The girl looks around, curious and scared, she runs until the forest thins.

  Lights bloom ahead.

  She collapses onto a bench and falls into a heavy sleep. Gunshots echo through her dreams.

  When she wakes, sunset stains the sky.

  She wanders into a flower shop.

  “Welcome to New Sage,” an old woman says gently, offering coffee and biscuits. “Passing through?”

  “Depends. I’ll stay a day.”

  “Name?”

  “Irish Daisy.”

  Later, as Daisy explores, a girl approaches her.

  “I’m Uddin. Walk with me.”

  They stop before a small cottage.

  An elderly woman opens the door, warm-eyed. "Welcome," she smiles.

  They sit on a round tables. A spread of dishes fills the table's center. "Tell us about yourself," the woman asks.

  Daisy hesitates.

  “I’m from a green village. My father owned an armory shop. Unknown men attacked. Burned everything. I ran.”

  The house is still burning when they tell her her father is dead. She doesn’t see a body. Doesn’t hear a gunshot. Just men stepping out of smoke, soft voices, open hands. She runs until her lungs taste like ash.

  The woman sighs. “Tragic.”

  That night, Daisy sits on the roof beside Uddin.

  “There was a man in black,” Daisy says quietly. “He killed them.”

  “Good with guns?”

  “Yes.”

  Uddin studies the dark horizon.

  “You were lucky.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Silence stretches.

  Then—

  “New Sage isn’t refuge,” Uddin adds. “If you stay, you earn it.”

  At dawn, gunshots crack across the clearing.

  Daisy watches from a distance.

  A small group trains with frightening precision.

  A woman with an M40 sniper rifle over her shoulder notices her.

  “Who’s the newcomer?”

  “Irish Daisy,” Uddin answers.

  The woman steps closer.

  Her eyes measure Daisy, not unkind — just assessing.

  Later that day, Uddin brings Daisy into an old house.

  Several figures sit around bags of stolen goods.

  One girl rises immediately.

  “You missed the mission,” she snaps at Uddin. “And you brought a stranger?”

  “Council decides,” Uddin replies.

  The girl steps closer to Daisy.

  “Tie her. Test her running.”

  Two members move forward with rope.

  Daisy backs into the wall.

  Uddin steps between them.

  “Don’t.”

  The girl smirks.

  “Fine. Let the Council decide.”

  They leave.

  Daisy exhales shakily.

  “They don’t like me.”

  “They don’t trust easily,” Uddin says. “That’s how we’re still alive.”

  THE COUNCIL OF NEW SAGE

  A long oak table dominates the chamber.

  Candlelight trembles.

  Four figures sit in shadow.

  At the head, a woman with iron-gray hair grips a wooden hammer.

  Crack.

  “The new girl,” she says. “She wondered in yesterday, wants a place among us.”

  A broad-shouldered man folds scarred hands together. “Let’s hear her. We need citizens.

  Across from him, a woman with one ruined eye slides a knife between her fingers. “Or she’s bait. We have to be careful," she glares. "Needing citizens shouldn't make us desperate."

  An old man at the far end finally speaks.

  “Bring her in.”

  The door opens.

  Daisy steps forward.

  Uddin remains half a step behind her.

  “Irish Daisy,” the leader says. “What brought you here?”

  “I was chased in the woods. A man in black killed them. He told me to come.”

  The knife-woman pauses.

  “And no one followed?”

  “They’re dead.”

  Silence.

  The broad-shouldered man leans forward. “How do we know you won’t bring something worse?”

  Before Daisy can answer—

  “I’d bet my life on her,” Uddin says.

  The hammer strikes.

  “We don’t gamble lives.”

  The old man raises a hand.

  “Vote. Let's give her a chance."

  Others follow. “Aye.”

  “Aye.”

  A pause.

  The knife-woman’s voice cuts low

  “No.”

  Then—

  “Aye,” she adds. “But I’m watching her.”

  Crack.

  “Settled. The girl joins the Sneaky Birds.”

  The leader’s eyes sharpen.

  “Fetch Moon Black Paige.”

  Moon Black is already in the doorway.

  She steps forward. "Heard my name."

  “Train her,” the leader says. “If she’s a spy… end her.”

  Moon Black nods once.

  Later.

  Moon Black stands in the clearing with a practice stick.

  “You want in?”

  “Yes.”

  “Come at me.”

  Daisy lunges.

  Moon Black sidesteps and kicks her leg out.

  Daisy crashes hard.

  “You’ll face worse than me,” Moon Black says. “Get up.”

  Daisy forces herself upright and charges again.

  This time Moon Black drives the air from her lungs with a brutal strike.

  Daisy drops to her knees, coughing.

  Moon Black watches her carefully now.

  Measuring.

  “I’m not giving up,” Daisy gasps.

  A slow smile.

  “Good. Spirit matters.”

  Uddin steps forward. “That’s enough.”

  Moon Black turns to leave.

  “Rest,” she says without looking back. “Save strength.”

  She pauses.

  “I hope you survive.”