Returning

Conrad sat by a crackling fire, his damp clothes were hung nearby on makeshift sticks and stones. Left only with his pants. 

He stared into the flames, the warmth helped to ease the chill in his body, even though the sun was out, it still felt ten times better to sit near a fire. Plus, it was also a faster to dry his clothes.

As to how they made this fire, Connie had gathered dried sticks and grass, and Geraldine added the finishing touches by setting them correctly and making the fire, apparently, she knew how to do that, another detail that added to his opinion about her. 

Around him, others had created similar small fires and were drying their clothes as well. They were scattered in random groups, some were quietly talking in huddled circles, and others were tending to their bruises and scrapes.