The group reacted swiftly to Astrid's command, sinking to the ground, and playing dead. The bear, imposing and terrifying, circled the group twice before determining they posed no threat. Silently, they tuned their ears to the bear's retreating sounds, waiting a moment longer to be sure of its departure.

An inquiry shattered the tense silence, coming from their left. "Are you all alright?" A new voice echoed through the trees. Slowly, as though rising from a long sleep, the group sat up. Adara was first, her hand flying to her face, clutching the bloody wound on the left side. The elderly woman and the little girl showered them with hasty thanks, then darted back the way they had come, their figures swallowed up by the wilderness.

Three teenagers, garbed similarly to their own, entered the group's line of sight. A collective gasp pierced the air at the sight of Adara's bloody face. The only girl of the newcomers darted to Adara's side, urgency in her voice, “Here, let me see.” 

Seeing Adara's hesitation, she quickly reassured, “My parents are the village healers. I’ve absorbed some of their knowledge. Here, I have a healing kit with me.”

Introductions were brief. The girl was Kenna, the muscle-bound teen was Atlas, and the other lanky boy was Keanu. As Kenna expertly attended to Adara's injury, cleaning it with a clear substance and then stitching it with professional ease, the rest of the group watched in silent awe. Adara gritted her teeth, suppressing an onslaught of curses as the needle pierced her skin.

Once Kenna was done, she applied a protective plaster over Adara's newly stitched wound, educating the group about its purpose. Packing up her equipment, she slung her bag back onto her shoulders, her duties completed.

As Storm helped Adara to her feet, the group took a moment to study their new acquaintances. Despite their youthful appearance, they seemed mature beyond their teenage years. Kenna was petite, her cornrowed black hair adorned with small beads and reaching her waist. Her flawless brown skin accentuated her hazel eyes, making her petite frame strikingly beautiful.

Atlas, standing slightly shorter than the cousins but more muscular, had a tanned complexion and grey eyes. Keanu, on the other hand, was significantly paler, with platinum blonde hair and brown eyes, bearing no semblance of Atlas's muscularity.

In the quiet aftermath of their encounter with the bear, Keanu spoke up, his voice soft yet carrying in the hush around them. "You are heading to the capital as well?" he asked, a note of shared camaraderie in his tone.

"Yes," Storm responded, his voice firm despite the day's events. "We're from the South-West Village."

Understanding dawned on the faces of Keanu, Kenna, and Atlas. "We're from the South-South-West Village," Kenna disclosed, pointing behind her. She then proposed, in a tone that was more of a request than a suggestion, "Mind if we travel together?"

"No problem," Astrid responded promptly, her response as practical as ever. "Travelling in a bigger group seems like a safer option as well."

Atlas, the hulking figure in their midst, chimed in. "Do you have a navigator?" he asked, his voice as solid as his physique suggested.

Kenji pointed to Adara and said in a matter-of-fact tone, “She is our navigator.” The trio's confession of their near-absent sense of direction was met with laughter and assurance from Astrid. Kenna, her hands still nursing Adara's wound, promised to tend to it daily and ensure the stitches would be removed when needed.

With the unspoken agreement of mutual aid, the group quickly fell into line behind Adara. As they navigated through the dense foliage, Atlas queried about the relationship between Storm and Adara. Taking the lead, Kenji quickly stated their sibling status, sidestepping any unnecessary explanations. Kenna's inquiry about their age led to the revelation that they were all of similar ages, with the newcomers being fifteen.

The fact that the newcomers had managed to delay their training till now intrigued Storm. The ensuing explanation about the plague that had ravaged the South-South-West village a few years back gave him his answer. The capital had mercifully decided to delay the trainees mandatory service by two years due to the crisis.

The day waned as they journeyed on, the glaring sun overhead gradually sinking toward the horizon. As sunset neared, they veered off the path to set up camp. Duties were shared, some gathered firewood while others prepared food. Kenji, ever the tea enthusiast, set to boiling water, where he then steeped his family's special tea leaves. The resulting aroma was a soothing end to a hectic day.

As their shared meal came to a close, Keanu raised a quiet question that echoed ominously around the campfire. "Have you had an encounter with bandits on your journey thus far?"

"Bandits?" Astrid and Kenji echoed simultaneously; their voices tinged with surprise.

“Unaware of this?” Kenna inquired, her head cocking in question.

The sombre nod from Astrid confirmed their ignorance on the subject. In response to their silent confusion, Atlas provided a chilling elaboration. The bandits, he explained, were a scourge plaguing travellers on these routes, stealing goods, and even taking lives. This revelation left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

Astrid, wide-eyed and clearly taken aback, murmured, "That's awful," the horror of the news echoing in her voice.

Silent glances exchanged between Adara and Storm, their faces hardened, their gaze almost tangible in its intensity. Storm’s low, threatening voice sliced through the heavy air, “Why weren’t we informed?”

Adara's voice, just as eerily calm and filled with controlled anger, speculated on the motivations of their leaders. “Could the capital be aware of this danger and ignoring it as a part of our trial?”  

Kenji’s ire was palpable as he contemplated their plight. “Are they deliberately placing us in peril?”

Astrid, her face flushed with indignation, voiced her outrage. “This is downright brutal. Testing our resilience during this journey is one thing, but risking our lives without giving us the appropriate training is beyond cruel.”

Kenna, her gaze averted, her voice soft with resignation, shared a grim perspective. “They are looking for the fittest survivors for their army.”

Adara, her laughter bitter and devoid of mirth, confessed her growing disdain for their unseen enemy. “I never imagined I could despise a single man so much.”

Keanu’s smile was as bitter as Adara’s laughter, his agreement stark. “As do we all.” His statement lingered, a shared sentiment binding them in the dwindling light of their campfire.

© Crimson B