Indeed, many damaged planks were scattered about; many of them pieced together into something resembling furniture. Someone had been here before.
In the middle of the cave, there were still remains of a campfire. From its size and the surrounding traces, it was evident that a small but not insignificant number of people had lived here before, perhaps six or seven of them.
Alka continued a few steps further inside and saw the far wall. Several skeletons lay before him. They were huddled together tightly, with remnants of blackened cloth strips clinging to them. Judging by their postures, these individuals had likely foreseen their deaths, gathered together, and awaited the inevitable. Or perhaps they were keeping each other warm when they suddenly died?
Alka carefully examined the area around the skeletons. No obvious injuries were found on them, though all had some fractures, mostly concentrated in the arms and legs.
