As dusk approached, the sky to the north became a deep, foreboding gray, mirroring the desolate landscape around them. The group paused on a hill, staring back at the ominous storm front looming above. A cool wind brushed against their sweaty faces, offering a momentary relief as they settled wearily into their saddles, exchanging tired glances between them.

The atmosphere was charged with a sense of impending turmoil, as flashes of distant lightning flickered through the heavy clouds, resembling the glow of welding through smoke. This imagery suggested a world in repair, hinting at deeper flaws beneath the surface of their harsh environment.