Day one afternoon brought the first refugees stumbling through snow toward Shadow Rest like living proof that warnings actually worked.
Thirty five people. Exhausted. Terrified. Alive.
Hunter met them at the gate with Wei Suyin and Qiu already organizing intake procedures that was becoming disturbingly routine. The refugees collapsed near fires, shaking from six hour forced march while knowing something worse followed behind.
"Village elder saw the sect tokens and organized evacuation within the hour," the lead refugee gasped. Middle aged farmer named Chen who looked like he'd aged a decade in six hours. "We ran. Heard screaming two hours later. Distance makes sound strange but spiritual pressure felt wrong. Like the air itself was bleeding." His hands shook violently. "Elder said anyone who looked back was choosing death. So we didn't look."
