The women and children were settled into a clean villa on the quieter side of the base.
It had been left untouched by the fighting, and although there was still dust on the furniture and the rooms had been empty for weeks, it was more than enough for people who had spent so long hiding in fear.
For the first time in what felt like forever, they could close a door behind them and know that nothing was going to come crashing through it.
They were all terribly hungry.
Shinju opened the storage compartment of one of the cars and brought out the rations they had carried with them.
They heated everything they could and divided it among the family.
The moment the food was placed on the table, the children began eating with such eagerness that one of the women immediately reached out and held a little boy's hand.
"Slow down, sweetheart. You're going to choke."
The boy shook his head and continued eating.
