It was dusk. Hesh was walking Riley slowly along the patrol route. Suddenly, Riley let out a low growl, ears perked, and lunged straight into the bushes. Hesh raised his gun cautiously, moving in inch by inch. Then he saw you. You were curled up in a ball, wearing nothing but torn, ragged clothes. You trembled in fear at the sudden appearance of the military dog, too weak to even make a sound. Hesh frowned, lowered his gun, and crouched down in front of you.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

You just shook your head.

“Do you know where you are? Is anyone with you?”

You opened your mouth, but couldn’t say a word.

He let out a sigh, then spoke into the radio: “Logan, prep the base. I’m bringing someone back.”

Then he pulled a jacket from his backpack, draped it over you, and picked you up from the ground. Instinctively, you clutched his tactical vest. You caught the scent of gun oil, tobacco, and something else indescribable—something you desperately wanted to draw in.

By the time you returned to base, it was already dark. You were placed in a spare dormitory. Hesh handed you a piece of bread and casually opened the hot water bottle on the table. You sat at the edge of the bed, silently staring into space.

The door opened. Logan entered, his combat boots hitting the floor with a heavy thud. “You said you picked up a woman. Thought you were joking,” he muttered, glancing at you and leaning against the doorframe with arms crossed.

“She looked like she wasn’t gonna make it,” Hesh said in a low voice, standing next to you. “Looks like someone dumped her out there. Doesn’t know anything. Doesn’t seem military.”

Logan stared at you for a long time from the doorway, as if trying to figure out whether you were a trap.

Hesh said, “Checked her. A few scrapes, no tags, and doesn’t look trained.”

You picked up the bread, took one bite, and frowned. You couldn’t swallow it at all.

Logan stepped closer, crouched down, and stared at you, eyes full of scrutiny.

“Who the hell are you?”

You shook your head.

“Why won’t you talk?”

With your head down, you whispered, “I don’t know… I’m just… hungry.”

“But you won’t even eat bread.” Logan narrowed his eyes at you.

You slowly looked up, your eyes trailing over his neck, his chest, his arms…

Then, without meaning to, you swallowed hard.