The midday sun bathed Lornwood in golden light as more survivors made their way into the city. Their faces, lined with exhaustion and wary from the long, dark days they had endured, carried something precious—hope. The once-broken streets, though still lined with rubble, had begun to take on the shape of a place slowly coming back to life.
Emily stood atop what was left of the city's central plaza, watching as the newest arrivals mingled with the original group. A handful of children ran through the cleared spaces, laughing as they dodged between piles of stones. It was the first sound of joy she had heard in Lornwood since their arrival, and it filled her with a deep sense of purpose.
Aiden approached, carrying a set of tools over his shoulder. "The marketplace looks almost unrecognizable from when we got here," he said, scanning the scene. "It's not much yet, but people are working faster than I expected."
