jasmine's war

Jasmine stood at the edge of a cliff, staring out at the vast expanse of land before her. Below, the rebel camp was a small cluster of flickering fires and tattered tents. Beyond that, the forest stretched on for miles, dark and foreboding. And somewhere, far in the distance, lay the border—the line between two worlds.

Behind her, Caden approached quietly, his presence steady but heavy with the tension that had grown between them over the last few days. They had fought side by side, survived countless battles, and now they were on the brink of something greater. Yet Jasmine couldn't shake the feeling that they were being torn apart—not by the war around them, but by the choices they were forced to make.

"We can't stay here much longer," Caden said softly, coming to stand beside her. "The king's forces are regrouping. It won't be long before they strike again."

Jasmine nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. The rebels had managed to push back the king's soldiers for now, but it was a temporary victory. The looming threat of the shadow still hung over them, and every day brought news of more deserters from the king's army joining their cause. The camp was growing, but so was the danger.

"We're running out of time," Caden added, his voice more urgent now. "We need to make a decision, Jasmine. Are we crossing the border or staying to fight?"

That was the question that had been gnawing at her for days—weeks, even. The border represented safety, or at least the promise of it. Beyond it lay lands untouched by the king's cruelty, places where they could disappear, live out their lives in peace. But here, on this side, war raged. People were suffering, dying, and for the first time in her life, Jasmine felt like she could do something about it.

But was it her fight?

Jasmine's hand clenched around the hilt of her dagger, the familiar weight of it grounding her in the present. She had already made one decision—to stop running. She had taken a stand, fought back, and survived. But now, another decision loomed, one that could determine not just her fate but the fate of everyone she had come to care about.

"I don't know, Caden," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Every time I think I've made up my mind, something pulls me in the other direction."

Caden frowned, his brow furrowing in frustration. "What's there to decide? We cross the border, we're safe. We stay, and we're at war. I know you want to help, but Jasmine, we can't win this fight. Not like this."

Jasmine shook her head, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "It's not just about winning, Caden. It's about standing up for something. For the people who can't fight back. For everything we've lost."

Caden's eyes softened, and for a moment, the hard edge in his expression faded. He reached out, his hand gently resting on her arm. "I know you want to make a difference," he said, his voice softer now. "But you can't do that if you're dead. Crossing the border doesn't mean giving up. It just means we live to fight another day."

Jasmine looked away, her gaze drifting back to the horizon. Beyond the trees, beyond the borders of their kingdom, lay freedom. But turning her back on the people still trapped here felt like betrayal.

"They'll never stop hunting us," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "The shadow will follow us, no matter where we go. He's out there, waiting, and as long as he's hunting us, no one is safe."

Caden sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So what are you saying? That we stay and fight him? Here?"

Jasmine didn't answer right away. Her thoughts churned, memories of the battles they had fought together flashing through her mind. The shadow's cold eyes, his sword flashing in the dark. Every time they encountered him, it felt like a battle between life and death. But it wasn't just him—it was everything he represented. The king, the cruelty, the lies.

"I'm saying we can't just run forever," she said at last, her voice gaining strength. "If we cross the border now, we're leaving everyone behind to fend for themselves. The rebels, the deserters, the people who are fighting for a better future. If we don't help them now, when will we?"

Caden was silent for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he shook his head, though not in disagreement. "And what if you're wrong? What if staying here gets us all killed, and nothing changes?"

Jasmine turned to face him, her eyes burning with determination. "Then at least we'll have tried. At least we'll have done something."

Caden opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the sound of footsteps approaching cut through the air. They both turned to see Torin walking toward them, his face grim. Behind him, Lira followed, her expression anxious.

"We have a problem," Torin said without preamble, his voice low and urgent. "Scouts spotted a group of soldiers moving through the northern woods. It's the shadow, Jasmine. He's leading them."

Jasmine's stomach dropped, but she forced herself to stay calm. She had known this confrontation was coming. "How far away?"

"A day, maybe less," Torin replied. "He's closing in."

Caden cursed under his breath, turning to Jasmine with a look of grim determination. "This is it. We have to decide now—are we running, or are we fighting?"

Jasmine felt the weight of his words settle over her like a lead blanket. This was the moment of choice. On one hand, the border offered safety, a chance to escape and start over. But on the other hand, there was the shadow, the threat that would continue to haunt them, to destroy everything in its path.

And there was the truth that had been burning inside her since the beginning: if they didn't take a stand now, they might never get the chance again.

"I'm not crossing the border," she said, her voice steady and resolute. "I'm staying. I'm fighting."

Torin nodded, as if he had expected nothing less. Lira, though nervous, stood firm, her loyalty to Jasmine unshaken.

Caden hesitated, his jaw clenched, but after a long pause, he sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Then I'm staying too."

Jasmine gave him a small, grateful smile. "We're in this together."

They had made their choice. Now, there was no turning back.

As the moon climbed higher in the sky, casting long shadows over the camp, Jasmine felt a strange sense of calm settle over her. She was caught between two worlds—one of safety and one of war. But for the first time, she knew exactly where she stood.

This was her fight now, and she would see it through to the end.