The secondary cluster was actually sitting at grid position four when they reached the midpoint of the northern draw, not the northwest projection Fen had originally sketched. She simply noted the correction without making any defensive excuses and marked the updated coordinates in her notebook.
Vane established their sector hold at the draw's first natural chokepoint. The narrow stone pass widened into a highly defensible rocky platform. It offered clear sightlines to the north and east, while the steep western cliff face provided massive natural cover. Aldric immediately ran a perimeter check. Kael dropped his heavy kit with a dull thud. The first-year student had quickly realized that moving with absolute efficiency was the only correct answer to surviving this zone.
Watch rotation was simple. Aldric and Kael took the first four hours. Vane and Fen would take the second interval.
