Page 71 of Rangers Mountain Rescue

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“He said they were the only thing that never changed.”

I swallow.

“Yeah,” I say quietly.

“He was right.”

She turns her head slightly.

“You think about him too.”

Not a question.

A realization.

“Yeah. I think of all of my buddies who never made it out.”

The word comes out rough.

We sit in silence for a moment.

Then she says—

“I don’t remember the last time I felt safe.”

That hits.

Harder than anything else.

I shift slightly closer.

Not touching.

But close enough.

“You are,” I say.

She exhales slowly.

Like she’s been holding that breath for years.

“I believe you,” she whispers.

And that right there?

That’s the moment.

The one where something changes.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

But real.

And dangerous.

Because now…

This isn’t just about protecting Tank’s family.

It’s about protectingher.

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