Page 55 of Orc's Little Human
"Perfect," Thali declares, and somehow that settles it.
Stonewave Haven. The first place that's ever truly belonged to me. Not inherited from my father or conquered from enemies or assigned by clan tradition. Built with my own hands and blood, shaped by my own will.
Ours.
The stars are coming out over the water, bright and clear in the salt air. Thali has curled up against Selene's side, exhausted from a day of exploration and construction. Selene's hand rests gently in my sister's wild hair, and something in my chest loosens at the sight.
Family. Not bound by blood or clan law or necessity, but by choice. By the decision to stand together against whatever comes.
"Thank you," Selene says quietly, her voice barely audible over the waves.
"For what?"
"For this. For choosing us over everything else."
I reach out to brush a strand of hair from her face, my fingers lingering against her cheek. "You saved my life in that valley. Both of you did."
"You saved ours first."
Maybe. Or maybe we just found each other at the right moment, when we all needed saving. When the alternative was losing everything that mattered.
"We should go inside," she says as Thali's breathing deepens into sleep. "Long day tomorrow."
Tomorrow we'll work on the roof. Next week, we'll build proper furniture. Before winter, we'll have completed the workshop and storage rooms. Simple goals, practical plans.
No grand conquests. No clan politics. No death camps or magical experiments or soldiers hunting us through mountain passes.
Just a home by the sea, and the people who chose to build it together.
