The first light of dawn slipped gently through the thin mist still blanketing the grassy plain. The purple stars in the sky began to fade, replaced by the soft gray typical of this new world, not the bright morning of the old Earth, but a calm, cold dawn full of secrets. The campfire had nearly died, leaving only small red embers pulsing faintly like a final breath. Sylvia opened her eyes fully; her body wasn't truly stiff despite not having slept deeply all night. She had simply sat, kept watch, and listened to the wind and Sofia's steady breathing.
Sofia stirred inside her sleeping bag, her golden hair tousled from the night wind. She yawned widely, golden eyes blinking as they adjusted to the morning light. "Morning, my Sylvia… have you been awake for a while?"
Sylvia gave a small nod, stood, and stretched her body slowly. Her black cloak remained perfectly in place, not a single wrinkle out of order. "Yes. Get up. We'll eat breakfast before continuing."
