The entire colony gathered within the largest cavern, and the atmosphere was painfully heavy. From the discovery of the enemy camp to the battle that followed and the bloody aftermath, every single event had unfolded so quickly that most of the colony had yet to truly comprehend the weight of what had happened.
Rows of kobolds stood shoulder to shoulder, their expressions filled with exhaustion, grief and uncertainty. Families huddled together in uneasy silence while whispers spread through the crowd before quickly dying away.
At the edge of the gathering stood the surviving warriors who had taken part in the operation. Many of them were wrapped in fresh bandages while others leaned upon spears simply to remain standing. The empty spaces where nine warriors should have stood were more painful than any wound.
