Reunion

The cold was eating Kael as the night wore on. The settlement's shabby buildings offered no protection from the wind that howled through the alleys like a beast. His stolen cloak did nothing to keep him warm and he felt the chill seep into his bones.

As he walked through the dark streets he saw a faint orange light in the distance. It flickered in the darkness like a torch, calling to him. The source revealed itself as a small fire in a rusty old drum. A man and a woman sat huddled around it, their faces lined and worn from hardship.

The man looked up as Kael approached, his eyes narrowed for a moment before softening.

"You cold, stranger?" the man asked, his voice rough but not unfriendly. He nodded towards the fire. "Plenty of room here if you want to warm up."

Kael hesitated, looking at their faces. The man's hollow cheeks and patchy beard told of long nights and short rations. The woman beside him looked younger, her eyes bright but wary.