The edge of faith

Ashina's POV
I woke up to the sounds of hushed voices and hurried footsteps. Blinking my eyes open, I realized I was lying with my head on Zeeb’s legs. The early morning light filtered through the tent, casting long shadows over the worried faces gathered outside.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice groggy with sleep.
No one answered. They exchanged glances and then slowly dispersed, leaving me alone with Zeeb. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes held a hint of worry.
“Zeeb, what’s happening?” I pressed, sitting up and looking at him with growing concern.
He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Anisha, you need to come with me.”
My heart pounded in my chest, a sense of dread settling over me. “Why? What’s wrong?”
He took a deep breath, his eyes searching mine. “Anisha, you’re pregnant.”
For a moment, I was speechless. The words hung in the air, impossible to comprehend. “That’s not possible,” I finally whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t be pregnant. I lost my womb... I can’t...”
Zeeb’s expression softened with a mix of compassion and determination. “It’s a miracle, Anisha. You are pregnant.”
“No!” I insisted, my voice rising with panic. “This can’t be happening. I can’t have a child.”
Zeeb remained calm, his steady presence a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. “Anisha, I know this is overwhelming, but it’s the truth. The healer confirmed it.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, my mind reeling. “This isn’t fair. I’ve already lost so much. How can this be happening now?”
He reached out, pulling me into his arms. “I know it’s a lot to take in. But we’ll get through this together.”
I wanted to believe him, to find comfort in his words, but the fear and disbelief were too strong. I pushed away from him, standing up and pacing the small space of our tent. “This is too much, Zeeb. I can’t do this.”
He watched me with a calm, unwavering gaze. “You’re stronger than you think, Anisha. And you’re not alone. I’m here with you, every step of the way.”
The sincerity in his voice was undeniable, but it didn’t quell the storm inside me. I felt trapped, overwhelmed by the weight of this new reality.
“I need to be alone,” I said, my voice trembling. “I need to think.”
Zeeb nodded, his eyes full of understanding. “Of course. I’ll be here if you need me.”
I lay back down, pulling the blanket over me as if it could shield me from the world outside. Sleep was elusive, my mind racing with thoughts and fears. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I drifted into a fitful sleep.
The darkness of night had settled over the camp when I felt a gentle hand shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see Estel’s son standing beside me, his expression urgent.
“Anisha, wake up. We need to talk,” he whispered.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
He glanced around, ensuring we were alone. “We’ve intercepted a message. Lobo’s planning something big. We need to act now.”
The fear I had felt earlier was replaced by a cold determination. “Tell me everything.”
As Estel’s son explained the details of the message, a plan began to form in my mind. The news of my pregnancy still lingered, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the immediate threat.
“We need to strike before they can,” I said, my voice steady. “We can’t let Lobo catch us off guard.”
Estel’s son nodded, his eyes filled with resolve. “I’ll gather the others. We need to move quickly.”
As he left to rally the troops, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead. The fear and uncertainty about the future would have to wait. For now, there was a fight to be won. And I was ready to face it head-on, with Zeeb and our pack by my side.
The night was dark and quiet as we moved through the camp, gathering our forces. Zeeb stood at the center, his presence a beacon of strength and leadership. As I approached, he looked at me with a mixture of concern and pride.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice low but steady.
I nodded, my heart pounding with determination. “Yes. Let’s end this.”
The camp buzzed with an air of quiet urgency as we prepared for the impending battle. Zeeb and I moved through the lines, checking in with each member of our pack. The tension was palpable, but so was the determination.
We met Estel’s son at the edge of the camp. His eyes were sharp and focused, ready for the task ahead. “Everyone’s in position,” he said, his voice low.
I nodded, feeling the weight of our plan settle over me. “Good. We need to be swift and precise. No mistakes.”
Zeeb placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ve got this, Anisha. We’re ready.”
Taking a deep breath, I turned to face our pack. “This is our moment. We strike now, and we strike hard. Lobo won’t see us coming. For our future, for our freedom!”
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, and I felt a surge of pride and determination. We were ready.
The night was still as we moved silently through the trees, our footsteps barely a whisper on the forest floor. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of what was at stake. Zeeb was at my side, his presence a steady anchor.
We reached the edge of Lobo’s camp, and I signaled for our group to stop. Peering through the underbrush, I could see the flicker of firelight and the shadows of Lobo’s soldiers moving about.
“Remember the plan,” Zeeb whispered. “We create a diversion, draw them out, and then we strike.”
I nodded, my eyes never leaving the camp. “Let’s do this.”
Estel’s son and a few others moved ahead, setting small fires at strategic points around the camp’s perimeter. The flames quickly caught, sending plumes of smoke into the air. Shouts of alarm echoed through the night as Lobo’s soldiers scrambled to respond.
“Now!” I hissed, and our group surged forward.
Chaos erupted as we descended on the camp. The element of surprise was on our side, and we quickly overwhelmed the disoriented soldiers. Zeeb fought with a fierce determination, his movements precise and powerful. I stayed close, my senses heightened, every muscle in my body coiled and ready.
As we pushed further into the camp, I caught sight of Lobo. He stood in the center, barking orders, his face twisted with rage. Our eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. All the anger, the fear, the pain I had carried for so long surged to the surface.
“This ends now, Lobo!” I shouted, my voice cutting through the din of battle.
Lobo’s eyes narrowed, and he sneered.