The cave was quieter than usual. Even the flickering lights from their portable energy source seemed dimmer than before.
The storm had passed hours ago, but what it left behind wasn't debris or destruction—it was silence. Heavy, crushing silence.
No words.
No plans.
No progress.
Kael sat near the edge of the cave, facing away from everyone, his damp coat draped over his shoulder. His eyes were half-lidded, staring out into the blackened storm horizon, where the jagged trees of R22 swayed under invisible weight. Ravager stood behind him like a silent guardian, its reinforced armor scarred, glistening from the rain. It wasn't just a machine—it was what was left of his soul.
Tyren had his back pressed to a support pillar, arms crossed, gaze locked on the floor, lips tight. Brawler's plates had dried, but its operator was still soaked, still simmering beneath the surface.
Ziya had not moved for a long while. She sat beside the cave's inner wall, knees pulled to her chest, a damp blanket wrapped tightly around her frame. Her normally vibrant gaze was hidden behind her arms, her hair slightly curled from the humidity.
She hadn't spoken since the storm.
But she wanted to.
---
Misha and Rynn Whisper Nearby
Rynn nudged Misha with her elbow and whispered, "So? She's been staring at him for hours now."
Misha sighed dramatically. "Because she's embarrassed. Don't you remember your first time being stared at like that?"
Rynn smirked. "Yeah. I kicked the guy in the shin."
Both chuckled softly.
"She's not like us," Misha said. "She actually feels things. That stare from Tyren during the storm? You could practically hear the tension."
"She should talk to him."
"She will," Misha said. "I just hope she doesn't get burned."
---
Ziya Gathers Courage
Ziya wiped her face and stood up. Her legs wobbled from sitting too long. She inhaled sharply and walked toward Tyren, who still hadn't moved.
Her steps echoed softly across the cave. Everyone noticed—but pretended not to.
"Tyren," she said softly, almost nervously.
He looked up slightly, his expression unreadable.
She hesitated, then crouched beside him, holding her hands together. "I just… wanted to say I'm sorry. If I made things weird. During the storm, I—"
He cut her off.
"It was a mistake."
Ziya blinked. Her lips parted, but she couldn't form words.
Tyren's voice was flat, sharp, unfeeling. "It meant nothing. That moment. I shouldn't have looked, but I did. That's on me."
Ziya's eyes dropped to the floor.
"I can't do anything about that now. I'm not… someone you should get close to," he continued. "Not here. Not ever."
She nodded slowly. "I get it. Sorry."
As she stood up to leave, Tyren's voice softened—barely.
"But I am sorry."
She paused. Didn't turn back. Just walked away, back to her corner.
---
The Girls React
Ziya wrapped herself tighter in the blanket. She didn't cry. But she didn't speak, either.
Misha leaned over. "That didn't go well, huh?"
"I messed up," Ziya mumbled.
"No, he messed up," Rynn interjected, crossing her arms. "That guy's got the emotional range of a dry spoon."
"I shouldn't have done anything. I misread everything."
Misha smiled gently. "Or… maybe he's just scared. You know how Kael and Tyren are. They've been betrayed. Abandoned. Rejected. Love is not on their radar."
Ziya peeked out from under the blanket. "But I didn't mean to start anything."
Rynn raised an eyebrow. "Didn't mean to? Girl, your whole soul was in your eyes when you looked at him."
Ziya's face turned crimson again.
Misha nudged her. "Just let it breathe. If he's worth it, he'll come around."
Then she grinned mischievously. "Or Kael's still available. And that man—"
"—will kill you if you flirt with him," Rynn added. "Don't forget Ryssa. She may act composed, but the second you smile too long at Kael, she'll show up with a war hammer."
Ziya groaned and buried herself deeper in the blanket.
---
Kael's Quiet Watch
Kael watched everything from the shadows.
He'd seen Tyren's response. Ziya's crushed body language. The girls trying to cheer her up.
And he didn't say a word.
This was not his battlefield.
Not yet.
He just closed his eyes and leaned back against Ravager.
---
Tyren's Conflict
Back at the crates, Tyren sat motionless.
He gritted his teeth and squeezed his hands into fists.
"I shouldn't have said that," he muttered under his breath.
But he couldn't afford softness. Not on this cursed planet. Not again.
He remembered what happened last time he let someone in—how they used it against him. He wasn't going to walk into that trap again.
Still… something about the way Ziya looked at him lingered. The way her voice cracked. The hurt she didn't deserve.
He clenched his jaw harder.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again.