The afternoon sun bore down on the training grounds, casting long shadows across the cracked earth.
The heat weighed heavily in the air, mingling with the sweat and desperation of the tribe members.
Every now and then, a roar from one of the beasts echoed through the clearing, sending nervous shivers down the spines of the tribe.
They were still learning, but Lyerin's sharp eyes didn't miss the hesitations, the trembling hands, the fear.
They weren't ready yet.
They couldn't be trusted to fight the real threats.
Gregor stood among the others, his one remaining arm clutching a spear.
He looked determined, but the fear in his eyes betrayed him. He had already failed once today, and Lyerin's cold dismissal had left him desperate to prove himself.
