The sun had almost set by the time the last of the altered were pushed back. Bran’s convoy had held its ground, but the cost was clear — one of the sentries lay motionless, his rifle still clutched in his hands, and another was nursing a gash on his forearm.

Leah holstered her rifle, wiping sweat from her brow. “They’re getting faster. I don’t remember them being this coordinated.”

Bran grunted in agreement. “First time they’ve hit us during daylight in numbers. It’s not random anymore.”

Rian surveyed the field, his gauntlet still humming faintly. He glanced at Leah, who gave him a brief nod. She hadn’t questioned the power display yet, but he could see the curiosity in her eyes.

Milo crept out from behind the overturned cart, pulling Lucky with him. “Are they gone?”

Zara patted his shoulder. “For now. Stay sharp, though.”

One of Bran’s men approached. “We need to move. Nightfall’s coming, and they’ll regroup. We’re too exposed here.”

Bran nodded. “Pack it up. We’ll head for the ridge. Set up camp at the plateau where we can see them coming.”

As the survivors gathered their gear, Devika leaned against the trunk of a battered truck, her energy flickering at her fingertips. She looked at Rian. “Your gauntlet… it did something back there. Was that you?”

Rian hesitated. “It reacted on its own. I didn’t know it could do that.”

Bran overheard and approached. “I’ve seen people do strange things since this started, but that was new. You one of those Essentia-touched?”

Rian hesitated, sharing a quick glance with his group. Zara whispered, "Essentia-touched? Is that what they’re calling it?" Devika added, "I’ve heard people using that term, but no one knows what it really means." Rian looked back at Bran. "We don’t know much yet. Just trying to survive."

Bran nodded slowly. “Fair enough. Long as you’re on our side.”

As they began to move, Marcus stayed at the rear, keeping his transmitter close. The signal had been flickering all day, and now it seemed completely dead. He tapped it, frustration showing. “Nothing. We’re moving blind.”

Leah walked next to him. “The signal’s been inconsistent since the grid went down. Maybe it’s not just interference.”

Marcus glanced at her. “You think the altered are messing with it? Or something bigger?”

Leah frowned. “I don’t know. But the way they moved today — it’s like something was guiding them.”

Rian caught up, overhearing. “Guiding them how?”

Marcus gestured to the carnage left behind. “Usually they just charge blindly. Today, they moved around our flanks. Like they knew where the weak points were.”

Zara joined the conversation, wiping blood from her spear. “You’re saying they’re learning?”

Leah nodded slowly. “Or being taught.”

The convoy moved cautiously as night fell, shadows stretching unnaturally across the broken terrain. They reached the plateau, setting up a more secure perimeter this time. Bran directed a few of his more trusted men to keep watch, while Leah and Rian discussed the plan.

Bran traced a line on his map. “We’ll stick to the ridge trail. Safer than cutting through the valley. If we’re lucky, the convoy leader’s still at the main camp.”

Devika looked over his shoulder. “Any chance they have working comms?”

Bran sighed. “Doubt it. Last message we got said they’d been hit hard. If they’re still moving, they’ll be staying off the main roads.”

Lucky perked up, sniffing the air, his ears twitching. Rian watched the dog intently. “He’s picking up something.”

Milo knelt beside the dog. “What is it, boy?”

Lucky’s growl was low and warning. A moment later, a distant rumble echoed through the valley, followed by a flash of unnatural blue light against the darkening sky.

Rian tensed. “That’s coming from the ridge.”

Bran swore under his breath. “If the convoy’s caught in that…”

Zara tightened her grip on her weapon. “We need to get there, fast.”

Leah nodded. “If they’re pinned down, we’re their only backup.”

The group moved quickly, their pace urgent but cautious. As they neared the ridge, they saw it — the remnants of the convoy’s vehicles, some overturned, others abandoned. A few of Bran’s men moved cautiously ahead, calling out for survivors.

A low growl rumbled through the air, and then the sound of movement — fast, erratic, and closing in. Bran raised his hand. “Get ready!”

Rian steadied his gauntlet, hoping it would respond again if needed. Leah positioned herself next to him, rifle at the ready. The first altered appeared, moving with a spider-like gait, limbs splayed and unnatural. It hissed, eyes reflecting the eerie blue glow from the ridge.

Marcus whispered, “That light… it’s not normal. Feels like the pulse we felt back at the grid.”

Rian gritted his teeth. “Whatever it is, it’s affecting them differently. Stay sharp.”

The altered swarmed, faster than before, driven by the pulse. Rian struck one with his gauntlet, sending it sprawling. Leah fired, dropping two more. Zara fought with precision, each strike deliberate. Milo stayed near the rear, keeping Lucky calm.

As the wave slowed, a voice shouted from the ridge line. “Help! We’re pinned!”

Rian exchanged a look with Bran. “We need to break through. They won’t last.”

Leah pointed to a gap in the swarm. “Push through there. If we break their line, we can regroup at the top.”

Bran nodded. “You lead. We’ll cover the sides.”

Rian took point, charging through the gap, the gauntlet flaring as he struck down anything that came too close. The group pushed forward, fighting through the altered as they made their way to the trapped survivors.

When they finally reached the ridge top, they found a handful of battered survivors huddled behind an overturned truck. One of them looked up, his face pale. “You… you came. We thought we were done for.”

Rian glanced back, the altered still swarming below. “We’re not safe yet. Help us hold this spot. We’ll figure out what that light is after we secure the ridge.”

End of Chapter 15.