Chapter 111: Echoes by the fire
Night fell gently upon the Forgotten Atlanta Expanse, draping the ruins in a velvet darkness broken only by the soft glow of bioluminescent flora and the distant, scattered flames from their makeshift campfire.
The expanse felt alone and deserted.
By now, nocturnal Behemorphs were supposed to be prowling the wild, searching for new prey to feed.
But after the brutal battle a week ago, and the aftermath, resulting in the crazy swell of Clayton’s Aphid Network, Behemorphs in the expanse who were still free could be counted in the dozens.
The Rootsite, Clayton’s newly established sanctuary, hummed with quite vitality, echoing the silence of the expanse.
It was a peaceful lull following days of relentless fighting and labor.
The team enjoyed the rare moment of peace.
Clayton sat comfortably against a fallen pillar, his luminous green eyes reflecting the flickering flames before him.
Around the fire, his companions gathered, their faces relaxed, their bodies finally beginning to shed the weariness accumulated over the grueling days.
Add in the 60-day trek to the Scorchpaths Outskirts, and it was far more than a marathon.
The smell of cooking filled the air, a comforting blend of roasting meat, spices, and the faint scent of herbs carefully harvested from the city outskirts.
Veyra moved gracefully by the fire, performing her duties as their resident chef, tending to the food with practiced care.