The dawn sky was the color of ash, heavy clouds veiling the sun as though the heavens themselves mourned what had been lost beneath the cavern. The air reeked of smoke and stone-dust, every breath scraping raw through tired lungs.
Aria sat with Kael cradled against her, her knees buried in the churned soil. Around them, the survivors staggered into uneven clusters, their faces pale, their armor dented, their weapons dulled. No one spoke at first. They were all too busy breathing, too busy confirming they were still alive.
Then the silence broke.
"Healers! Is there anyone left?" Nora's voice rang out, trembling with urgency. Her small hands fluttered over Kael's wounds, his blood had soaked through his tunic and streaked her palms, staining her skin crimson. "Please, he's fading, he doesn't have much time!"
A murmur rippled through the battered warriors. Some shook their heads. Others avoided her gaze entirely.
