The day the shelter finally landed, everyone pressed up against the windows, faces lit by the pale glow of a brand new world. Hearts pounded with a wild mix of hope and worry. Outside, trees stretched higher than any they'd ever seen, and rivers cut through the land like ribbons of silver beneath strange, unfamiliar stars. The air inside was almost electric with anticipation.
When the system chimed in—[Scout territory]. [Test atmosphere]. [Forage and explore].—it felt less like an order and more like an invitation. They set out in small groups, boots sinking into real soil for the first time in ages, hands clutching each other for reassurance. Alex walked with Mia and Mara, and every breath of the sweet, earthy air felt like waking up from a long, long sleep. They marveled at the wild colors of the flowers, at the taste of fruit pulled right from the vine, juice sticky and sweet on their fingers.
That night, they pulled together around a crackling fire just outside the shelter—everyone sharing bites of food and bits of stories, laughter rolling through the cool air. When the fire had burned down to glowing coals, tired bodies curled up together under the open sky, limbs tangled and hearts full. There was a new kind of closeness in the darkness, every glance and gentle touch humming with gratitude and longing. Lying beside Rhea and Lin, Alex felt that messy, beautiful love wrapping around him, soft and real, and for the first time in ages, he believed they could truly build something new here.