The night air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city beyond the dense woodland where Myst and Blaze were stationed. The enemy outpost sat in the valley below, its perimeter lights flickering at odd intervals.
From their vantage point on a rocky ledge, they had a clear view of the compound—but the job itself was dull.
"Two hours in," Blaze muttered, shifting his weight against the tree trunk behind him. "And not a damn thing has happened."
Myst didn't glance away from her binoculars. "I think that's the point of a stakeout."
"Yeah, but did it have to be us stuck out here? I bet Nyx and Shade got something way more exciting."
Myst sighed. "Would you rather be patching up wounds and stabilizing supply routes back at base?"
"Fine, you win."
The silence stretched between them, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves. Blaze fidgeted, picking at the fabric of his gloves. The quiet air making him uncomfortable compared to Myst.
"So," he said, dragging out the word. "You always this fun during missions, or do I just bring it out of you?"
Myst shot him a side glance. "Depends. You always this talkative?"
Blaze grinned. "Only when I'm trying to keep myself from dying of boredom."
She didn't reply, but the faintest twitch at the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement.
Then, a noise. A small rustling behind them.
Blaze was on his feet instantly, hand hovering over his weapon. Myst turned, eyes narrowing into the underbrush.
A moment later, a small figure emerged. A scrappy-looking fox, limping slightly, its fur matted with dirt.
Myst relaxed, lowering her weapon. Blaze, however, huffed a short laugh. "Chill. You were ready to take down a whole squad, and it's just a fox?"
She ignored him, stepping closer. The animal flinched but didn't flee. Its front paw was swollen, likely caught in a trap before escaping.
"You planning on nursing it back to health?" Blaze teased further, crouching beside her.
"It's injured," Myst said simply, eyeing the wound on the little one.
Blaze leaned on his elbows, watching as she reached into one of her pouches and pulled out a small strip of cloth.
"Seriously?"
"Well, do you have a better use for this?"
"Yeah. Like maybe, I don't know, not wasting supplies on a stray?"
'Well, ouch. I'm your stray before, dummy.' Myst didn't argue. She simply started wrapping the fox's paw with quick, careful movements. The animal stiffened but didn't resist.
Blaze watched, shaking his head with an amused smirk. "Didn't think you had a soft spot in times like this."
"I don't."
"You sure?"
Myst glanced at him then, a single brow raised. "You have an issue with helping something weaker than us?"
Blaze rolled his eyes. "Not what I said."
The moment was interrupted by a sharp crack in the distance, the snap of a boot against a branch. Both of them froze.
Myst's hand instinctively went to the fox, pulling it close as Blaze scanned the tree line.
A patrol. The soft red glow of visors passed through the trees. A pair of armed enforcers, moving in their direction.
"Shit," Blaze muttered under his breath.
They pressed themselves flat against the ground. The fox let out a faint whimper, and Myst instinctively placed a steadying hand over its fur.
Blaze shot her a look. "If that thing gets us caught—"
Myst silenced him with a sharp glance.
The patrol lingered, their boots crunching on the dry forest floor. For a moment, it felt like they would turn toward them.
Then, one of the soldiers muttered something through his comms.
A pause. Then they turned and walked away.
Myst and Blaze exhaled at the same time.
"See?" Myst whispered. "It didn't get us caught."
Blaze huffed, shaking his head.
As soon as the patrol was out of earshot, Myst released the fox, giving it a small nudge toward the safety of the underbrush.
Blaze stretched, shaking off the tension. "Alright, you win this one. But if that thing shows up at our base looking for food, it's your responsibility."
Myst gave him a small, knowing look. "Noted."
Blaze studied her for a second longer before smirking. "You really are stubborn, you know that?"
"And you're more reckless than me."
He let out a low chuckle. "Yeah, yeah."
They settled back into their positions, the mission still at hand, but the air between them felt different now—less distant, more familiar. More comforting than before.
And Blaze? He was starting to see why everyone in the Clan found Myst so damn interesting.