"Everyone gather up," Alexander called, his voice carrying without shouting – a skill I'd always appreciated in leaders. "We need to discuss our next move."
The group converged, forming a loose circle around him. I positioned myself where I could observe everyone's reactions. Nicole kept her distance from me, though I caught her glancing my way twice.
"We need to relocate," Alexander said, pointing toward the rocky outcropping visible in the distance. "That formation offers better defensive positioning, more cover, and potentially a more stable base of operations."
"Is that necessary?" Kaisen asked, shifting nervously. "We just set up camp."
"This location is too exposed," Alexander replied evenly.
I nodded. "Makes sense. Better position means better survival odds."
Alexander gestured toward the rocks. "Before we move the entire group, I need a small team to scout ahead. Confirm the route is clear, assess any potential threats, and verify the water source at the base of the formation."
"I'll go," I said, stepping forward.
"Appreciated, Valentine," Alexander said. "I'll need three more volunteers."
I considered the group, weighing strengths and weaknesses. Alexander needed to stay with the main group – his barrier abilities were our best defense if the sentinels returned. Theo, our only healer, was too valuable to risk on a scouting mission. Josh and Dave were decent porters but lacked combat experience. Shikamaru would be useful for his shadow abilities, but his shadows are more useful here.
"I'll join," Yuzuriha said, stepping forward with a smile that promised both trouble and efficiency. Her fluid abilities would be useful if we encountered resistance.
"Count me in," Jin added, his steady voice reassuring. The shield specialist made sense – defensive capabilities without removing our main barrier user from camp.
Elise raised her hand. "I volunteer as well." Her lightning manipulation could provide ranged support if needed.
"Perfect," Alexander said, nodding in approval. "The four of you will scout ahead while the rest of us prepare to move. I want you back within three hours, regardless of what you find."
Kaisen, who had been hovering at the edge of the group, suddenly piped up. "Wait, I should go too." His eyes darted between Yuzuriha and me. "Five people is better than four, right? More protection?"
Alexander frowned slightly. "Four is the optimal number for a scouting party. Small enough to move quietly, large enough for mutual protection."
"But—" Kaisen began.
"He has a point," I interrupted, surprising myself. "If we encounter something, having a berserker could give us the edge we need." I didn't particularly want Kaisen along, but his combat abilities, despite his personality flaws, could prove useful.
Alexander considered this, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Five-person team. But Kaisen, you follow orders precisely. No independent actions."
"Absolutely," Kaisen agreed eagerly, his eyes lingering uncomfortably on Yuzuriha. "I'll be right behind you guys."
"Preferably not directly behind," Yuzuriha muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.
Alexander handed me a small communicator device. "Check in every thirty minutes. If you miss a check-in, we'll assume you're in trouble."
I tucked the device into my pocket. "Understood."
"The rest of you, begin packing camp," Alexander continued, addressing the remaining group. "We move as soon as the scout team returns with the all-clear."
As the meeting broke up, Nicole caught my eye across the circle. She gave me a small nod – acknowledging our conversation from last night, perhaps, or simply wishing me luck. Either way, I returned the gesture before turning to gather my gear.
Twenty minutes later, our small scouting party set out across the desert landscape. The perpetual sunset of this gate painted everything in amber and gold, casting long shadows across the sand. I took point, with Jin and Elise behind me, Yuzuriha next, and Kaisen bringing up the rear.
The first mile passed in relative silence, everyone alert for any sign of danger. The twin suns beat down on us, though the gate's reduced gravity made the journey less taxing than it would have been on Earth.
"So," Yuzuriha said, breaking the silence as she caught up to walk beside me. "Sleep well last night?"
Her tone carried a suggestive edge that made me wonder if she'd noticed Nicole's exit from my tent that morning.
"Well enough," I replied noncommittally.
"I missed our little chat," she continued, her voice playful. "I came looking for you after my watch, but your tent was... occupied."
I glanced at her. "Were you spying on me, Yuzu?"
"Spying? No." She smiled, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Observing? Maybe a little. The princess seems to have taken a liking to you."
"She was scared," I said simply. "People do strange things when they're scared."
"Is that what you tell yourself?" Yuzuriha laughed softly. "That she crawled into your tent because she was scared?"
"Why else would she?"
Yuzuriha gave me an exaggerated once-over. "I can think of a few reasons."
I glanced left, noticing a patch of green about a quarter mile away. A forest? The splash of vibrant color stood out against the endless amber dunes. Something worth investigating on our way back, maybe.
"So if I get scared tonight, can I crawl into your tent too?" Yuzuriha asked, her question slicing through my thoughts. She maintained her playful smirk, purple eyes reflecting the twin suns overhead.
