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As they sat under the cover of the tree's branches, Y/N took a moment to steady herself. Her mind was swirling with fragments of earlier events, but she knew now was her chance to piece together the bigger picture. Glancing at D.O., she decided to ask what had been bothering her since her return to camp.

"What's really going on here, D.O.?" she began, her voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "I know there's some kind of fight happening, but... it's been over a month. I don't even know the full story."

D.O. sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk. He seemed to weigh his words carefully before replying, his tone serious. "It's not the kind of fight you're thinking about. There's no outright war or constant attacks. It's... more complicated than that."

Y/N frowned slightly, tilting her head. "Complicated how?"

"They're not attacking us outright," D.O. explained. "At least, not physically. They've been sneaking around, trying to steal our supplies. We've caught them a few times, spying on us. But the moment they realize they're spotted, they just run off. It's frustrating."

"Spying?" Y/N repeated, her brow furrowing. "That doesn't sound like a full-on gang tactic. Are they organized?"

D.O. nodded grimly. "Somewhat. It's... strange, honestly. Most of the ones we've caught spying on us are girls, young ones. But their leader is an older man, probably in his early forties, maybe mid-forties. And there are a few men with them too, but we're not sure if they're survivors traveling with the group or actual fighters."

Y/N's expression hardened as she absorbed the details, filing away the key points. A group led by an older man, young girls involved in espionage, and unclear motives. It was puzzling, to say the least.

"So... what do they actually want?" she asked, her voice measured.

D.O. shrugged. "That's the thing-we don't know. They never stay long enough for us to figure it out. The girls we catch spying always run before we can get any answers."

"What about the face-to-face meeting you were supposed to have?" Y/N pressed. "Didn't you plan to negotiate or at least talk it out?"

D.O. let out a short, frustrated laugh. "That's another mess. Their leader didn't even show up. We ended up talking to one of his right-hand people instead. They claimed the leader was 'busy with work' and couldn't meet us for some time. It's like talking to shadows-nothing solid ever comes of it."

Y/N frowned. "And the school? I heard something about someone trying to get into it."

D.O.'s gaze darkened slightly. "Yeah. That happened about a week ago. It was late at night when Xiumin spotted someone sneaking toward the old school building. He managed to intercept them before they got inside, but-same story-they ran before we could get anything useful out of them. Three girls, this time. Always the same pattern. They slip in, we catch them, they vanish."

"What were they after in the school?"

"No idea," D.O. admitted, shaking his head. "We didn't find anything missing or disturbed. But it's... odd. They seem determined to get to specific places, but they never stick around long enough to do any real damage. It's like they're trying to send a message, but we're not getting it."

Y/N leaned back against the branch, her mind racing. The more she heard, the more it sounded like this wasn't just about stealing supplies. It felt calculated, deliberate, as if there was a larger purpose she couldn't yet see.

"They're keeping you on edge, wearing you down," she said finally, her voice quiet but firm. "It's not just about supplies. They're playing a long game, whatever it is."

D.O. nodded, a grim look on his face. "That's what we're afraid of. And until we figure out their real goal... we're stuck playing defense."

Y/N's gaze drifted toward the horizon, her mind already working on potential strategies. Whatever this group was up to, it wasn't random. And if there was one thing she had learned in her years of surviving, it was that understanding your enemy's motives was the key to staying one step ahead.

D.O. suddenly straightened, as if remembering something crucial. "Actually, wait-I almost forgot," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We got new intel just yesterday. Their leader's finally agreed to meet us. It's supposed to happen in the next three or four days."

Y/N turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "Seriously? After all this time?"

"Yeah," D.O. confirmed, his tone cautious. "It's been dragging on for so long, I didn't think it would actually happen. But that's what their messenger said. If they're not bluffing, we'll finally get some answers."

Y/N frowned, her mind racing. The timing felt deliberate. After weeks of cat-and-mouse games, their leader was suddenly ready to talk? It didn't sit right with her. "And you trust them?"

