𝐄𝐤𝐤𝐨 | 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬

17. New Beginnings

I made my choice.
This life, this place, these people.

A week had passed since I'd finally broken down under the tree, and every day since, I'd thrown myself into the work.
Not because I had to, but because I wanted to.

"Here, this one's ready." Kara handed me another crate, her wiry frame somehow stronger than it looked. She was younger than me by a few years, but in the Firelights, age rarely mattered.
"Got it," I said, gripping the wooden edges and sliding it closer. The crate was heavy, packed with apples— real ones. I didn't ask where they'd come from. I'd learned not to question small miracles.

We worked in sync, distributing the fruit to those who lined up, faces worn but grateful. Kara and I exchanged smiles as a little boy clutched his apple like it was the most precious thing in the world, his amber eyes wide with wonder.
"Thank you, dear," an elderly woman said as I handed her a pair of apples. I knew she'd give hers to her nephews, so I made sure they all had one each so she could enjoy hers.
Her voice cracked with emotion, hands trembling slightly as she took the fruit.
"You don't know how much this means to us."

I smiled warmly.
"We're just glad to help."
She placed a hand over mine, her gaze steady.
"You have a kind heart, child. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
The words caught me off guard, but I nodded, swallowing the lump that formed in my throat.
As the line dwindled, Kara nudged me with her elbow, grinning.
"You're a natural at this. It's like you've been here forever."
That made me chuckle, wiping the sweat off my brow as I stood under an insisting, warm ray of sunshine.
"Feels like it, doesn't it?"

In truth, it was surreal. A week ago, I was clinging to my old life, trapped in a cycle of anger and survival. Now, I felt... lighter.
The shadows of who I was still lingered, but they didn't consume me like they used to.
We finished up and began stacking the empty crates. The base buzzed with life around us— kids playing near the tree like always, laughter echoing off the walls, people chatting as they ate together. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

I looked at Kara, her loose braid bouncing as she carried the last crate to the storage area.
"Thanks for helping me out today," I said.
"Are you kidding? You did most of the work," she replied with a wink.
"Besides, we're all in this together, right?"

Together. The word felt so strange, but it also felt incredibly right.
I glanced up, at the wooden balcony nestled around the top of the tree. The structure blended seamlessly into the massive trunk, its railing wrapped in vines and glowing faintly in the light of the bright sun. Ekko was there, leaning casually against the railing, his elbows resting on the wood. He was already looking at me, his golden-brown eyes glimmering with warmth and a brightness that seemed to reflect the very light of the tree itself.

His smile was effortless, wide and carefree, the kind that could make anyone believe that, despite it all, things might actually be okay. For a moment, I just stood there, struck by how at ease he looked, so different from the weight he usually carried on his shoulders.
Ekko held my gaze and lifted a hand, gesturing for me to come up. The movement was easy, playful, like he already knew I'd follow.

I hesitated, glancing at Kara beside me, who was wiping her hands on her trousers and stacking the last of the empty crates. She had seen his request of me to join him.
"I don't want to leave you to finish on your own," I said, reluctant to abandon her with the remaining work.
The girl looked at me and smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Oh, please. Go see Ekko," she teased, waving me off. "You can't say no to the boss, can you?"

Her playful tone made me laugh despite myself.
"Alright, alright. But I owe you one," I then told her, nudging her shoulder gently.
Kara winked.
"You owe me nothing. Just go before he starts pouting."
Shaking my head, I turned towards the tree and made my way to the wooden stairs built along its side. The worn planks creaked softly under my boots as I climbed, the faint scent of sap and wood filling the air. The sounds of the bustling base faded slightly with each step, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant hum of Zaun's machinery from somewhere out of that small paradise.

Once I reached the top, Little man was still leaning against the railing, his grin never faltering.
"Took you long enough," he mused, his tone teasing by warm.
I rolled my eyes at his comment, though I couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips.
"You were the one lounging up here like you've got all the time in the world," I shot back, stepping onto the balcony like structure.

Ekko straightened up, crossing his arms and leaning slightly toward me, big grin on his face.
"Someone's gotta keep an eye on things from above. You never know when someone might need a break."
I sighed, resting my hands lightly on the railing beside him. The view from up there was breathtaking, something I still needed to adjust to. The base stretched out below, and although a threat constantly loomed over Zaun, that place felt alive in a way I hadn't experienced in years. Or maybe never before.

Ekko must have noticed my expression, because he shifted his stance, tilting his head to the side.
"You've been smiling a lot more lately," he said, his voice softer now, more thoughtful.
I blinked, glancing at him. "Have I?"
He nodded. "Yeah, it suits you. Seeing you like this— it's... good."
Something stirred in my chest, an unfamiliar warmth that was hard to place, and even harder to acknowledge. I looked back out at the tree, tracing the lines of the glowing patterns etched onto its bark.
"I guess it's easier to smile when you're surrounded by people who seem to actually care."

"When you feel like you're finally... part of something." I said, feeling lighter than even.
Ekko didn't respond right away, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw him watching me, his expression softening.
After a moment, he leaned against the railing again, his voice low.
"That's the point, Shark. That's what we're building here— something better. For everyone. Including you."
I swallowed hard, my grip tightening on the railing as his words sunk in.
"It's hard to believe in something better when you've spent so long just trying to survive," I admitted.
"But I want to. I really do."

His white hair gently falling over his forehead as he smiled again, but this time it was more understanding.
"You will. Just give yourself time."
We stood there in silence for a moment, the distant sounds from below filling the space between us.
Eventually, he broke the quiet, nodding towards the view.
"I wanted to show you this because... well, you've been working hard these days. And sometimes you just need to stop and take it all in, you know? Remind yourself why you're doing it."

I followed his gaze, focusing on the sunlight filtering through the green tree leaves above us. It didn't feel so impossible to hope, anymore.
"Thanks," I said finally, in a whisper.
"Don't mention it. You're part of this now, Shark. We've got your back." His grin returning.

That was the right place. I could feel my life slowly settling back into a peaceful state, and I couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, I'd finally found where I belonged.

"Vi's here!" Kara called excitedly, waving up at us like a child announcing the arrival of their favourite hero.
I was stuck in surprise, the name processing through me like a shockwave.
"Vi? Violet? She's here?" The words tumbled out laced with disbelief and something else— something I wasn't ready to name.
Ekko turned to me.
"Yeah, she's here," his tone brimming with a calm, a happy kind of calm.
"Come on, let's go see her."

I hesitated, my mind racing. The idea of seeing Vi again after so long filled me with equal parts of joy and uncertainty.

What would she think of me now?
Of all that had happened?
But Little man didn't wait, already heading down the stairs with a spring in his step.
I followed close behind, my heart pounding as we descended. The sounds of laughter and chatter grew louder as we reached ground, where a small crowd of Firelights had already gathered.
Kara was among them, her eyes still shining with excitement.

Vi stood there, arms crossed, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she exchanged a few words with one of the others. Her presence commanded attention as always, her short pink hair catching the glow of the light emanating from the tree.
She looked tough, but there still was something undeniably familiar about her.