A Night Behind, A Day Ahead ( 218 )

Kisha slowly stirred, her eyes blinking open as sunlight seeped through the narrow gaps in the wooden wall.

The weight of small arms and legs draped over her reminded her of what had happened,the children had curled around her during the night, trembling from the distant echoes of battle outside.

She lifted a hand to her forehead and let out a soft sigh.

"I… I actually managed to sleep," she thought, surprised.

But the feeling was more unsettling than comforting.

How could I have slept… when monsters might be lurking outside?

Carefully, she shifted without waking the children and moved across the creaky wooden floorboards.

Her dagger still hung at her waist, ready just in case.

Gently, she approached the window and peeked through the narrow gap.

It was already morning.

Birds chirped softly.

There was no smoke. No screams. No sign of monsters.

She moved to the next window.

Then another.