D.O. hesitated. "Not entirely," he admitted. "But if there's even a chance we can resolve this without more trouble, it's worth taking. The others are already planning for the meeting-backup squads, vantage points, escape routes. You know, just in case it's a trap."

"It could be," Y/N said, her voice thoughtful. "But if they're finally willing to meet, there's a reason. Either they're getting desperate, or they've achieved whatever they've been planning all this time."

D.O. nodded grimly. "Exactly. That's what Minho's been saying too. We'll know soon enough, though. Until then, we're keeping our guard up."

Y/N leaned back against the tree, her thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. Whoever this group was, they weren't amateurs. And if their leader was as calculated as his tactics suggested, the upcoming meeting could be a turning point-for better or worse.

She glanced at D.O. "Do me a favor. When the meeting happens, make sure I'm in the loop. I don't want to be left in the dark."

D.O. gave her a faint smile. "Don't worry. You'll know."

As the night deepened, Y/N's unease grew. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous. And she intended to be ready for it.

---

As they sat there, D.O. trusted Y/N enough to sleep while she kept watch. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed movement on the tree outside the walls. Quietly, she stood up, careful not to disturb anyone. She took the binoculars nearby and focused on the figure.

Park Hyungsik.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. What does he want now? Why is he here at this hour?

She couldn't shake the questions from her mind. And then there was something that unsettled her more-why had he suddenly disappeared when they were coming to the camp? Why hadn't he stayed with them longer? Her gaze shifted around, ensuring no one was watching. She knew him. She'd recognized him immediately, even from this distance.

But she wasn't going to let him know that. She wasn't going to acknowledge the fact that she knew him from her childhood. She couldn't afford to-not yet.

The last time they met was just yesterday, when he had helped her and her team reach this camp, at a time when she had barely been conscious. He had been there, guiding them, making sure they were safe, when she was vulnerable and barely holding on. His actions spoke volumes-he had gained her trust by showing up when it mattered. He could have left, yet he had stayed, ensuring their safety and bringing them to the edge of Minho's camp. It was clear that he meant no harm, but there was still so much she didn't understand.

She never even had a chance to thank him properly, and yet he continued to appear when least expected. He maintained her trust. She couldn't deny that. But she still wasn't ready to let her guard down completely, not when there were so many unanswered questions about his motives.

As she stared at him through the binoculars, she noticed something else. He was looking directly at her.

It was like he knew she was watching him. It felt like an unspoken invitation, the silent question in his eyes-Did she want to talk?

Y/N hesitated. She debated in her mind, weighing her options. She could stay here, keep her distance, or she could go meet him. Would it be worth it? Could she afford to risk it?

She glanced back toward the camp. D.O. was asleep, trusting her to keep watch. His trust in her was unwavering. She couldn't betray that, and she knew she couldn't allow herself to get distracted for too long. But something about the way Hyungsik was standing there, waiting, pulled at her. He's not going to leave until I decide.

Y/N sighed, her decision made. Slowly, she made her way toward the edge of the camp, quietly slipping into the shadows. As she got closer, her thoughts churned. She needed answers, but she didn't want to reveal too much. Not to him. Not yet.

When she reached him, he didn't look surprised to see her. He just stood there, his gaze steady. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence hung thick between them.

Hyungsik broke it first, his voice low but steady. "I just wanted to check on you. You should be resting, Y/N. Don't push yourself too hard."

She crossed her arms, not allowing her emotions to show. "I'm fine."

He looked at her for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You don't have to do everything alone. I know you're strong, but even the strongest need a break."

Y/N shifted uncomfortably, not liking how he seemed to understand her too well. "I don't need anyone's help," she said, her tone defensive. "You helped us once, that's enough."

Hyungsik's eyes softened, though he didn't argue. Instead, he said, "I didn't bring you here just to leave you stranded. You were in no condition to fight when I found you, and I couldn't just walk away."