"What's wrong with yours?" I asked.
Yuzuriha gave a slight glance back to where Kaisen trailed behind us. He'd sidled up next to Elise and was gesturing wildly, his voice an eager mumble. Elise's face remained impassive, her attention fixed straight ahead as if he wasn't there.
"I find it... less comfortable than yours might be," Yuzuriha said, turning back to me.
I sighed. "I kick in my sleep, you know. And I'm a loud snorer."
"I've lived with worse." She shrugged, her shoulder brushing against mine as we walked. "Much worse."
I considered it. Yuzuriha was beautiful—that much was obvious—but more importantly, she was capable. Probably the fighter I trusted most besides Shikamaru. Having a good relationship with her would be beneficial while trapped in this gate.
But what if Nicole got scared again?
Wait. Why the hell should I care?
"Yuzu, I—"
"Hunters' lives are too dangerous to worry about petty things," she interrupted, reading my hesitation. "I have no problem sharing." Her tone was casual, but her eyes held mine longer than necessary.
I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. My Six Eyes suddenly caught movement about a hundred yards ahead—the distinctive undulation of sand that marked dune lurkers moving beneath the surface.
"Everyone stop," I said, raising my hand. The group halted immediately.
"What is it?" Jin asked, his body already shifting into a defensive stance.
"Dune lurkers. About a hundred yards ahead." I pointed toward the barely perceptible ripples in the sand. "Three of them."
"Should we go around?" Elise asked, her fingers already crackling with subtle electrical energy.
I pulled my twin blades from my inventory. "No need. I'll handle this."
"Allow me to assist you," Kaisen stepped forward, puffing out his chest. "My berserker abilities would—"
"Stay here," I said firmly. "Protect the others if more show up."
Before anyone could object, I activated Mana Reinforcement.
And then I moved.
The sand barely shifted under my feet as I crossed the distance. The first dune lurker sensed my approach too late. It erupted from beneath the sand, its segmented limbs flailing, multiple eyes swiveling to locate the threat. Its mandibles clicked in agitation.
I slid under its first desperate swipe, twin blades flashing in the perpetual sunset. The creature's chitin armor was tough, but my enhanced strength let me drive both blades deep into the joint where leg met body. The monster shrieked, a high-pitched sound that seemed to vibrate the air itself.
Two more strikes severed another leg. The creature thrashed, trying to burrow back into the sand for safety. I grabbed one of its remaining limbs and yanked it back to the surface. Three rapid slashes and it stopped moving.
The second lurker attacked from behind, sensing its companion's distress. I didn't bother turning around. Instead, I dropped flat as its pincers snapped where my head had been, then rolled to face it, blades already sweeping upward.
The creature was faster than the first one. It sidestepped—if something with eight legs could be said to sidestep—and sprayed a stream of paralyzing venom. I twisted away, the liquid spattering harmlessly on the sand.
"Getting clever, are we?" I murmured, circling the beast.
This one required six strikes instead of four. Two to disable its venom sacs, another to sever its primary sensory stalks, and three more to penetrate its thicker carapace. Even then, it took another moment to die, its legs twitching in the sand.
The third lurker had more sense than its companions. It was retreating, burrowing deep beneath the surface, creating a trail of disturbed sand as it fled.
Not today.
I sheathed one blade and drew the Ossuary Piercer from my dimensional inventory. The ceremonial spear gleamed in the amber light, the dragon's tooth at its tip seeming to drink in the sunlight. I hurled it with precision, the weapon streaking through the air like a javelin.
The spear pierced the sand and found its mark. A muffled shriek erupted from beneath the surface, and the sand stopped moving. I walked over, retrieved my spear, and yanked the dying creature partially from its sandy grave. One clean strike with my remaining blade ended its suffering.
I deactivated Mana Reinforcement and returned to the group, wiping monster ichor from my weapons.
"That was... efficient," Elise said, her eyebrows raised slightly.
"Incredible!" Kaisen exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration that reeked of insincerity. "The way you moved, Valentine! I've never seen anyone take down those things so quickly besides myself!"
I ignored him and nodded to Jin. "Area's clear. Let's keep moving."
Yuzuriha fell into step beside me again, a new appreciation in her eyes. "Nice work. Though I'm a little hurt you didn't let me play too."
"Next time," I promised. "Wouldn't want to hog all the fun."
She laughed. "So generous."
We walked in comfortable silence for a while. The rocky formation grew larger on the horizon, its jagged silhouette promising shelter and defensible positions. The forest I'd spotted earlier remained a green smudge to our left, seemingly untouched by the rest of the gate's amber palette.
