Uneasy Victory

The scent of smoke lingered in the air as the first rays of dawn broke over the remnants of Ava's estate. The once pristine grounds were now a battlefield, strewn with debris and fallen comrades. Ava stood in the midst of it all, her eyes scanning the horizon, her mind reeling from the chaos of the previous night.

Liam approached her, his steps heavy with exhaustion. His arm was bandaged, and a fresh scar marred his cheek. "We need to gather the survivors," he said, his voice low but firm. "And we need to talk about what comes next."

Ava nodded, her gaze lingering on the horizon a moment longer before she turned to face him. "I know," she replied. "But first, we need to make sure everyone is safe."

They moved through the estate, checking on the wounded and rallying the uninjured to help. As they worked, the tension among the survivors was palpable. Whispers of dissent and fear filled the air, and Ava could see the cracks forming in their fragile alliance.