The explosion struck like a thunder god's fist.
A shockwave tore through the tent with a roar of light and sound, blue fire swallowing the bedroll and everything around it. The ground heaved, canvas shredded in strips, wood and metal twisted like paper caught in a storm.
When the light faded, there was only silence and smoke.
For a moment, Auri didn't know where he was. Everything was muffled. The blast left a shrill ringing in his ears.
Auri stirred, but there was weight on top of him—heavy, unmoving. The scent of burnt cloth and scorched sand filled his nose, thick and choking. He blinked through the haze, his vision full of dust and colorless light.
Then realization dawned on him.
"Wrye...?" Auri croaked, his voice coming out hoarse. "Hey—"
A groan stirred above him. Then, a strained exhale.
