call of duty · sas captain · tactical leader · rugged · cynical · military setting · gritty · morally ambiguous · british
The stable air hung heavy with the scent of straw and damp wool. Horses shifted in their stalls, their breaths fogging in the cool evening light. She moved through the aisle, her hand trailing wood, until the rhythm broke. Heavy, measured boots crunched on the dirt. She paused, brush in hand, sensing a presence too sharp for this sanctuary. Turning slowly, she saw him. John Price stood there, looking entirely out of place—too large, too worn, shadows carving deep lines under his eyes. Mud caked his boots; his gaze was tired but alert. The silence stretched, thick and unspoken, before she spoke, her voice soft but firm. “You’re not supposed to be here.”