The council chambers buzzed with tension as Jasmine made her urgent announcement.
"We've received word from the plains. They're closing in on their targets."
General Marcus's plans were moving forward with precision. "They should be on their way back with the captives by now." The Counselor spoke
But Yamin wasn't convinced. She wanted to request permission for a search mission—but she needed Jasmine's support. A direct request to the head of the council wasn't easy. He was highly respected, and worst of all, he was Juju's friend (their father's friend )
Meanwhile, in the forest, chaos erupted. A soldier stumbled back from Tony's swift strike. Tony grabbed him and sent him crashing to the ground.
But the victory came at a cost – a harsh blow reopened his wound, and Tony's cry of pain echoed through the trees. Gabby, locked in a fierce duel, heard Tony's shout and her determination surged. With a swift strike, she felled her opponent and rushed to Tony's side.
But another soldier ambushed her, striking her across the back. Pain flared, yet Gabby spun around, kicking her attacker with fierce force. Before she could recover, a second soldier caught her leg,.
Despite her precarious position, Gabby's eyes blazed with defiance. Her leg was in the hand of the enemy .Here's a polished version:
Any moment now, she could be crippled. The thought sent a chill down her spine, and she lay still, feigning injury. Her teeth gritted in a mixture of pain and determination. "Don't hurt her, she's a lady," one of the soldiers cautioned, recalling their orders to capture rather than harm.
The soldier approaching her hesitated, his grip on her arm gentle but firm. "Don't make this hard for us," he warned as he pulled her to her feet. Gabby's eyes scanned the area, searching for her sword – her trusted companion. She spotted it lying nearby but remained still, biding her time.
"Bring the man along," the soldier instructed his partner, gesturing toward Tony. But Gabby had other plans. With lightning-fast reflexes, she pulled a dagger from her side pocket and struck the soldier's hand, causing him to yelp in pain. The other soldier rushed to his partner's aid, but Gabby was ready. The fight was intense, but in the end, she emerged victorious.
I made some changes to improve the flow, clarity, and pacing of the scene. I also tried to add more depth to Gabby's emotions and actions. Let me know if this version meets your requirements!
Tony lay motionless on the forest floor, his body aching, blood drying on his lip. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, and his vision was foggy. But his eyes—his eyes were still open. Not wide with fear, not fading with defeat. Just open… steady. There was pain, yes. But more than that, there was something else. A quiet strength. A flicker of hope that hadn't given up yet. Even with everything weighing him down, Tony wasn't gone. Not yet. They were coming—fast.
Gabby didn't waste a second. She dragged Tony up and hoisted him onto the horse, his body limp but still breathing. Then she climbed up behind him, wrapped one arm around his waist, and with a quick kick, the horse took off.
They charged toward the Cave of Storms, the wind tearing past them, trees blurring on either side. The path was wild—stones everywhere, sharp, scattered, uneven. But Gabby didn't slow down. She knew the way. She had to.
Behind them, the generals gave chase, but the terrain wasn't on their side. Their horses stumbled, hooves slipping on the rocky ground. One after another, they started pulling back. The narrow path and sharp stones forced them to stop.
It was a lucky break. For now.
Gabby and Tony vanished into the mouth of the cave, swallowed by shadows.
Later, when the soldiers regrouped, they checked their men. Despite the chaos, not a single one of them had died. Wounded, yes. Beaten up. But all still alive.
And that meant only one thing.
They'd be coming again.
Gabby hadn't meant to kill anyone. That wasn't the goal.
As she galloped through the jagged hills, the wind cutting against her skin and Tony's weight leaning heavily against her back, she could hear the distant echo of hooves fading behind them. The generals had stopped. The terrain was too dangerous, the rocks too sharp, and the path too narrow for pursuit. It gave her just enough time.
Tony was barely conscious. His blood had soaked through his clothes, and his breathing had turned shallow. She could feel his body weaken with every step the horse took. By the time they reached the ridge above the cave, he was slipping into unconsciousness.
"We're almost there," she muttered more to herself than to him.
She pulled on the reins. The horse slowed, snorting tiredly. Gabby hopped off and gently slid Tony's body forward, keeping him steady as she reached the rocky surface ahead.
The cave door was hidden: an old mechanism only few knew how to unlock. She knelt in front of the hexagonal panel, fingers trembling as she moved the symbols into place. Dust clouded her vision, but she didn't stop. She couldn't.
Click.
The stone creaked. With a deep groan, the entrance split open.
Inside the cave, a soft gasp escaped Elsie's lips as she rushed to the doorway. Her heart pounded when she saw the silhouette outside—a figure slumped over a horse.
"It's him," she breathed. "It's Tony."
She ran forward, only for Gabby to raise a hand.
"Wait. He's hurt. Badly."
Gabby's voice was firm but panicked. She was already loosening the last symbol on the iron dial when Skyler appeared at the door behind Elsie, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
Gabby didn't look up. "Skyler, help me."
The girls moved quickly. They eased Tony down from the horse and carried him into the cave. His body was heavy. Cold. His face pale, lips barely moving.
Elsie held his hand tightly.
"What happened to you?" she whispered, her voice cracking.
Gabby stepped back, her eyes filled with exhaustion and something more—guilt.
"It's a long story," she said quietly. "And it's not over yet."
Inside that cave, surrounded by the cold stone walls and flickering lanterns, they laid Tony down. Three lives crossed. One destiny unfolding.
The mission might not be over. But for now, he was safe.
This… this was the turning point.
The destiny of Tony the Traveler.