"Good," Aldric said with a warm smile.
BOOM!!
The explosion tore across the ridge so violently that the ground shook beneath them.
Children screamed instantly.
Birds burst upward from the pine trees surrounding the camp while smoke erupted from the western side of the settlement in a massive black cloud.
Then—
fire exploded into the afternoon sky.
Bright orange flames climbed through the camp with terrifying speed, swallowing tents and supply structures in seconds.
For half a heartbeat—
everyone froze.
The peaceful rhythm of the afternoon shattered instantly.
Cooking pots crashed into the dirt. Training weapons dropped forgotten into snow. Refugees turned in horror as another explosion thundered through the western barricades.
Then panic hit.
"FIRE!"
"Get water!"
"The storage tents!"
People surged into motion all at once.
Some ran toward the flames.
Others ran away from them.
Children began crying as smoke rolled violently through the lower camp.
