Later That Night – Your Quarters in Haven
The children were snuggled on a thick woven blanket near the window, the stars above still sparkling faintly from the remains of the fireworks. You sat with them, Seren curled on your lap, Micah against De'rax's chest, already asleep.
Alessa stared at the ceiling, thoughtful. Ca'rdis was tracing a pattern into the fabric with his finger, quiet. Me'ha's brow furrowed as if the question had been building for some time.
She turned toward you, her voice soft.
"Mama… what does the song mean?"
You smiled gently, brushing a hand through her loose curls. "What part, sweet one?"
Me'ha thought a moment. "The part about… 'where chains once bound.' That means… us, doesn't it? When we were all taken?"
De'rax's voice was deep and quiet, full of weight and love. "Yes. It means that once, we were not free. Many of the people here… were taken from their homes, like your mama was. Like Tara. Like so many."
Ca'rdis sat up, brows furrowed. "But we're not in chains anymore."
"No," you said, drawing them all in closer. "We're not. That's what the song is about—it's a promise. That we remember what happened, so we never let it happen again."
Alessa looked up at you with wide, steady eyes. "So it's not just about singing."
"No, little wolf," De'rax murmured, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It's about standing together. That song… it's a vow. That we protect those who need us. That we light the way, even when it's dark."
Me'ha curled in beside Seren, who cooed softly in her sleep. "So we're the stars?"
You kissed the top of her head. "Yes. Each of you. Every single person here. We're the stars. And Haven is the sky that lets us shine."
They were quiet for a moment, taking it in. Then Alessa grinned and whispered, "I want to sing it louder next time."
You laughed softly, heart full. "Then we'll all sing it together."
De'rax's fingers brushed yours, strong and steady. The stars blinked overhead, but it was the warmth in the room—the strength of your family, of your home—that glowed brightest.
Time Jump – Two Years Later
Haven – Council Hall Overlook, Evening
The city of Haven pulsed with life.
What had once been a salvaged shell of an outpost was now a sprawling hub of light and movement. Markets thrived under wide steel-and-glass canopies, airships drifted between docking towers, and lush vertical gardens curled up the sides of rebuilt structures—green life growing in what had once been only survival.
Trade was steady now. Organized. Protected.
De'rax stood at your side atop the overlook balcony, his arm wrapped around your waist as you both gazed out over the heart of it all. Below, ships from allied planets were docked at Silver Lining's expanded port. Banners waved, bearing Haven's symbol—Micah's mark—a rising star wrapped in a protective crescent.
Alessa, now ten, ran across the lower courtyard with the sure feet of a future leader, her laughter echoing as she outpaced a sputtering trader's drone. She wore a slim bracelet communicator and a proud patch on her vest: Honor Guard Apprentice. She waved up at you as she passed, grinning.
Me'ha and Ca'rdis, now eight, were deep in a project near the gardens—arguing gently over how best to repair a small scout drone. Ca'rdis was focused, calculating; Me'ha was animated, her hands flying. It was likely they'd build a better one than they started with.
And Micah and Seren—two years old and curious about everything—sat on a soft blanket near Tara and her daughter, nibbling snack cubes and pretending to command ships with empty commlinks.
The joy of the moment was amplified when three ships shimmered into view above Haven. Their designs were unmistakable—sleek and powerful, marked in the shared colors of your strongest allies.
Silver Lining's voice came overhead, calm and warm.
"Incoming vessels: verified allies. Flagships of Ju'cax, Pli'x, and Mag'ix. All weapons offline. Docking permissions granted."
A smile tugged at De'rax's lips. "My siblings always know when to show up for the important days."
You glanced sideways. "You didn't tell me they were coming."
He kissed your temple. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
Down below, workers paused to cheer as the ships began their descent. Children danced in the wide sun-warmed walkways, and a new round of flags was hoisted high. These were days of pride—of peace, for now—but always carried the hum of preparation beneath the celebration.
Mag'ix, the fierce and wise sister of De'rax, was first to descend. Her long coat billowed behind her like wings. Beside her walked her two brothers—Ju'cax, all thunder and fire, and Pli'x, sharp and cunning.
Their eyes found you first, and smiles stretched wide.
This was Haven now.
Strong. United. Known.