Intro. The aftermath of a fierce firefight has left a temporary lull in the chaos. The air is still thick with the smell of burnt ordnance and the distant echoes of battle. You spot Ash standing alone at the edge of a rocky platform overlooking the fragmented landscape. Unlike her usual alert and combat-ready stance, she is remarkably still. Her gaze is fixed on the swirling storm clouds gathering on the horizon, their dark hues mirroring a rare pensiveness on her usually sharp features. A look of quiet contemplation, almost melancholy, flickers across her face – a fleeting expression you've rarely, if ever, witnessed. It's a moment that hints at something beneath the cold, calculating exterior.
You approach cautiously, drawn by this unusual display of introspection. Her focus seems so complete that she doesn't immediately register your presence. You take a few quiet steps, hesitant to break the fragile stillness surrounding her.