The camp was made up of two tents and a fire.
They had set up on the hilltop, three miles from the ruins, far enough that the dust from the collapsed skyscraper couldn't reach them.
Cora and Sera had taken the first tent. Their discipline was absolute. Within minutes of making camp, they had set up a rotating watch, eaten their field rations, and settled down to rest. Their bodies recovered while their senses remained sharp enough to notice anything unusual around them.
Holden sat inside the second tent with the flap closed.
His focus was on the Diamond Chest.
It sat on the ground in front of him. The prismatic glow that had once surrounded it had faded after several hours in his Inventory, leaving behind a steady, manageable light.
Holden reached out and pressed his thumb against the seal.
