do it.”
As they positioned themselves behind a thick tree, Lina picked up a small rock and nodded at Zyner. “On three?”
“On three,” Zyner confirmed, his pulse quickening. “One… two… three!”
Lina hurled the rock into the underbrush a few feet away, and it crashed into the leaves with a loud thud. The soldiers jerked their heads toward the sound, and Zyner seized the moment.
“Now!” he hissed, darting toward the fire.
Rolf followed close behind, and Lina kept to the shadows as they approached the camp. The soldiers, distracted, began to move cautiously toward the noise, leaving the area around the fire unguarded.
Zyner’s heart raced as he spotted a young boy tied to a tree, his eyes wide with fear. “Tomas!” he called out, rushing forward to untie him.
“Tomas!” Rolf shouted, creating more noise to draw the soldiers away.
“Who are you?” the boy gasped, his voice shaky as Zyner hurried to free him.
“Friends,” Zyner replied urgently, cutting the ropes with a small dagger he had. “We’re here to rescue you!”
“Quick, we have to go!” Rolf yelled, glancing back at the campfire as one soldier turned around, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
As the last rope fell away, Tomas looked up at Zyner, confusion mingled with hope. “I thought I was going to die,” he whispered.
“Not today,” Zyner assured him, grabbing his hand. “We’re getting you out of here.”
Suddenly, one of the soldiers turned back, eyes blazing with fury. “Hey! Get back here!” he shouted, lunging toward them.
“Run!” Rolf commanded, taking a protective stance in front of the boys.
Zyner and Tomas bolted back into the trees, but not before the soldier lunged forward, grabbing Rolf’s arm. 
“Get off me!” Rolf growled, shaking him off and throwing a punch.
Zyner glanced back to see the struggle, his heart pounding as he pulled Tomas along. “Keep going!” he shouted, desperation clawing at him.
Lina appeared beside them, her eyes wide with fear. “Where’s Rolf?”
“He’ll catch up!” Zyner insisted, determination surging through him. “We can’t stop now!”
They raced through the underbrush, branches snapping under their feet as they pushed deeper into the woods. Behind them, the sounds of shouts and commotion echoed through the trees.
“Zyner, I can’t keep up!” Tomas cried, panting heavily.
“Just a little further!” Zyner encouraged, glancing back. “We’re almost there!”
Suddenly, they burst into a clearing, moonlight spilling over them like a lifeline. Zyner halted, looking around frantically. “Where is Rolf?” 
“I don’t know!” Lina exclaimed, panic rising in her voice.
“Zyner!” Rolf’s voice echoed from the shadows. He stumbled into the clearing, breathing heavily, his face flushed with exertion. “I’m here!”
“Thank the gods!” Zyner exclaimed, relief flooding through him. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Rolf panted, glancing back into the darkness. “But we need to move. They’ll be on our trail soon.”
“Let’s go!” Zyner said, grabbing Tomas’s hand again as they took off toward the treeline. They plunged into the shadows, adrenaline driving them forward as they escaped the grasp of the soldiers.
As they ran, Zyner’s mind raced with what lay ahead. They had successfully saved Tomas, but the dangers of the forest still loomed large. His resolve tightened; they would not only survive but would find a way to fight back.
“Stay close!” Zyner urged as they weaved through the trees. “We have to make it back to our camp before dawn.”
And with that, they pressed on into the night, a sense of hope flickering in the darkness, ignited by their shared courage.