*Nemesia's POV*

Morning broke with a crisp clarity, bathing the rebel camp in a wash of golden light. As I stepped out of my tent, the cool air mixed with the hum of activity around me. Today, I was assigned to manage inventory—a mundane but crucial task that kept the camp functioning.

"If they let us near their stuff it means they began to trust us," Athena seemed happy with that when she spoke making me nod my head.

I made my way to the supply area, where crates from the latest shipment awaited the organization. Checking the inventory lists, I was absorbed in my task when I heard someone approach me with cautious steps.

"Good morning, ma'am," came a timid voice from behind. I turned to find Kara, a new rebel girl who joined us recently and whose enthusiasm was palpable despite her respectful tone.

"Good morning, Alia. What brings you here?" I asked, my voice neutral but polite.

"Sir Murphey mentioned you might need some help with the inventory. I thought I could assist you," she replied, holding out a clipboard tentatively.

"I think she wants to befriend us," Athena told me wagging her tail.

"We're not here to play," I told my wolf and she sighed and retreated to the back of my mind bored.

"That would be helpful, thank you," I accepted the clipboard, giving her a small nod of approval. Together, we began verifying the items—medical supplies, food, weapons—ensuring everything matched our records.

As we worked, the easy silence gradually gave way to tentative conversation.

"How are you adjusting to the camp?" I inquired, keeping my tone light but professional.

"It's intense, ma'am, but rewarding. I feel like I'm part of something important here," Kara answered earnestly.

"That's good to hear. It's important to find your place quickly in environments like this," I advised, my gaze briefly meeting hers before returning to the list.

Our task was interrupted by a burst of laughter and shouting near the weapons tent. Curious and slightly concerned, I headed over with Kara trailing behind me.

Upon arriving, we found a group of younger rebels engaged in an impromptu competition to see who could wear the full leather armour and then take it off in the shortest time.

"What's going on here?" I asked, my tone carrying a slight edge of authority.

"Just a bit of morning fun, ma'am," explained James, and I swear this boy was all mischief and fun each time I saw him.

"We're testing our speed. Would you care to watch?" He added.

Considering the morale boost such activities could provide, I nodded.

"Proceed."

The competition was spirited, with the rebels encouraging one another. Despite myself, a smile crept onto my face as I watched their camaraderie. It reminded me of simpler times.

"Well done, Alice," I congratulated the young woman who won the challenge, allowing a genuine note of praise to enter my voice.

"Thank you, ma'am! Maybe next time you could join us?" Alice responded with a hopeful smile.

"We'll see," I replied, the corners of my mouth twitching upwards.

Returning to my duties, I felt a subtle shift within me. The morning's interactions, though simple, had gently nudged me towards a slight thaw in my usual reserve.

With the inventory accounted for and the crates properly stowed, I stepped outside, taking a deep breath of the fresh, pine-scented air. The laughter and light-heartedness of the morning had unexpectedly lightened my spirits.

As I walked back to my tent, I started to wonder. Perhaps, I mused, there was room in this rugged life for small joys and new beginnings, even for someone as guarded as myself.

*Guard's POV*

The night was quiet, the darkness only broken by the distant campfires and torches that lit the pathways around the rebel camp. As a guard, my role was to patrol these outskirts, ensuring no unwanted visitors could surprise us. The soft crunch of my boots on the undergrowth was a steady rhythm in the otherwise still night.

Walking alongside me was Jenna, a fellow guard whose sharp eyes missed nothing.

"Quiet night, huh?" she whispered, her voice barely carrying over the gentle rustling of the leaves.

"Too quiet," I responded, my gaze scanning the tree line. "Makes you wonder what's lurking out there, just beyond the light."

Jenna chuckled softly.

"You always were the superstitious type, Orion. I'm more worried about actual threats, not the boogeymen your imagination comes up with."

Our path took us near the edge of a small clearing where the shadows deepened. I paused, raising my hand to halt Jenna as well.

"Did you see that?" I murmured, pointing towards a small movement in the bushes.

She squinted, then relaxed.

"It's just a rabbit. See? It's hopping away now. You really need to relax a bit."

Relieved but still tense, I resumed walking.

"It's our job to worry about the boogeymen, as you put it. That's what keeps everyone safe."

As we rounded back towards the centre of the camp, the faint sound of laughter and music from the main area where the rebels gathered around the fire reached our ears.

"Sounds like they're having a good time," Jenna observed.

"Yeah," I replied, a small smile playing on my lips. "It's good to hear. Helps remind us what we're protecting here."

After a while, I added, "Sorry, you're stuck here with me".

I think Jenna wanted to say something but then, a rustle to our left caught our attention again. This time, it was more pronounced, and both Jenna and I readied our weapons, moving toward the sound with cautious steps. As we approached, a figure emerged from the shadows, hands raised in a peaceful gesture.

"Whoa, it's just me!" said a familiar voice. It was Tom, another guard, coming back from a different patrol route, as subtle as a huge grizzly bear. "No need to look so tense, friends."

Jenna lowered her weapon, her posture relaxing as she recognized the newcomer.

"Tom, you should wear a bell if you're going to sneak up on people like that," she joked, though her relief was palpable.

"Maybe I will," Tom grinned, joining us as we continued our patrol together. "Anyway, have you heard? Evar cleaned up nicely today. Even gave a little speech about staying sharp. You should've seen it."

I laughed, the image of Evar, usually so rugged, trying to embody the role of a polished man was amusing.

"Sounds like I missed quite the show. Maybe he's vying for a promotion in our ranks." I said that even if we all knew that actually... Evar has never actually become part of the rebels. He was more of a free spirit.

"Or just trying to impress someone," Jenna added with a wink. "You know, there's been talk about him and—"

I cut her off, not wanting to dive into camp gossip during patrol.

"Let's keep it professional. We can joke about Evar's love life later."

The rest of our patrol passed without incident, the earlier tension dissipating as we made our usual rounds. Returning to the main area, we reported our uneventful watch to Murphey, who nodded his approval.

"Good work. Stay alert," he reminded us, his gaze lingering on the darker parts of the forest that surrounded us.

As Jenna and I headed towards the communal fire for a well-deserved break, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Our nights might be filled with shadows and unknowns, but thanks to what I was doing, others could relax and smile like that. Not to mention Jenna's chilled demeanour which I really liked to look at after our shift.