Devastation

Laz looked out over the noiseless mess and couldn't help but feel a chill. Where once was a large, prosperous village now lay a land of grey death, ash and silence. Laz spread out his sense as far as he could, but he sensed no life, of any sort. Neither animal, human or plant life remained within.

As devastated as everyone was at this, Blake looked like he was going to break down.

"No... It can't be..." He said, mumbling to himself. He was about to jump down and run somewhere, but Laz put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"We move as one. Let's get the gate open before we check things out. Is there a central area, maybe a gathering spot where people would go in the case of an attack or some such?" Laz asked, thinking that the young man's reaction didn't match his earlier statements about the place.