An hour later, just as Kain had predicted, the entire family arrived in the barren northern region, their surroundings starkly contrasting the lush forest they had just left behind. Anna maintained a heavy silence throughout the remainder of the journey, her heart pounding with apprehension. She knew better than to provoke anyone until she could find a way to prove that she wasn't insane.
As they entered the area, she felt disheartened by the destruction in front of her. The ground was dry and cracked under the hot sun. The once lively land was now a wasteland, empty and colorless. Broken buildings stood like skeletons, some crumbling and others burned down, showing signs of a recent disaster.
The air was hot and hard to breathe. They walked into the tough landscape, crunching on the dry ground, until they found a big settlement by a small, shiny stream.