Her heart thudded, the memories of her vulnerability coming back to her in flashes. She quickly pushed those thoughts aside, unwilling to let him see the cracks in her defenses. "I'm fine now. I'm capable of looking after myself."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I can see that. But don't forget, even the best fighters need to rest. Don't push yourself too hard."

Y/N paused, her words caught in her throat. She didn't know why, but his concern-it felt real. More real than anything else in this broken world.

"Thank you," she said quietly, more to herself than to him. She quickly turned her back on him, walking back toward the camp without looking back.

Hyungsik didn't stop her, but she could feel his eyes on her as she disappeared into the shadows.

As she walked, a single thought echoed in her mind: Maybe he isn't as much of a stranger as I thought.

---

As what felt like hours passed, the fire flickered and crackled softly, casting long shadows across the yard. The rest of the group had slowly filtered back into the shelter to sleep, but Suga, Hobi, Minho, and Sehun remained seated around the fire, the weight of their conversation hanging heavily in the air. They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the flickering light dancing on their weary faces.

Minho was the first to break the silence, his voice low and thoughtful. "We've come a long way, haven't we? From that day until now... I never thought we'd be here, together, like this."

Hobi glanced over at Minho, his tired eyes reflecting the same weariness. "It's been hard. But we've all made it this far. Doesn't matter how much we screwed up, we've still got each other."

Sehun sat slightly apart from the others, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his gaze fixed on the fire. His earlier outburst had left him drained, but the pain in his chest didn't go away. "I didn't think I'd make it without her," Sehun muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not after what happened. But now... I'm not going to let anyone make the same mistake again."

Suga, who had been quiet for a while, let out a long sigh. "I don't know what to say anymore. Apologies seem empty, don't they? No matter how many times we say it, it won't change the past. It won't bring back what we lost." He paused, rubbing his temples as though the weight of his own regret was too much to bear. "But we can't keep carrying this guilt. We need to move forward."

Minho nodded solemnly, his gaze hardening with determination. "We will. But we can't forget what we've learned from it. What we've lost. We owe it to Y/N to keep pushing forward, to make sure we don't fail her again."

Sehun clenched his fists, the anger from earlier still simmering beneath the surface. "I know. I won't forget. She's been through too much already. I won't let anyone put her in that kind of danger again." He finally looked up at Minho, Hobi, and Suga. "But I don't think any of us can fix what we did. We can only do better now. And that's all we can do."

Hobi placed a hand on Sehun's shoulder, offering him a reassuring squeeze. "You're right. We can't change the past, but we've all got a chance to make things right. For Y/N, for us, for everyone we care about."

The night air grew colder as the fire began to dwindle, the embers casting an orange glow against the dark sky. No one spoke for a while, the silence between them thick with reflection. Each man carried his own burden, but they all understood that it was the shared pain that would push them forward, not the guilt.

As the last of the embers flickered out, Minho finally stood up, breaking the stillness. "We've got a long road ahead. We need to keep moving forward, together. We don't have the luxury of dwelling on what we can't change."

Sehun stayed seated for a moment longer, his eyes lingering on the empty space where Y/N had been earlier. He still couldn't shake the weight of the emotions that had surged through him. But he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't lose her again.

Without another word, he stood up and followed the others into the shelter, the quiet night settling around them. The fire had burned out, but the resolve in their hearts burned brighter than ever. Tomorrow, they would face whatever came next, together. And that was all they could ask for.

---

Sehun pushed open the door to Y/N's room, his expression softening for a moment, expecting to find her resting inside. But the bed was empty, the blanket neatly folded as if untouched. His brows knitted in confusion.

"Y/N?" he called softly, stepping inside and glancing around. There was no response.

He quickly moved to check the small adjoining bathroom, then the nearby supply rooms, and even the storage closet. The clinic felt eerily quiet, the absence of her presence gnawing at his nerves.

"Where is she?" Sehun muttered, his voice growing more anxious. He ran out of the clinic, his boots pounding against the floor as he hurried through the hallways, checking every corner and shadow. His mind raced with possibilities, but he refused to complete the darkest of them.

