I slowly pushed myself off the log, standing up to my full height.
Beside me, Mira was already on her feet, instinctively shifting into a combat stance despite the thick bandages wrapping her forearms.
"Who the hell are you all?" Yenna demanded, remaining seated but narrowing her eyes.
The air around her instantly grew heavy, the temperature dropping a fraction as mana gathered at her fingertips.
Behind me, Tessa carefully backed away from the campfire, drawing her hunting knife with a sharp metallic shing.
Scarlet didn't bother with weapons. She dropped into a low, predatory crouch, a feral, vibrating growl tearing from her throat as her emerald eyes locked onto the intruders.
The leader of the masked figures stepped forward into the flickering firelight.
He didn't seem intimidated by the hostility. In fact, he looked almost bored.
Without a word, he reached into his sleek leather breastplate and pulled out two rolled-up parchment posters.
