The sun rose over the mountains, painting the valley in shades of gold and amber. Mist clung to the treetops, slowly burning away as the morning warmth spread across the landscape. Birds sang in the ancient pines. A gentle breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth.
Ethan stood on the porch of the new community center. His hands rested on the wooden railing. His eyes swept across the valley below. The community had grown so much. Cabins dotted the hillsides. Gardens stretched across the meadows. Children played in the square. Adults went about their work.
It was everything they had fought for. Everything they had sacrificed for.
And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. Something dark. Something that would test them in ways they hadn't been tested be
