Jude's mind reeled with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What happened here?" he asked, his voice tinged with suspicion.
His wives exchanged knowing glances, understanding the confusion that gripped their leader. "There was no attack, Jude," Susan explained gently. "We were simply sharing stories and other things here."
Jude's furrowed brow relaxed slightly, though his perplexity lingered. "But Lucy said she heard voices, sounds of commotion..."
Lucy nodded, her expression mirroring Jude's bewilderment. "I'm certain I heard something, Jude. It was as if..."
Her words trailed off, the memory of the unsettling sounds still fresh in her mind. The absence of conflict left her grasping for explanations.
The strangers seated around the campfire exchanged bemused looks, seemingly amused by the confusion that had gripped Jude and Lucy. One of them, a weathered elder with kind eyes, spoke up, his voice calm and reassuring.
