The beautiful, pale moon hung high in the sky like a lonely mistress, with countless tiny stars gathered around her like silent admirers.
Below, in a broad, bowl-shaped depression in the desert floor, Mira, Tessa, Isolde, and Rina sat around a small, flickering fire, chewing on strips of dried jerky.
The raised edges of their campsite concealed the firelight from the surrounding dunes, allowing them to enjoy a little warmth for once without drawing unwanted attention.
Unfortunately for the five guys, the ladies had claimed all the space around the fire, sitting so close together that there was little room for anyone else to squeeze in.
The men could only huddle farther away, enduring the biting cold while casting occasional, resentful glances toward the comfortable circle.
"Those arrogant bitches! Leaving us to suffer in the cold! How can they be so heartless?" Aki, the half-beastman, complained under his shuddering breath, keeping his knees tucked close to his chest.
