The suns rose higher over the Vale, painting the sky in streaks of bright orange. The light pushed away the shadows of the night, but it could not warm the cold feeling in Daniel's chest.
He walked alone. He moved with a steady, mechanical rhythm. Left foot, then right foot. Breathe in, breathe out.
His uniform was in rags. It was stained with mud and dried blood. Some of the blood belonged to him, but most of it belonged to the monsters he had killed over the last few days.
His hair was matted with dirt, and his face looked sunken.
The forest was waking up around him. Strange birds called out from the high branches, and insects buzzed in the humid air.
Normally, Daniel would be alert. He would be checking his surroundings for threats or resources. Today, however, he ignored it all.
He was not looking for treasure anymore. He was not looking for fights. He was just looking for the path home. He avoided everything that moved.
