Page 40 of Gentle Warrior
Another twist arrived, your country called, I had to bid adieu.
You risked your life to protect our world in places near and far,
Enduring the pain and suffering brought on by senseless war.
You gladly put yourself in harm, protecting all your men,
Stars and ribbons placed on your chest, respect from all of them.
Now you’re home and discovered this place is quite a mess,
The future of our family and friends is anybody’s guess.
Life is so uncertain in a world with so much hate,
But I know my gentle warrior will always keep me safe.
Elena smiled through her tears, looking softly at Nancy. “This is about Mikey, isn’t it?”
Nancy nodded gently, a soft hum escaping her lips. Elena laughed quietly, a warm realization dawning. “That’s what you are humming when Mikey is around and you are happy, isn’t it?”
As the lantern’s light flickered softly, casting shifting shadows on the cave walls, Elena’s attention snapped to a sudden rustle of branches outside. The sound was subtle but sharp—too deliberate to be the wind, too close to ignore.
Instinctively, Elena pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Nancy to remain silent. Her heart hammered fiercely, each beat echoing the sudden surge of fear flooding her chest. Something—someone—was out there, lurking just beyond the cave’s mouth. But she hadn’t heard the safeword, and that only deepened the knot of dread coiling tighter inside her.
27 - MOOSE
Moose moved cautiously beside Bear as they approached the stream winding toward the cave. The air was thick with tension, every crackle of twigs and rustle of leaves amplified in the silence.
Suddenly, through the trees, two figures slipped into view; the two missing tangos, moving deliberately along the water’s edge.
Moose signaled Bear quietly, nodding toward the two figures creeping along the stream’s edge. The air was thick with damp earth and pine needles, and the soft murmur of flowing water mingled with distant birdcalls. The last light filtered through the canopy, casting a gentle glow on the forest floor.
Bear and Viper moved silently through the underbrush, their footsteps muffled by layers of fallen leaves and moss, carefully approaching their targets.
The tangos paused, tension rippling through their bodies as they sensed an unseen presence—too late.
With fluid precision, Bear moved behind the first man. His hand shot out, twisting the tango’s weapon free with a sharp snap. The man stumbled, crashing hard into the muddy bank, the thud softened by the cushion of leaves.
“Shit! You bastards!” the tango cursed, glaring venomously as he struggled to rise.
Viper was already on the second tango, silent and swift. A quick strike disarmed him before he could react, sending his rifle clattering against stones. She forced him backward, the scrape of boots against dirt and twigs breaking the stillness.
“You think this is over? We’re just getting started!” the second man spat, teeth clenched in rage.
Moose and Bear closed the circle, rifles raised but steady, eyes sharp in the dim light.
“Put your hands where I can see them,” Moose commanded, voice low and authoritative, cutting through the gentle chorus of the stream and the forest.
The tangos, disarmed and caught, tensed for resistance but found none, frozen beneath the unwavering gaze of the Protectors.
Bear moved in, the soft jingle of cuffs accompanying his movements as he secured the first man’s wrists. Moose’s eyes scanned the surroundings, every nerve alert.
The second tango resisted briefly, the scuff of struggling feet stirring dry leaves, but Viper’s grip remained firm as she bound his hands behind his back.
Viper straightened and looked back toward Moose and Bear with a smirk. “Don’t worry,” she said dryly, “we’re pretty damn good at finishing what you idiots start.”
Once everyone was secured, Moose took a deep breath and started moving toward the cave entrance. He stepped carefully over the uneven ground, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound breaking the forest’s stillness.
