The Sentinels More than a lot

ok!

it was still a shock to behold, all the empty land where once a lush forest thrived.  The sentinel trees still stood, of course, but all of the greenery that had lived above and below was replaced with dirt and empty sky.  It could have felt as though winter struck again, though there was no snow to hide the devastation or explain it.

Dante fought to remain positive despite the meaning in this; that food was scarce and the landscape bleak.  "I hear that Saena visited," he began conversationally, lowering himself as well.  "What do you think of Aria?"  He had not been given too many details of the conversation between Lasher and his niece, and hadn't wanted them.  But it seemed a natural segue since he had heard they departed together.