Everything was still shrouded in darkness, a deep, dark blue covering the sky like a silent veil. The stars, still clinging to the night, twinkled faintly, resisting disappearing.
But then, the first rays of the sun began to tear through the horizon. A golden light, faint at first, broke through the darkness with the delicacy of a leaf cutting through water. It was dawn breaking, relentless and serene.
One by one, the stars faded away, swallowed up by the rising sun. And with each passing moment, the light grew stronger, warmer, more vivid. The shadows receded. The world slowly awoke.
The jungle was still in chaos. Thick smoke still clung to the air, tangling itself among the treetops like a dirty fog.
Some tree trunks burned with dull crackles, and new bursts of fire ignited among the dry underbrush, devouring branches, leaves, and roots. The smell of burning wood, damp earth, and charred flesh permeated every corner.
