While the ashes it had become were settling to the floor, three burly humanoids, thick with deadly weapons, came in.

Hundreds of miles from the forest fires raging in the West, the ashes are settling.

Masonry had crumbled until the place looked unused and decrepit; ashes had settled everywhere like a layer of dust.

As the ashes settled, and half of Moscow lay in ruin, the riot gradually dissipated.

He stalked away into the burned-out room, and though he had no physical substance that could affect this world, gray ashes rose in shimmering shapes around him, and settled to the floor again in his wake.

Cerryl coughed again as the ashes and white fire dust settled and as the drier air came through the tunnel vent opened by the lancers who followed along the top of the stone tunnel.

Then, before the ashes settled or the small stars ceased falling, Wayneclint gathered the remaining cybs and chastened them and stuffed them into the longships and cast them into the darkness of space.

When the dust and ashes and nerves settle, our elected officials should address this anew.

At best, it would buy refuge for him and his, and the means to start over once the ashes had settled.