“Well, at least now we know what scared the Shadow off.”


Civilian stood at the edge of the chasm, arms crossed, staring into the darkness below.


Soldier stepped closer, but kept a careful distance from the crumbling ledge. He couldn’t help but wonder why they were always standing over the edge of something lately. It was starting to feel like a sign from above, or he had no better way to explain it.


Besides, the silence around them was unsettling. Even the wind seemed to have decided this wasn’t the time to stir the dust, almost as if it wanted the destruction to be clearly seen.


The district that had stood before them just moments ago… was gone.


Literally.


Where there had been streets and houses, now there was only torn earth, half-buried concrete blocks, and tunnels stretching from the darkness like open wounds.


Soldier frowned.

“Does this happen often?”


Civilian sighed, but there was no surprise or shock in his voice. Just weary acceptance, like it was simply part of how the world worked now.

“Sometimes.”


Soldier clenched his jaw and looked back down into the abyss.

“So the Shadows… they’re building hives under the city.”


“Yeah.”


“And sometimes the ground just gives in.”


“Yeah.”


“And we just happened to be walking this way.”


Civilian gave a small shrug. “Yeah.”


Soldier turned toward him with a look that clearly said he’d appreciate just a little less minimalism.

“So what now?”


Civilian lazily shrugged again. “What do you mean, what now?”


Soldier let out a sharp breath through his nose.

“You’re my guidebook in this place. So...what’s the plan?”


Civilian crouched beside his pack, pulled out his map, and spread it over the nearest flat stone. He squinted with one eye, comparing it to the collapsed wasteland in front of them. Then he pulled out a pencil, scribbled a few marks, and crossed out the original route.


“What do you think?” he muttered.

“We go around…”


Soldier snorted, folded his arms, and glared at the chasm as if he could will it to seal itself shut.

“Perfect.”


Civilian gave him a faintly amused look before pointing at a new spot on the map.

“You’re in luck. There should be an old supply road not far from here. If it hasn’t collapsed too. But if it’s still there, we’ll get through without trouble. And if not...”


Soldier narrowed his eyes.

“If not?”


Civilian looked at him, shrugged, and folded the map back up.

“Well… then we improvise.”


Soldier closed his eyes and muttered a quiet string of profanity to himself.


Then he tightened the straps on his pack and followed his guide once more.