The Factionless

Old Peers

Landon stood frozen, the rifle steady in his hands though his arms trembled—not sure if it was from the cold or the flood of adrenaline coursing through him. The three figures before him stayed silent, their breaths visible in the frigid morning air.

The cabin door burst open behind him.

“Landon?” Clara’s voice was sharp, panicked.

She stopped just a step from the doorway, her bare feet sinking slightly into the snow. Her eyes darted from Landon’s tense posture to the rifle aimed ahead—then to the three kids standing motionless in front of him. Her gaze flicked between them, confusion and worry battling across her face.

“Clara…” Landon started, his voice low but tight.

But before he could say more, the boy standing in front of the other two took a cautious step forward. His voice came out soft, uncertain.

“Cla…ra?”

The sound of her name froze her in place. For a moment, Clara’s brow furrowed in confusion. Then her eyes widened. She studied the boy’s face—the messy dark hair, the familiar tilt of his jaw beneath the grime and frostbite. Slowly, a name escaped her lips, half whisper, half disbelief.

“Felix?”

Relief washed over the boy’s face, only to vanish the moment he glanced back at the rifle still aimed at him. He swallowed hard, raising his hands higher in surrender.

Landon blinked, the name stirring something deep in his memory.

“Clara… you know this boy?” he asked, his voice quieter now but still guarded.

“Yes,” she said, stepping slightly in front of him, her tone firm but trembling with emotion. “He was part of the Phantoms—do you not remember him?”

Landon hesitated. The memory came back in fragments—chaos, screams, the night the Phantoms were scattered and driven from their school. Faces blurred by smoke and fear. Then, slowly, he recognized Felix. He had seen him before—back when their world still had rules, still had walls.

He exhaled, the tension in his shoulders loosening slightly, though he didn’t lower the rifle just yet.

“Felix, who are you traveling with?” Landon asked, his voice softer now, though the tension hadn’t fully left.

Felix motioned to the two figures beside him. “This is my little brother, Noah… and this is Ivy.”

Before Landon could respond, Clara stepped forward. “Landon, put the gun down.”

He turned his head slightly, meeting her calm gaze. Her expression was steady, her shoulders relaxed—a quiet signal of trust.

With a slow exhale, Landon lowered the rifle and swung it over his shoulder. “You trust these people?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation.

Landon studied her face for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. “Very well. I’m going to check the traps. Don’t let them eat anything before I get back.”

He turned and started up the hill, boots crunching in the snow. The morning light caught the edge of his jacket as he disappeared through the trees. Even as he walked away, conflict churned inside him. Felix had been a decent guy—he remembered that much—but trust was a luxury these days. Still, if Clara believed in them, he’d give it a chance… for now.

Clara watched until Landon vanished into the pale mist rising from the snow-covered hill. Then she turned toward the three shivering figures still standing outside the cabin.

“Come inside,” she said gently. “You must be freezing. I’ll start a fire.”

The group exchanged weary looks and murmured their thanks before stepping inside. The cabin was dim but warm compared to the biting cold outside. They sat at the dining table while Clara knelt by the fireplace, stacking kindling and striking a match. The tiny flame flickered to life, crackling softly as the warmth began to spread through the room.

For the first time in a long while, it felt almost like a home again.

Clara poked at the fire, sending a small spark flying. “So… how long have you two been on your own?” she asked, glancing at Noah and Ivy.

Ivy shrugged, hugging her knees. “A few weeks. Since… everything went wrong at the school.”

Noah’s small voice piped up from the other side of the table. “It was scary. I didn’t know if I’d ever find Felix again.”

Felix gave his brother a reassuring look. “I told you I’d find you. I promised.”

Clara smiled faintly. “Well, you made it. That’s what matters.”

Ivy’s eyes flicked to Felix, then to Clara. “And you? You’ve been out here all alone?”

Clara shook her head. “Not completely. Landon… he’s been keeping this place running. He’s… careful. Smart.” She hesitated, then added softly, “And protective.”

Felix’s gaze lingered on Landon’s empty chair by the door. “Sounds like someone I want to meet… though he sounds intimidating.”

Clara laughed softly. “He is. But once you get past all that, he’s… good.”

Noah tilted his head. “Are we going to be okay here? I don’t want anyone sneaking up on us.”

Clara glanced at Felix, then Ivy. “We’ll be okay. For now, we stick together. That’s all we can do.”

Felix nodded, a small grin breaking through. “I think I can handle that. Right, Ivy?”

Ivy rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile. “If we have to. But I’m not used to being… safe.”

Clara looked at all three of them, warmth and worry mixing in her expression. “Then welcome to our little safe spot. Just… don’t break anything before Landon gets back,” she teased lightly.

Noah giggled. “We won’t!”

Felix laughed quietly, shaking his head. “Yeah, no promises. But we’ll try.”

The four of them fell into a quiet rhythm, talking softly as the fire crackled. For a brief moment, the cabin felt less like a refuge and more like… a home.

Landon sat outside the cabin, carefully skinning three rabbits. He still couldn’t believe that all three snares had held rabbits—luck had been on their side, at least for now. Once he had the meat prepared, he carried it inside.

The cabin fell into a hush as he entered. Clara’s eyes met his, and he offered a tired smile, one that didn’t quite reach the exhaustion in his voice. “Morning,” he muttered, setting the rabbits down to start cooking.

Once the meat was ready, he served everyone first. The three newcomers hesitated for a moment, then dug in, grateful but silent. Landon waited until the plates were emptied before taking what was left—there wasn’t much.

At the table, the cabin was mostly quiet. Clara tried to break the silence a few times with small talk. “It’s supposed to warm up soon,” she said, glancing out the window. “Maybe the snow will soften a bit.”

Ivy shrugged. “Doesn’t matter much to me. Snow’s just snow.”

Noah poked at his food, mumbling, “I hope we find more rabbits…”

Felix gave him a small nudge. “Patience. We’ll be fine.”

The brief sparks of conversation quickly burned out, leaving the cabin quiet again except for the soft crackle of the fire.

When breakfast was done, Landon pushed back from the table. “I’m going to try to get some sleep,” he said, rubbing his eyes. He picked up his rifle and carried it with him, moving quietly to the bedroom.

Clara watched him go, a frown tugging at her lips, then turned back to the group. “Try to get comfortable,” she said softly. “He’s exhausted.”

Landon lay down and the weight of the past days pressing on him. His eyes closed almost immediately, and sleep claimed him, deep and unbroken.