The sun hung low, barely piercing through the dense gray sky as the group made their way through the overgrown path leading toward the ridge. Leah moved with purpose, leading the way, while Rian stayed a few paces behind, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Marcus trailed slightly, his transmitter in hand, occasionally tapping it to check the signal strength. Milo kept close to Devika, his hand absently brushing against Lucky’s fur. Zara kept pace near the rear, her spear balanced across her shoulders. The atmosphere felt tense, even as they moved further from the danger of the altered swarm.

Leah glanced back at Rian. “We’re about three kilometers from the convoy’s last known position. If they stuck to their route, they’ll be setting up camp before dark.”

Marcus looked up from his map. “Signal’s getting weaker. Could be the terrain or interference from whatever’s warping the city.”

Rian considered it. “We’ll move carefully. Don’t want to spook them or walk into another ambush.”

They passed through a narrow pass between two rocky outcrops, the air colder here. Lucky growled low, ears perked. Zara immediately tightened her grip on her weapon.

Leah raised a hand to signal a halt. “Something’s not right.”

A voice echoed from the trees ahead — tense and accusing. “Stop right there! Hands where we can see them!”

Three figures stepped out, rifles aimed. The leader, a tall man with a heavy jacket and dark beard, narrowed his eyes. “Where the hell did you come from?”

Leah stepped forward, keeping her hands visible. “We’re from the tower checkpoint. Moving to rendezvous with the convoy.”

The man didn’t lower his gun. “And how do we know you didn’t bring them here? Those things are crawling all over the eastern edge.”

Rian stayed calm. “We cut the signal. They shouldn’t be tracking us.”

One of the other men muttered, “Could’ve tagged you. Or you could be leading them right to us.”

Marcus raised his hands, keeping his tone calm. “We’ve been avoiding the altered. Moved through the tunnels to stay out of sight. We’re not compromised.”

The leader glared at Leah. “What happened to the other two scouts you sent?”

Leah hesitated briefly. “We lost them. One didn’t make it back. The other… changed.”

The man’s grip on his rifle tightened. “You should have stayed put. Now you’ve put the whole convoy at risk.”

Devika stepped forward cautiously. “We’re not infected. We’ve been careful.”

One of the guards whispered to the leader, and he reluctantly lowered his weapon. “Fine. But if any of you start twitching or mutating, we put you down.”

Rian nodded. “Fair. Just let us catch our breath. We’ve been moving non-stop.”

They were led into a makeshift camp set up in a natural hollow, partially hidden by thick brush. Tents were set up in tight clusters, and a few people tended a small fire. The tension among the group was palpable, as if everyone was waiting for the worst to happen.

Leah approached the leader again. “You’re Bran, right? The one running point for the convoy?”

Bran gave a terse nod. “Yeah. We’re getting ready to move. Those creatures have been getting bolder. Daylight doesn’t slow them down anymore.”

Zara raised an eyebrow. “They used to only move at night?”

Marcus replied, still thoughtful. “Most of them. But some are adapting. We saw a few moving during the day back near the grid.”

Bran spat on the ground. “Damn things are evolving. Some of ours swear they heard them trying to mimic voices. Like they’re figuring out how to lure people out.”

Milo shivered. “That’s… messed up.”

Rian kept his focus on Bran. “If the altered are getting smarter, what’s the plan?”

Bran sighed. “We’ll hit the ridge, find the convoy, and see if they’ve made contact with any of the organized groups. Some folks were talking about a research team that’s figuring out why some people resist the change.”

Devika looked intrigued. “They think resistance is possible?”

Bran shrugged. “Just rumors. But if there’s any truth to it, we need to find them.”

Lucky sniffed the air, his tail stiff. Rian noticed and looked around. “Something’s coming.”

One of Bran’s men shouted from the lookout post. “Movement! South slope!”

Everyone tensed, weapons ready. Bran barked orders, setting up a defensive line. A low, warbling howl echoed through the valley, followed by more distorted cries. Rian cursed under his breath. “They found us.”

Leah pulled her rifle from her pack. “Looks like we’ll see if the convoy holds its ground.”

Bran shot Rian a glance. “Hope you can fight. We’re not leaving without a few dead freaks on the ground.”

Rian smirked, flexing his hand in the gauntlet. “We’ll hold. Just make sure none get past.”

The first creature broke through the brush, its movements quick and feral. Zara intercepted it, slamming her spear through its shoulder. Another came from the right, and Devika sent a shockwave that slowed it just long enough for Bran to shoot it down.

Milo ducked behind a rock, pulling Lucky with him. “Stick with me, boy.”

Rian met Leah’s eyes. “Hold the line. If they break through, we’ll lose more than just this camp.”

The fighting intensified, the altered humans pouring in like a wave. The survivors formed a tight defensive ring, fighting back with a mix of desperation and determination.

Rian’s gauntlet sparked, and for a moment, he felt a surge of power. The sudden energy startled him, but he didn't hesitate, striking one of the altered with a blast that sent it sprawling. Leah and Bran, noticing the display, shot him a quick, wary glance, but kept their focus on the fight. Leah fired in controlled bursts, while Zara moved with fluid precision, striking down anything that got close.

The battle raged on, the cries of the altered humans blending with the desperate shouts of the survivors. As the sun dipped lower, the fog thickened, and the lines between human and altered blurred even more.

End of Chapter 14.