We stood at the entrance of the village. A large stone well sat in the middle of the settlement, surrounded by packed dirt that had been worn smooth from years of footsteps. Five houses were arranged around it, each separated by several metres of open space. Most were simple wooden structures with small windows, sloped roofs, and stacks of firewood piled against their walls.
A few narrow paths branched away from the well, connecting the houses to the main road and leading farther into the village. There were small vegetable patches beside some of the homes, along with wooden fences that kept chickens and other livestock from wandering into the road. A couple of villagers were outside, carrying baskets or talking near their doorways, while a child chased a chicken across the dirt before getting scolded by an older woman.
