Atlas opened his eyes to the priest's face and, of course, Aurora's. She reached out and helped him to his feet, her hand warm and steady.
"What happened?" he asked. His memories were a blur.
"…you were fighting Ureil, up in the clouds," she said, gesturing toward the other side of the clearing where Ureil lay unconscious. "Your fight shook the sky like thunder for a few minutes, and then—" She nodded toward him. "—you fell."
As Atlas' gaze snapped to the priests, memories resurfacing, fury rose like a tide. Aurora slid between him and the nearest men, her voice soft but firm.
"Aurora?"
"They don't think we're enemies, Atlas. You proved them wrong, you proved all of them wrong." She looked him over, gesturing to his singed, naked body that had survived the holy fire. "You've grown. People would be amazed to learn you're only sixteen—considering your… stature."
Atlas glanced down and blushed; he was, indeed, completely naked.
