AT THE SAME TIME
AT ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
The sun was barely peeking over the hills when I stepped out of the main hut, rolling up the sleeves of my worn out shirt. The air was still cool, but I could already hear the sounds of the village waking up soft footsteps, quiet chatter, and the occasional bark from the half wild dogs that wandered close to our borders. Mira jogged up to me, red hair tied in a messy braid, her arms full of foraged herbs.
"Morning, boss."Mira said.
"Morning, Mira. Good haul?"I asked.
She grinned.
"Marshmint, sunroot, and a whole sack of drygrass for weaving."She said.
I took a quick look through the bundle.
"Perfect. Tell Garan to prep the sunroot for the sickbay, and give the drygrass to the weaving group. We need more sacks and mats."I said.
"You got it!" She nodded and ran off.
I exhaled, already planning my route. Today was restock day, so I checked the food stores, the medicine shed, and the forge pit, which was half functioning thanks to recycled metals. I headed toward the food hut first. Jaren, a tall rogue with a nose that looked like it'd been broken twice, was counting smoked meat slabs.
"How's our stock?"I asked.
"Three weeks if we ration. Two if people eat like they've been working all day which they have."He said.
I nodded.
"Send a group to fish by the river. And tell Lena to smoke the new batches properly we lost half of last week's because it wasn't sealed right.'"I said.
"On it." He gave me a respectful tilt of his head. That small gesture? It still caught me off guard sometimes. Next stop medicines. The shelves were better stocked than when I first arrived, but the poultice jars were looking low.
"Lina." I called as I entered. The older healer looked up from grinding herbs. "We need more bloodleaf and thistle. Can we spare some scouts?"
"I already sent Mira with a couple of the younger ones." She said with a small smile. "They insisted. Said you'd want it done before you asked."
I chuckled.
"They're starting to read my mind."I said.
"You've earned their trust, Isabella." She said gently. "They look at you like you are their hope."
I blinked. That word. Hope. I wasn't sure I was ready to carry that weight, but... maybe I already was. By midday, carts were rolling, baskets were being filled, and trade items were lined up neatly dried herbs, tanned leather, bundles of wood, even clean water jugs we'd boiled and sealed. I wiped the sweat off my brow and looked out over the village. It wasn't perfect. But it was working. People weren't just surviving anymore they were living.
"Leader!" A young boy called out, running up with a grin, holding out a shiny rock like it was treasure. "For you!"
I knelt down and took it.
"Thanks, Rilo. I'll keep it with the others."I said.
He beamed and ran off again, barefoot and wild hearted. And in that moment, I felt it deep in my chest this wasn't just some side quest in a broken world. This was my village. And we were building something real. The late afternoon sun painted everything gold, casting long shadows across the village as the final crates of dried meat were stacked neatly in the supply hut. I stretched my arms over my head, a tired but proud smile tugging at my lips. Everything was falling into place. We had shelter. Food. Healing supplies. People were working together, laughing more often than not. It wasn't perfect, but it was... home.
I leaned against a post, looking out over the people who had once only been labeled as rogue broken, cast out, dangerous. Now? They were craftsmen, hunters, gatherers, builders. A community. Something in my chest swelled with warmth, but also a small ache.
"We've done so much." I murmured." But we don't even have a name yet."
Mira, who'd been walking by with a crate of firewood, paused.
"What do you mean?"She asked.
"The village." I said, brushing dust from my palms. "We never named it."
She looked thoughtful, setting the crate down and calling out everyone.
"Hey! Everyone! Gather up!"She shouted.
"We should name this place."Mira said.
A few grunts of agreement followed. Durn scratched his beard.
"About time we stopped calling it 'the camp.'Feels bigger than that now."Durn said.
"Mira-ville?"Someone joked.
She rolled her eyes.
"We need something that means something. Something that marks a change."She said.
Then young Lio piped up, face smudged with soot from the forge.
"What about Moon Chosen?" He asked.
"What?"I asked.
He shrugged, shy under the sudden attention.
"Well, you showed up that night under a full moon. You didn't run. You helped. You chose us. And, uh... we chose you."Lio said.
"Kid's got a point."Mira smirked.
They all looked at me like they were waiting for approval. Like my word was final.
"...Okay. Moon Chosen it is."I said.
And just like that, it was. Later, I heard them. Not villagers, strangers, travelers passing through the outskirts. I'd gone to the edge of the woods for herbs and overheard two traders resting near the creek.
"Did you hear?" One asked the other as they drank from cupped hands. "That rogue camp in the east? They've got a name now. Moon Chosen Village."
"Rogues with a name? Since when do they organize?"Another asked.
"Apparently since a woman showed up. Heard she turned the place around. Built drying racks for food, proper water lines, even got the kids learning letters."He said.
"No Alpha's backing it?"Another asked.
"None. She's a rogue too, they say. But smarter than any war general. Trades fairly, keeps the peace."Third one said.
I stepped away before they could see me, heart rattling in my chest. Word was spreading. Just whispers for now. But whispers had a way of growing.