Crackle.
"Well, that was one hell of a day," Liam said with an exhausted smile, glancing at Nora. She was sitting a bit far from everyone else, though her personal guards remained close by, maintaining a vigilant perimeter.
"...."
There was no response from her. She just kept staring intently at the burning flames of the campfire.
"Nora," he called her name, softening his tone to get her attention.
"...."
There was still no response. Her gaze was distant, fixed on the moving fire.
"Nora," Liam added a bit more intensity to his voice, and she jolted slightly.
"H-huh?" she whispered.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, just a little out of it," she replied, blinking rapidly to refocus on him.
"I understand. It must be the first time you've seen this much blood," he said with a sigh, looking around at the tired group.
"...Maybe it was really a bad idea to come out here," she said, breathing warm air into her cupped palms, which she then rubbed together.
