it was late at night, and the glow from the fire lit up the bandito campsite. there were groups of people singing and dancing, trying to keep their hopes up, even with the skyline of dema looming over them in the distance like a dark omen. someone who wasn’t participating who usually led the music was josh. he stood at the outside of the ring of dancing, mouth shut and eyes clouded. river approached him silently— she was always so quiet with everything she did, even if it was unintentional. “you alright? you’re quiet,” she noted.