In the military dorms, Alex and Noah sat side by side, quietly eating their dinner. The hum of conversation filled the background, but at their table, a heavy silence lingered — the kind that only soldiers shared before a looming mission.
Noah suddenly clapped his hand down on Alex's shoulder with a heavy thud, breaking the silence between them.
The sudden impact made Alex jolt, and a mouthful of soup sprayed from his lips. He doubled over, coughing hard as Noah burst into laughter beside him.
"What the hell was that for, Noah? I didn't even do anything to you today!" Alex snapped between coughs, shooting him an annoyed glare.
"My hand slipped, brother," Noah said with a wide grin. "Now hurry up and finish eating — we've got to get to the helicopter pad soon."
With that, Noah quickly grabbed a loaf of bread, stuffed it into his mouth, and stood up, making his way toward the door. His steps were quick,
Alex made an annoyed face, shaking his head as he muttered, "I'll get you back for that, just you wait, Noah."
Alex ran after Noah, his boots echoing on the hard floor. "Do you think the Silver Claws will be there?" he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
At the mention of the Silver Claws, Noah's mood shifted. His usual carefree attitude darkened, and he sighed deeply. "I don't know, bro," he replied, his voice quieter. "But from what I've seen, they're doing good deeds. They haven't harmed a single innocent person."
With that, Noah turned and walked away, leaving Alex standing in silence, his thoughts swirling. The weight of Noah's words hung in the air—was it possible that the Silver Claws weren't as black-and-white as everyone thought?
At the helicopter pad, the air was thick with the hum of engines warming up, the heavy rotor blades slicing the air. The cold evening wind carried the faint scent of oil and metal as five soldiers stood in quiet clusters, saying their final goodbyes.
Their families stood just outside the perimeter, eyes filled with concern but also with pride. The soldiers, faces hard but their eyes soft with emotion, shared a few final words with their loved ones.
Alex stood in front of his family, his heart heavy with the weight of their goodbyes.
"Big brother, when will you come home again after this mission?" Grace's voice trembled with a child's innocent hope. "You promised it would only take one month in previous mission, but it take eight whole months..."
Alex's throat tightened, and his eyes began to well up with unshed tears. But, in a flash, he forced a smile, masking the emotion threatening to break through.
"Grace, I promise you," he said softly, crouching down to her level, "when I come home next time, I'll stay for a long time. We'll play together every day, okay?"
Alex pulled his father and mother into a tight embrace, holding them for a long moment, reluctant to let go. His heart ached, but he knew this was the right path.
"Take care, son," his father whispered, patting his back.
"I will, Dad," Alex replied, his voice thick with emotion.
On the other side, Tina was saying her goodbyes to her family. Her big brother David stood with a fierce expression, his tears barely concealed.
"Stay safe out there, you fool," David said, his voice gruff, trying to mask the pain with his usual tough demeanor.
Tina flashed him a playful grin, though her eyes held a touch of sadness."Ha, ha, don't worry, I'll beat you in a minute if I have to! I'm powerful, so stop worrying about me."
With that, she kissed her arm dramatically, as if to show just how "strong" she was.
David rolled his eyes, but the smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed how proud he was of her.
Tina's mother, Emma, stood quietly beside David, her face soft but filled with concern. She tried to hide it, but the worry in her eyes was unmistakable.
A small, tentative smile curved her lips as she reached out to gently ruffle Tina's hair."Be safe, sweetheart," Emma said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Come back in one piece, alright?"
Tina nodded, offering her mother a reassuring grin, though deep down, she knew how much her departure weighed on Emma.
"I'll be fine, Mom. Don't worry so much," Tina said, her tone playful but carrying a warmth that made Emma's smile waver.
Aria stood in front of her father, her posture straight and military-perfect, the discipline evident in every inch of her form. Her father, a retired army officer, looked at her with clear pride in his eyes.
With a smile that carried both warmth and authority, he said, "I'm proud of you, daughter."
Aria's heart swelled at his words, but she quickly masked her emotions, her expression turning serious once again. Without thinking, she stepped forward and pulled both her father and mother into a tight hug.
"Take care of yourselves," she whispered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed.
Noah stood to the side, his eyes downcast, watching as the others shared their heartfelt goodbyes. His team was surrounded by family, each moment filled with love and care. But Noah was alone.
His gaze drifted across the group—Alex, Tina, Aria—each of them enveloped by their family, and for a brief moment, a pang of loneliness hit him.
He wasn't angry or bitter. It was just… a quiet ache, a reminder of the family he didn't have, of the absence he had learned to live with.
As the laughter and tearful words filled the air, Noah remained silent, his arms crossed, staring off into the distance, trying not to show the emptiness he felt.
Samuel stood beside his wife, who was glaring at him with intense eyes. Her arms were crossed, and her expression could have melted steel.
"What did you say?" she asked, her voice sharp, "When will you be back?"
Samuel, trying his best to avoid the full force of her glare, glanced over at his team, noticing that they were all occupied with their own goodbyes. He quickly leaned in toward his wife, placing a finger to his lips in a shushing motion.
"Shhh," he whispered with a playful grin, "All my team is here. Don't make a scene."
His wife narrowed her eyes but didn't say another word. Instead, she simply gave him a look that spoke volumes, leaving Samuel to wonder just how much trouble he was in once this was all over.
As Samuel stood there, trying to lighten the mood, Sophia stepped forward. Her gaze softened, and without a word, she wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"Come back safe," she whispered, her voice filled with both love and worry.
Samuel felt the warmth of her arms, the quiet strength of her words, and for a moment, he let himself relax. He closed his eyes, savoring the comfort of this final embrace before they had to part.
"I will," he replied, his voice firm, but underneath, the vulnerability showed. "I promise."
As the whirring of helicopter blades filled the air, the sound growing louder with each passing second, the team quickly gathered their things. The heavy thud of the helicopter's engines reverberated through the ground as it hovered above them.
Without a word, they made their way to the waiting helicopter, their movements quick and efficient, the weight of the goodbyes still lingering in the air. One by one, they climbed in, securing themselves for the journey ahead.
As the last of the team members climbed aboard, the helicopter's engines roared to life. The rotor blades spun faster, and with a sudden surge, they lifted off the ground. The team watched in silence as the familiar land below them grew smaller, the comforting presence of home slowly fading into the distance.