**Chapter 17: Shadows of Vengeance**

Aaliyah's eyes never left Alpha's figure as she crept closer, her senses on high alert. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and she could feel the weight of her mission settling upon her. She had to be careful, for one misstep could mean disaster. As she drew nearer, Aaliyah noticed that Alpha was surrounded by a small group of heavily armed Whisperers. They seemed to be engaged in a heated discussion, their voices hushed but their body language aggressive. Aaliyah's mind racing, she quickly scanned the perimeter of the camp, searching for an opportunity to get closer. That's when she spotted it - a small, narrow stream that flowed into the valley, its crystal-clear waters providing a perfect cover for stealthy movement. Aaliyah's eyes locked onto the stream, and she quickly made her way towards it, her bare feet silent on the forest floor. She waded into the icy water, the chill of it seeping into her bones. But Aaliyah barely noticed, her focus solely on getting closer to Alpha. She moved upstream, using the rocks and boulders to conceal herself as she crept closer to the Whisperers' camp. As she rounded a bend in the stream, Aaliyah caught sight of a small, makeshift dock, partially hidden by a screen of foliage. A small, sleek boat was tied to the dock, its occupant - a lone Whisperer - seemingly oblivious to the commotion near the camp. Aaliyah's mind whirred as she assessed the situation. The boat could provide her with the perfect opportunity to get close to Alpha, but it also came with risks. She would have to be quick and decisive if she was to succeed. With a deep breath, Aaliyah made her move. She slipped out of the stream and onto the dock, her eyes locked onto the boat. The Whisperer, a burly man with a thick beard, was too engrossed in his conversation with one of the camp's sentries to notice her approach. Aaliyah moved swiftly, her hand closing around the man's throat as she yanked him backwards. He let out a muffled cry, but Aaliyah quickly silenced him, her eyes glinting with a fierce determination. The boat was hers now, and Aaliyah wasted no time in pushing off from the dock. She expertly navigated the vessel, her heart pounding with excitement as she made her way towards the center of the camp. Alpha's eyes snapped towards her, a look of surprise and then anger flashing across her face. Aaliyah smiled, a cold, hard smile, as she brought the boat to a stop just a few feet away from Alpha. "You're a hard woman to find," Aaliyah said, her voice dripping with venom. "But now that I have you, you're going to pay for what you've done." Alpha sneered, her eyes glinting with contempt. "You'll never leave this place alive," she spat, her hand reaching for the knife at her belt. Aaliyah just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "I think I will," she said, her eyes locked onto Alpha's. "And I think you'll be the one who's dying today."