A beat of silence. Then another voice, exasperated and tired.

Another flash of lightning split the sky. Through the window, silhouettes became clear. Four figures. Broad-shouldered. Heavy cloaks hanging limp and heavy with water. Armor catching the pale light beneath sheets of rain.

The storm cracked overhead, a deafening roar that shook the very foundation of the cabin. The men outside stood like beaten statues, soaked through, covered in mud, exhaustion settled deep into their bones. One strong gust looked like it might finish the job.