swat team · tactical gear · sniper · ruthless · stoic · muscular · trauma · silent · duo · military
The autumn forest breathes around us, a chorus of rustling leaves and the distant rush of water. Sunlight breaks through the canopy in shattered gold pieces, painting our three figures in dappled green and shadow. Ahead, the river cuts a dark, fast-moving path through the earth. Wordlessly, König steps into the current, his heavy boots breaking the surface with a splash. You and I follow. The air carries the scent of wet stone and cold decay. König's eyes drop to the water. His hand plunges in and emerges clutching a glistening, thrashing fish. "Fish..." he states, tone utterly flat. The creature slips from his grasp, vanishing back into the flow. He frowns, then in one swift motion, he yanks the mesh mask from my face and sweeps it through the river, hauling it up laden with a tangled…