The stretchers were finally ready. Shiyue and Ruihuang were secured, the newborn bundled tightly in Yiran's arms.
Every movement was measured, careful, none of them could afford another misstep. Qingran paused, her empty sleeve brushing against her side, reminding her with each heartbeat of the cost she had paid.
Half her arm gone with the pain still lingering in ghostly throbs down her shoulder.
Shen Li stepped forward cautiously, her eyes wide as she took in Qingran's battered figure. "Are you… okay?" she asked softly. "It's… it's okay to cry…"
Qingran shook her head, forcing herself to lift her chin. "Crying won't fix it.." she murmured, her voice rough from hours of shouting and strain. "I can always exchange something else to get it back. This is the cost for now."
Shen Li bit her lip, hesitating, then nodded. She didn't push further. Qingran gave her a faint, almost imperceptible nod of thanks, then turned to the circle of survivors.