Hobi and Suga, who hadn't yet ventured far from the fire, paused when they heard the hurried footsteps. They exchanged puzzled glances before turning toward the sound.

"Sehun?" Hobi called out, his voice tinged with concern.

Sehun looked up, his face pale and drawn. He didn't stop running, but his words spilled out in a rush as they approached him. "Y/N's not in her room-she's not in any room in the clinic! She's gone!"

Hobi's eyes widened, and Suga cursed under his breath, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, the three of them split up, each scanning different areas of the base.

As they searched, Sehun's heart pounded against his ribs. The thought of her being hurt-or worse-sent chills down his spine. His hands trembled as he opened doors, peered into shadows, and called her name, his voice tinged with panic.

Suga suddenly froze, his gaze locking onto the field near the horse stables. A flicker of hope crossed his face as he sprinted in that direction, calling over his shoulder, "Check the stables! Orion and Astra are still here!"

The others followed quickly, relief mingling with their urgency. If her horses were still here, she hadn't left the base. That was something, at least.

But where was she? Why had she left her room, and why hadn't she told anyone?

---

As they confirmed Orion and Astra were still in the stables, a flicker of hope steadied them briefly. But it wasn't enough to stop their frantic search.

"We need to check the housing area," Sehun said, his voice tight with urgency.

They broke into a sprint again, heading toward the cluster of houses within the base. The quiet of the night was interrupted by their hurried footsteps and ragged breaths.

From his lookout in the tall treehouse, Baekhyun glanced down at the commotion below. He squinted through the dim light, recognizing Sehun and the two newcomers running below. Concern etched on his face, he called out, "Sehun? What's going on?"

Sehun skidded to a stop and looked up, his voice sharp and desperate. "Baekhyun! Have you seen Y/N? Anywhere?"

Baekhyun tilted his head, lowering his binoculars momentarily. "Wait a second, let me check."

Sehun, Hobi, and Suga stood below the treehouse, their eyes darting around as if Y/N might suddenly appear from the shadows. Sehun's heart thudded against his chest, every second stretching unbearably.

Baekhyun raised his binoculars again, scanning the perimeter near the walls of the base. He focused on a cluster of trees, frowning as he thought he saw movement. Adjusting the focus, he caught sight of her-Y/N, perched in the middle of a tree, her figure partially hidden by the leaves. She appeared calm, keeping watch over the area with a quiet intensity. It looked like she had climbed over the wall to get there.

"There she is," Baekhyun called down. "Middle tree by the wall. Looks like she's on watch duty."

But Sehun didn't wait to hear the rest. The moment Baekhyun mentioned her location, he bolted toward the direction of the trees. His breath hitched as relief and frustration mingled in his chest.

"Sehun, wait!" Suga called out, but the younger man didn't stop.

Hobi and Suga exchanged exasperated glances before chasing after him. They followed his determined figure into the night, their own urgency fueled by the need to confirm she was safe.

When Sehun finally reached the tree Baekhyun had indicated, he looked up, his eyes narrowing as he spotted her perched calmly in the branches, her silhouette illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

"Y/N!" Sehun shouted, his voice breaking through the stillness of the night.

---

At the sound of Sehun's sharp voice, a figure on a nearby tree shifted. D.O., who had fallen asleep trusting Y/N to keep watch, startled awake. He blinked groggily, scanning the area before realizing it was Sehun calling out to Y/N.

In the middle tree, Y/N turned her head toward the commotion, spotting Sehun, Suga, and Hobi approaching below. She sighed, her calm exterior hiding the slight embarrassment she felt for being caught like this. Without a word, she began climbing down.

Her movements were steady at first, but her body wasn't fully recovered yet. As she reached a lower branch, her foot slipped. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she lost her balance, but before she could hit the ground, Sehun was there.

He caught her with both hands, steadying her as she stumbled into his arms. His chest heaved with relief and frustration, his grip firm as if he wouldn't let her go again.

"What were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice low but brimming with concern. "You're not well enough to be out here, let alone climbing trees!"

Y/N straightened herself,