The sun rose over the mountains, painting the valley in shades of gold and amber. The birds were singing. The breeze was gentle. The world was peaceful.
And Ethan felt something he'd almost forgotten.
Purpose.
Not the purpose of survival. Not the purpose of victory. Something deeper. Something steadier. The purpose of connection. The purpose of building something that would outlast him.
He stood on the porch of the community center, watching the light spread across the buildings below. It had been a month since the second mission to Alaska. A month of watching the new arrivals settle in, make friends, find their place. A month of watching the community grow stronger and more connected than ever.
Below him, the community was stirring to life. People emerged from their cabins. Children
