Alaric and Gilbert trudged through the dense, unwelcoming forest, the cold air biting at their skin. The tremors had finally ceased, but the oppressive atmosphere remained, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. The path ahead was shrouded in shadows, the trees forming a nearly impenetrable barrier. Yet, Alaric and Gilbert pressed on, driven by the urgency of their mission and the hope of finding Alaric's grandmother.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally emerged into a small clearing, where an old hut stood isolated amidst the dense foliage. The structure was weathered by time, its wooden walls worn and cracked, and its thatched roof moss-covered and sagging. The hut seemed almost to blend into the forest, as though it had grown out of the very earth itself.
