Chapter 294
Chapter 294
Ethan pov
I’m the first to wake up, like always. The moment my eyes open, I hear the soft chirping of birds far away and feel the cool morning air brushing against my skin.
A grin spreads across my face. It’s always like this. My brothers are still sprawled out beside me, snoring softly, their faces completely relaxed. They look so peaceful, so fuckin’ unaware.
Honestly, without me, they’d probably sleep right through an earthquake.
I stretch my arms out and sit up, careful not to disturb them. The last thing I need is grumpy brothers ruining my morning.
Today feels like it could be something different and big. I slip out of the cave as quietly as I can, my bare feet making almost no sound on the cool, packed earth. Being sneaky is kind of my specialty.
As I step into the forest, the early morning light filters through the trees. The woods feel alive but calm, a perfect mix of peace and hidden excitement.
I decide to do a little exploring. Nothing serious - just stretching my legs and seeing what’s out there. Maybe I’ll spot something unusual or interesting. Who knows? Life’s more fun when you don’t have a plan.
Not long into my walk, something catches my eye. A quick flash of movement in the distance. I freeze, my senses sharpening as I scan the trees. There it is again - someone moving through the forest.
My heart skips a beat as I recognize the figure. It’s that rogue we ran into yesterday. What’s he doing out here? Curiosity gets the better of me. I can’t just let this opportunity pass. With a grin, I jog over to him, making no effort to hide my approach.
“Hey there, Mr. Brooding Rogue,” I call out, throwing a playful smirk his way. “Fancy meeting you here. Didn’t think I’d see you again so soon. Did the forest call your name, or are you just out here enjoying the scenery?”
The rogue stops in his tracks and turns to glare at me, his dark eyes narrowing. He’s clearly not in the mood for jokes, but that’s never stopped me before. I keep going.
“What’s the matter? Lost your way? Or maybe you’re tracking down some secret treasure? If that’s the case, I’d be happy to lend a hand - you know, for a small cut of the loot.” I raise an eyebrow and grin wider. “C’mon, lighten up a little.”
He crosses his arms, his expression nothing but irritation and impatience. “This isn’t a game,” he snaps. “The hunters are mobilizing. They’re about to attack the kingdom.”
That wipes the grin off my face. “Oh, is that all? Hunters attacking? No big deal. I’ll just round up my squirrel friends, and we’ll handle it.”
The rogue doesn’t even crack a smile. He glances around, his body tense like he’s expecting someone to jump out of the shadows. When he speaks again, his voice is lower, more serious. “You don’t get it. The kingdom is in real danger. We don’t have time for your jokes.”
I drop the act. “Okay, fine,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender. “But how do you know all this? Spying on the hunters, are you?”
He lets out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve been watching them for a while. Tracking their movements, listening in on their plans. I know more than I should, and it’s not safe to talk about it out here.”
Now he’s got my full attention. If this guy’s been keeping tabs on the hunters, he might be our best shot at staying ahead of them. I tilt my head, studying him. “So, you’re some kind of secret agent now, huh? Keeping all the juicy intel to yourself. That’s not very friendly.”
He glares at me again. “It’s not about being friendly. It’s about survival. If you and your brothers want to make a difference, you need to take this seriously. I can show you where the hunters’ camp is, but only if you’re ready to act and help those who will end up stuck in a pointless war for no fault of their own.”
I blink, taken aback. He’s offering to lead us straight to the heart of the enemy’s operations? That’s... unexpected. But also kind of perfect.
A slow grin spreads across my face. “You’re serious?” I ask, my voice laced with mock surprise. “You’re really going to trust us with that kind of information?”
“I don’t have much of a choice,” he mutters. “You want to help, or you want to keep wasting time?”
“Alright, alright,” I say, nodding. “We’re in. Lead the way, oh wise and broody one.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t argue. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he motions for me to follow. “Not yet. Get your brothers first. Meet me back here in an hour. And don’t take too long.”
I give him a mock salute. “You got it. We’ll be here, ready to save the day.”
As he disappears into the forest, I turn back toward the cave, my mind racing. This is it. Our chance to make a real difference. Sure, the rogue’s all doom and gloom, but there’s no denying that this could be huge. And honestly, I’m kind of excited.
I reach the cave and crouch down near Elias and Everett. They’re not sleeping anymore, deep in some weird discussion, that must be why they don’t notice the moment I creep up on them. I take a moment to appreciate how peaceful they look, stuck in their little fantasy. Then, with a mischievous grin, I lean in close and shout, “Rise and shine, boys! Adventure calls!”
They both jolt up, groaning and glaring at me. “What is wrong with you?” Elias mumbles.
“Do you ever stop being annoying?” Everett adds.
“Not a chance. Now, come on. We’ve got work to do. The rogue’s got some big news, and we need to be ready.”
Elias sits up, frowning. “What kind of news?”
“The hunters are planning something big,” I say, my tone growing serious. “And he’s going to show us where their camp is. But we have to move fast. I have a feeling that once we find out what’s going on with those fuckers, they’ll lead us to Ash. Boom, one bird, two stones, or whatever the saying is.”