Chapter 6: The Long Walk Back

The canyon was deathly quiet, save for the ragged breaths of the warriors and the faint groans of Frenna as she clung to consciousness. The sun had climbed higher now, its heat searing against Kael's back as he trudged behind the others. His spear was gone, abandoned where it had fallen, the weight of it too much to bear.

Tayo and Jek carried Frenna between them, their faces grim as they navigated the uneven path. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandage wrapped around her side, staining her tunic and leaving a trail of crimson droplets on the dusty ground. Lirien walked beside them, her silver braids plastered to her sweat-slicked face, her lips pressed into a tight, furious line.

No one spoke to Kael.

He trailed at the back of the group, his head bowed, shame pressing down on him like a physical weight. Every step felt heavier than the last, each one accompanied by the sickening memory of Frenna's scream, the flash of blood, the look in Tayo's eyes.

This is your fault.

The words pounded in his head, relentless and cruel.

Ahead, Ryn glanced over his shoulder, his sneer sharp enough to cut. "You've got a real gift for leadership, Kael," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Maybe next time, we should just hand the shardbeast an invitation to dinner. Would save us some trouble."

"Ryn," Tayo snapped, his tone low but deadly.

"What?" Ryn shot back. "Am I wrong? Look at her!" He gestured toward Frenna, whose head lolled against Jek's shoulder. "She's bleeding out because he couldn't keep it together."

Kael flinched but said nothing.

"Enough," Lirien said coldly, not even glancing at Ryn. Her focus remained on Frenna, her hands steady as she adjusted the bandage. "If you're so eager to waste your energy, save it for when we get back to the tribes. Frenna needs us focused, not bickering."

Ryn grumbled under his breath but fell silent.

Kael's chest tightened as he watched Lirien work, her movements precise and purposeful. She hadn't said a word to him since the fight, but the hard set of her jaw spoke volumes.

They walked in tense silence for a while, the heat of the day pressing down on them like a weight. The canyon walls rose high on either side, casting jagged shadows across the narrow path. Kael's mouth was dry, his throat parched, but he didn't dare ask for water. He didn't deserve it.

The sound of Frenna's strained breathing filled the air, a constant reminder of his failure.

"I'll take her," Kael said suddenly, his voice hoarse.

Tayo shot him a sharp look over his shoulder. "You've done enough."

Kael stopped in his tracks, the words hitting him like a blow. He opened his mouth to argue but closed it again when he saw the raw anger in Tayo's eyes.

They don't trust you anymore.

The thought was like ice in his veins.

Jek adjusted his grip on Frenna, his expression unreadable. "We've got her," he said shortly.

Kael nodded stiffly and kept walking, his steps dragging against the rocky ground.

The path widened as they neared the canyon's mouth, the shadows giving way to the harsh light of the open desert. Kael squinted against the glare, his eyes scanning the horizon. In the distance, he could just make out the banners of the tribes, their colors fluttering faintly in the breeze.

Almost there.

But the sight brought no relief. If anything, it made the weight in Kael's chest heavier.

"What are we supposed to tell them?" Ryn muttered, breaking the silence. "That we let the shardbeast go? That one of ours got torn up because someone decided to play hero?"

"Ryn," Tayo said warningly.

"No, seriously," Ryn pressed, his voice rising. He turned to face the group, his axe resting against his shoulder. "What are we supposed to say? That the great Kael Sunborn charged in without a plan and almost got us all killed? That sound about right to everyone else?"

Lirien stiffened, her grip on Frenna tightening.

"Stop it," Kael said quietly.

Ryn raised an eyebrow. "Or what? You gonna charge me, too?"

"I said stop," Kael repeated, his voice firmer now.

Ryn took a step closer, his smirk widening. "You don't get to give orders anymore, Kael. Not after—"

"That's enough!" Lirien's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. She turned to Ryn, her eyes blazing. "Save it for later. Frenna doesn't have time for this, and neither do we."

Ryn hesitated, then scoffed and turned away.

Kael stared at Lirien, unsure whether to thank her or apologize, but she didn't look at him.

The group pressed on, the silence heavier than before.

As they drew closer to the tribes, Kael's stomach churned with dread. The banners were clearer now, their colors bright against the pale desert sand. Warriors moved among the tents, their figures small but purposeful. Kael could already imagine the questions, the judgment, the disappointed looks.

He glanced at Frenna again, guilt twisting like a knife in his gut. Her breaths were shallow, her face pale and slick with sweat.

"Hold on," Lirien murmured to her, her voice low and steady. "We're almost there."

Tayo's pace quickened, his gaze fixed on the camp ahead. "We'll get the healers as soon as we're back," he said to Jek.

"Think she'll make it?" Jek asked quietly.

"She will," Tayo said, though his voice betrayed a hint of doubt.

Kael lagged behind, his feet dragging as the weight of what awaited them pressed down on him. He wanted to disappear, to turn and walk into the desert and never look back.

But he couldn't.

The tribes were waiting.