They arrived near Hollowshade Village at the turn of sunset into twilight, leaving a long shadow across the street where no noise of greeting reached them. Ronan was ahead of them, his piercing gaze scanning the desolation, while Celeste and Aurelia shared a horse; the latter was uncharacteristically silent.
The village was deathly still. No voices, no movement, save the creak of a door swinging in the breeze. Tools were scattered in the dirt; carts overturned as if the owners had fled in haste.
Aurelia finally broke the heavy silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like a ghost town… Where is everybody?"
