For a heartbeat, silence reigned in the courtyard. The words of Cluckles still clung to the air, heavy as iron. Raven's companions stood, ready to leap at the storm he had brought them.
One could hear drumrolls in the background (played by the squirrels who stood between the soldiers), and if one squinted, they would even see squirrels covered in war paint, ready to march.
But then, Alex raised his hand. His jaw was set, his lava-flecked fists trembling faintly.
"…Hold on. What about the demons?"
The words cut through the rising tension like a knife. Everyone turned.
Alex stepped forward, voice hard. "There are hundreds of them locked underground right now, waiting for us to deal with them. And Rufus and Jessy still aren't back with the last batch. We can't just leave."
The reminder hit like cold water.
Selena's gaze lowered, calm but sharp. "If we abandon them here, the risk would be catastrophic."
