Stuck with the enemy

Deniz's Story

Our first night back in our house was filled with emotions we hadn't felt in years. But there was no time to dwell on the past. Morning came quickly, and with it, the need to face reality. It was the first day of training.

I stood in front of our team, gathered outside the house. The morning sun cast a golden light over the group, highlighting their eager faces. Despite the early hour, their energy was palpable, an unspoken mix of nerves and excitement.

"Team, we did it!" I exclaimed, my voice firm but encouraging as I looked out at them.

Laughter rippled through the group, along with murmurs of agreement and a few victorious cheers. Jacob, of course, was the first to break the moment with a quip.

"So, how was your first night in the new digs?" he asked, smirking as he leaned against the porch railing.

"Fine, a little dusty, but nothing we couldn't handle," Kai replied, stretching his arms.

I shook my head, smiling despite myself. "Blame it on the short notice," I said, motioning for everyone to settle down. "They didn't have time to clean properly before we arrived, but if you run into any other problems, let me know. We'll figure it out."

The group nodded, their playful banter fading into a more serious mood.

"I have a lot of faith in all of you," I continued, meeting each of their gazes. "This is just the beginning, but I know you'll make excellent soldiers. I've seen what you can do, and I know how far you can go."

They straightened up a little, pride evident on their faces. Even Tommy, who usually struggled to focus, looked genuinely determined.

"Alright, team," Aras's voice cut through the air, firm and commanding. He stepped forward, glancing at each of us. "Time to start moving. Light jog to the training center. We're not showing up late on our first day."

"Light jog?" Callum groaned dramatically, earning a laugh from Kai.

"You can complain while running," Aras shot back, already turning toward the road.

"Or you can save your energy for when it really matters," I added, my tone playful but with a hint of warning.

The group chuckled but quickly fell into formation as we began our jog. The morning air was crisp, and the path to the training center stretched out ahead of us, lined with towering trees that swayed gently in the breeze.

Jacob fell into step beside me, his usual grin replaced with something softer. "You're doing good, Deniz," he said quietly. "They're listening to you. They trust you."

I glanced at him, warmth spreading through me at his words. "Thanks, Jacob. That means a lot."

Ahead of us, Tommy's voice rang out as he chatted with Callum about how he planned to ace every drill today. Behind me, Jane and Miriam exchanged quiet laughter about something I couldn't quite catch.

As we approached the gates of the Crescent Moon Pack Training Center, the sheer size of the complex loomed over us once more, a reminder of what lay ahead. The massive gates creaked open, and the sign above them glinted in the sunlight.

"This is it," I murmured to myself, my nerves finally catching up to me.

Beside me, Aras glanced over, his expression unreadable but steady. "We've got this," he said simply.

And with that, we stepped inside, ready to face whatever challenges awaited us.

The air felt unusually crisp as we walked through the quiet pathways of the Training Center. The sun hadn't fully risen, and the faint glow of dawn bathed the buildings in soft light. We were early-too early, honestly-but I didn't want to risk even the slightest chance of being late on the first day.