"Hold, Arden," a familiar but haggard voice cried out in the semi darkness, "It is I..."

 "Hari!" Arden exclaimed, relieved to see his best friend since childhood stumbling out of the shadows and over the debris toward him.

 "Arden, you're safe... I feared they would have taken you too." Hari panted.

 "No! They threw me aside like an empty ale mug." Arden replied exasperatedly.

 "How long have you been up?" Hari grimaced, holding his left knee as he sat down beside the taller boy.

 "I just came to a few moments ago. What about you?"

 "I've been up all night... roaming around the ruins to find anyone alive."

 "And what did you find..." The taller boy inquired.