Alex and Ethan ventured deeper into the valley, each step cautiously measured. The pristine landscape around them glistened, soaked in early morning light, and the birdsong was eerie in its normalcy, a striking contrast to the chaos they'd left behind. Here, it felt like the world hadn't yet been touched by the war that had ravaged everything else.
Ethan glanced at Alex, whose gaze was scanning their surroundings with laser focus. Even though they were far from any known threat, her eyes held the shadow of their recent battles. He watched as she let out a breath, a quiet exhale that seemed to release years of tension, but only slightly. A thought struck him: could this place, so untouched, offer them a chance to be something beyond warriors?
