The dawn brought little relief to the weary villagers of Lornwood. Though the immediate threat had been driven back, a palpable tension remained. Emily stood near the outskirts of the town, her gaze fixed on the treeline where the attackers had disappeared hours earlier. The wind carried a chill, a reminder that peace was far from secured.
Aiden approached, his footsteps soft on the damp ground. "They'll be back," he said quietly, his voice grim. "They might have retreated, but that was just the beginning."
Emily nodded, her expression unreadable. "I know," she replied, her eyes never leaving the darkened woods. "They didn't expect resistance, but now they know we're not easy prey."