As the trio moved away from the village, the distant hum of tension still lingered in the air. None of them spoke for a while. The encounter had left a bitter aftertaste.
Back behind them, the beast standing beside Toma gave a low, guttural growl. The child laid a hand on its side and whispered.
"There's no need to go after them. They didn't hurt us. They're not like the others."
The beast twitched its ears, glancing toward the path the trio had taken, but ultimately lowered its head.
With a nod, Toma turned around.
"Let's go back."
He said, his voice subdued.
They returned to the village, expecting quiet. But what met them was chaos.
Smoke rose high into the air, thick and dark, and the scent of fire mixed with something worse—blood.
Houses were ablaze, and screams echoed through the narrow paths. Hunters in ragged uniforms laughed as they kicked in doors, dragging out villagers and sifting through whatever remained.
