They covered more distance before night arrived.
As they moved east across the Ashplain, the land slowly changed. The open, rolling savanna near the coast became thicker and more crowded. The grass grew taller, and trees appeared more often. The ground was no longer wide and easy to cross. It became uneven and harder to move through, as if the land had formed in its own way without considering whether people could travel through it easily.
They set up camp in a natural stone formation. Leah explained that it was a traditional stopping point for travelers. The large stones formed a rough circle and had been used long before the clan system existed. According to her, people had sheltered there for longer than any written records could confirm.
At the center of the circle was a fire pit. It still held old ash and had been worn smooth from being used by many generations of travelers.
