The forest clearing had taken on an almost peaceful quality now that the dark energies had dissipated, leaving only the gentle rustle of evening wind through the canopy above. The rescued families huddled together near the overturned wagon, their relief palpable as they slowly began to process their survival.
Marcus Goldwright had proven himself to be exactly what he claimed, a successful merchant with the practical wisdom that came from years of navigating both trade negotiations and the dangers of the road.
His wife Elena, a woman in her early forties with kind eyes and greying hair, worked quietly to comfort the other rescued families while their son Thomas helped gather scattered belongings.
The boy couldn't have been more than sixteen, with the soft features and well-fed appearance of someone who had never known true hardship. Yet there was intelligence in his eyes as he watched Yomi work, clearly fascinated by the casual display of power he had witnessed.
