The defenders returned to the lodge, their steps slow and heavy. The night's events lingered in their minds, a strange mix of exhaustion, confusion, and apprehension.
The rogue beast had been a challenge, but it wasn't the creature that weighed on their spirits. The eerie, overwhelming energy they had sensed at the warehouse district was the real concern, an ominous sign of something far worse lurking in the shadows.
The lodge stood at the city's edge, its warm glow spilling onto the dark street, starkly contrasting with the cold night air. Phoenix led the group, her back steady but purposeful, while George trailed at the back, his shoulders slumped.
Eren, Astrid, Avon, and Lyra had joined them on the way, their silence speaking volumes about their shared exhaustion.
