Another day passed at Pioneer Village, and Dawn broke with a familiar rhythm with cooking fires being lit. The construction crews assembled while children's laughter echoed between buildings that grew more permanent with each sunrise.
Vlad found them at breakfast, and he glanced through the group, Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, and Brunhilde. They were all seated around a small fire, eating food from the latest supply delivery.
"You can continue with your mission now." Vlad said with a chuckle.
Marie looked up mid-bite before she swallowed quickly and spoke. "Are you sure?"
Vlad nodded slowly. "Trust me, we have found enough people to fill the roles for you. Go on, complete the true reason you came."
The reminder struck, they'd arrived seeking Joseph's sister Vivian, investigating her disappearance. That original purpose had been consumed by a larger catastrophe, which they needed to deal with to reach the area where her signature would lead them.
