GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The cityscape gave way to a sprawling wilderness as Jester and Luther ventured further from Ferrovale's industrial ruins. The air was cooler here, filled with the crisp scent of pine and damp earth. Moonlight filtered through the trees, casting elongated shadows that danced with the movement of the pair.

"This feels weird," Jester said, spinning one of his blades idly as he walked. "No drones. No soldiers. No explosions. Almost peaceful. I don't trust it."

Luther moved silently beside him, his massive frame blending into the dark forest like a shadow come to life. "It's not peace. It's... the hunt."

Jester paused mid-spin, giving him a sidelong glance. "Well, thanks for the comforting bedtime story, big guy. You ever think about moonlighting as a motivational speaker?"

Luther grunted but didn't respond. His glowing eyes scanned the forest, every fiber of his being on high alert.

"Alright," Jester said, sheathing his blades with a flourish, "if you're going full paranoid, I guess I'll play along. What's the plan? Run till we drop? Or are we finally taking the fight to whoever's pulling the strings?"

"We're not ready," Luther said simply, his deep voice resonating through the still air.

Jester stopped in his tracks, throwing his hands up. "Not ready? Did you see us back there? We turned a steel mill into a fiery graveyard. If that's not ready, I don't know what is."

Luther turned to him, his towering form casting a shadow over Jester. "That was survival. What's coming... is war."

The weight of his words hung heavy between them. For once, Jester didn't have a quip ready. Instead, he sighed and fell into step beside Luther, the silence between them broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

---

Hours passed as they trekked deeper into the wilderness. The dense forest opened up to reveal a wide river, its surface shimmering in the moonlight.

"Finally," Jester said, crouching by the water's edge. He splashed some onto his face and took a long drink. "Nature's vending machine. No coins required."

Luther stood a few feet away, his eyes fixed on the opposite bank. The muscles in his arms tensed, his claws flexing involuntarily.

"Something's wrong," he muttered.

Jester wiped his mouth and stood, following Luther's gaze. The forest across the river was eerily still. No birds, no rustling leaves—just silence.

"I hate when you're right," Jester said, drawing his blades. "Makes me feel all jumpy inside."

The stillness broke with a sudden, sharp whistling sound. Luther reacted instantly, grabbing Jester and pulling him to the ground as a projectile zipped past them, embedding itself in a nearby tree.

"Snipers," Luther growled.

"Of course there are snipers," Jester muttered, crawling behind a boulder. "Can't even enjoy a quiet drink without someone trying to kill us."

More projectiles followed, each one hitting with deadly precision. But they weren't ordinary bullets—these were tranquilizer darts, their tips glinting with a faint green liquid.

"They want us alive," Luther said, crouching low as he surveyed their attackers.

"Speak for yourself," Jester quipped, peeking out from behind the boulder. "I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory than end up as some lab experiment."

Luther didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed a nearby fallen tree trunk and hurled it across the river. It smashed into the forest on the opposite bank, drawing a flurry of movement as their attackers scattered.

"Time to go," he said, grabbing Jester by the arm.

They sprinted along the riverbank, zigzagging to avoid the incoming projectiles. The snipers pursued them relentlessly, their footsteps echoing through the forest.

Jester glanced back, his grin returning despite the danger. "I think they like us. Should we invite them to dinner?"

"Run faster," Luther growled.

---

The forest thinned as they reached a rocky hillside. Luther scaled it with ease, his claws digging into the stone for leverage. Jester followed close behind, his agility making up for his lack of brute strength.

At the top of the hill, they found a narrow cave entrance hidden by overgrown vines.

"In there," Luther said, pulling the vines aside.

Jester hesitated. "You sure about this? Feels a bit... trappy."

"Better than... staying out here," Luther said, his glowing eyes scanning the forest below.

Jester shrugged and ducked into the cave, his blades at the ready. Luther followed, pulling the vines back into place to conceal the entrance.

The cave was damp and cold, its walls lined with jagged rocks that seemed to close in around them.

"Well, this is cozy," Jester said, his voice echoing faintly. "What's next, ghost stories by the campfire?"

Luther ignored him, moving deeper into the cave. "We rest here. Then... we fight."

Jester leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Fine by me. But next time, you pick a hiding spot with better amenities. Maybe a hot tub?"

Luther snorted softly—a sound that could almost be mistaken for amusement.

As they settled in, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from outside the cave. The snipers had found their trail.

Jester's grin widened. "Looks like company's coming. Hope they like surprises."

Luther flexed his claws, his glowing eyes narrowing. "They'll regret... following us."

---

To be continued...