In the cave, the fire crackled quietly, its light dancing across the stone walls as night settled fully over the world outside. In the distance, beyond the forest, Lirath was slowly beginning to breathe again, voices, movement, the muffled sound of people starting to piece things back together.
People were still coming to terms with what had happened, while the more powerful among them were on full alert for any further portals. A single one, after so much time, had put everyone on edge across the region and beyond, and with the Calamity Dragon awake, the entire continent was watching.
In here, though, there was silence.
Only the quiet crackling of the fire, its warmth spreading through the cave before thinning out toward the entrance, where it dissolved into a calm night and a light, pleasant breeze.
