The sun was beginning its descent behind the hills by the time the council members of New Haven gathered in the war room. George stood at the head of the large wooden table, his eyes scanning the faces of the people who had become the backbone of the community. The council wasn't a formal entity, but they had naturally fallen into their roles, people respected them, and their decisions carried weight.
Around the table sat Raven, Lucy, John, Jackie, Marcy, and Frank. Dr. Erica Penworth was there as well, her hands folded neatly in her lap, and across from her sat Thomas, who had just returned from helping reinforce the lower perimeter of Pleasant Valley. As the doors creaked open, Jonas, the former mayor of Johnsbury, entered, his presence thickening the air with tension. He offered George a thin-lipped smile and took his seat at the far end of the table.