"Jin," I said, breaking the quiet. "How is it hunting with your wife? Must be an interesting dynamic."
Jin's face transformed, his usual serious expression melting into something softer. His eyes practically glowed at the mention of Sonya.
"It's... everything," he said simply. "We complement each other perfectly. When I create an opening, she's already there to exploit it. When she needs protection, I'm already moving into position." He smiled, an expression so genuine it seemed out of place in this dangerous realm. "Fighting together feels like dancing."
"Love is a beautiful thing," Elise commented, surprising me. Her typically stoic demeanor had softened slightly.
"Must be nice," I said, "having someone you trust completely at your back."
Jin nodded. "It is. Though it comes with its own challenges. Every time she's in danger, I feel it like a physical pain." He touched the wedding band hanging from the chain around his neck. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything."
"So romantic," Yuzuriha cooed, though I caught the slight edge in her voice. "Finding love in this bloody business. Rare."
"Rare but not impossible," Jin said. "What about you, Valentine? Anyone special waiting back home?"
"Just my sister," I replied. "Noel is all the family I need."
"Are you close?" Jin asked.
"Very. Most of the hunting I do is to provide a better life for her."
The conversation shifted to more practical matters as we approached our destination. The rocky formation loomed larger now, revealing details hidden from a distance. What had appeared as simple rocks was actually a complex geological structure—part mesa, part canyon, with numerous crevices and plateaus.
"Look," Elise pointed toward the base of the formation. "Water."
She was right. A clear pool glistened at the foot of the rocks, fed by what appeared to be a natural spring. The water collected in a series of tiered pools before flowing into a larger basin.
"Is that... steam?" Jin asked, squinting.
"A hot spring," Yuzuriha said, her voice rising with excitement. "An actual hot spring!"
We approached cautiously, alert for any signs of danger, but the area seemed remarkably peaceful. The water was crystal clear, revealing small fish darting through the depths. Lush vegetation surrounded the pools, a stark contrast to the desert we'd been traversing.
"This is perfect," Jin said as we explored further. "Natural water source, multiple defensive positions, abundant food." He pointed to a flat plateau about thirty feet up the rock face. "That would make an ideal camp location. High ground, single access point, clear sightlines in all directions."
I climbed up to investigate the plateau. It was larger than it appeared from below, with enough space to comfortably accommodate our entire group. A natural overhang provided partial shelter, and the rock itself would help regulate temperature during the colder nights.
"You're right," I called down. "This is ideal."
Kaisen, who had been unusually quiet during our exploration, suddenly spoke up. "So we're staying here? For the whole six months?"
"Looks that way," I replied, descending to rejoin the others. "Unless we find something better, which seems unlikely."
"Six months," Yuzuriha mused, trailing her fingers through the hot spring. "Could be worse places to be trapped."
"Much worse," Elise agreed. "The water alone makes this location invaluable."
We spent another hour thoroughly exploring the area, mapping potential threats and resources. Jin identified several plants growing near the water I tried them all and noticed detoxification didn't activate for any of them. They are safe. Elise discovered a network of smaller caves that could serve as storage or private quarters. Yuzuriha found a higher vantage point that offered a view of nearly the entire oasis, perfect for posting guards.
"This exceeds expectations," Jin said as we gathered to head back to the main camp. "Alexander will be pleased."
"Should we take some of these fish back?" Kaisen asked, pointing to the pool. "Show the others what we've found?"
"Good idea," I admitted, surprised by the practical suggestion. "Jin, can you help me catch a few?"
Between the two of us, we managed to catch four decent-sized fish using improvised spears. Kaisen volunteered to carry them back, perhaps trying to redeem himself after his earlier behavior.
As we prepared to depart, Yuzuriha sidled up next to me again. "So, about tonight's sleeping arrangements..."
"Still worried about Kaisen?" I asked quietly.
She glanced over to where Kaisen was attempting to explain something to Elise, who was clearly not listening. "Let's just say I prefer better company."
"Fine," I relented. "But no hogging the blankets."
Her smile was triumphant. "Got it."
We began our journey back to the main camp, the twin suns still fixed in their eternal sunset position. The knowledge that we'd found a suitable—even ideal—location for our extended stay lifted everyone's spirits. Even I felt a certain satisfaction in the discovery.
"Six months," Jin said thoughtfully as we walked. "A long time to be away from home."
"We'll make it work," I replied. "We have water, food, defensible shelter. The essentials."
"And decent company," Yuzuriha added, bumping her shoulder playfully against mine.
Not the companions I would have chosen, perhaps, but not the worst to be stranded with either.
"Decent enough," I agreed, and continued toward camp, already planning our next move in this strange, amber world.