Rook didn't invite her in.
That was the first thing Lena noticed.
He stood several paces inside the boundary, crowbar resting against his shoulder, posture relaxed but unmoving. The valley behind him was quiet—too quiet for a world that had fallen apart.
She stopped at the fluorescent string.
"I'm not here to take," she said. Her voice was steady, though her legs burned from exhaustion. "I'm here to offer."
Rook studied her without hurry.
"Say it," he replied.
She swallowed. "I can scout. Map. Hunt if needed. I'm not useless."
"I didn't say you were," Rook said calmly. "I said nothing yet."
That made her jaw tighten.
He gestured toward the boundary. "This isn't a shelter. It's a territory. Everyone inside it contributes."
Lena nodded once. She'd expected that.
Rook opened the Territory interface. Blue light reflected faintly in his eyes as a panel expanded between them.
[Population Intake Conditions]
He read them aloud—not for drama, but clarity.
"Rule one: no one enters without agreeing to assigned duties."
She listened.
"Rule two: food, shelter, and protection are guaranteed—as long as those duties are fulfilled."
Fair.
"Rule three: no internal violence. No coercion. No exceptions."
Her fingers curled slightly. "And if someone breaks that?"
"They leave," Rook said. "If they survive the walk back out."
Silence stretched.
"And rule four," he continued, "no one is irreplaceable."
That one hit harder than she expected.
She met his gaze. "Including me."
"Including you," he confirmed.
Lena exhaled slowly, then straightened. "I can live with that."
"What can you provide?" Rook asked.
She didn't exaggerate.
"Scouting routes. Early warning. I can range three to five kilometers out without drawing attention. I know how to avoid packs. I know which paths people use when they're desperate."
Rook considered.
"That reduces blind spots," he said. "And prevents surprises."
He tapped the interface once.
[Provisional Role Assigned: Scout]
Another panel appeared.
[Trial Period: 7 Days]
[Failure to Contribute Will Result in Expulsion.]
The boundary string dimmed.
Rook stepped aside.
"You eat tonight," he said. "You sleep under a roof. Tomorrow, you work."
Lena crossed the line.
The pressure shifted immediately—subtle, but unmistakable. The air felt… anchored.
She didn't look back.
Rook watched her for a moment longer, then turned toward the cabin.
This wasn't charity.
It was an agreement.
And from now on, everyone who stayed here would earn their place.