(Planet Nemo, The Aftermath)
In the immediate aftermath of the war, the atmosphere within the Dragon Army was one of strange duality—joyous, because they had prevailed, yet sombre, because this victory had not come without its cost.
The trenches that had hours ago been filled with desperate cries and clashing steel now echoed with cheers of survival.
Exhausted soldiers embraced one another, laughter bubbling out through cracked lips as they realized that they were going to live to see another day.
Yet for every cheer, there was a sob close behind it, for too many of their brothers and sisters had not risen from the mud.
*CRACKLE*
*POP*
Fires burned across the ruined battlefield, casting deathly shadows over rows of bodies being laid out with care.
Some were covered in cloaks, others in the broken banners they had carried, their faces already pale under the light of the flames.
