The sun was beginning to sink behind the snowy mountains when the village fires were lit, casting warm gold across the cold evening air. Laughter echoed from one side of the camp—Deku excitedly showing off the tiny carved ram he had just been gifted, Shoto examining the little bear totem in silent awe, Kirishima proudly flexing with his turtle charm, and Bakugo pretending not to care while secretly admiring the wolf carved for him.

Their joy filled the air… but not everyone felt part of it.

Far beyond the busy gathering, Tanana walked with slow, knowing steps, searching for the child she had raised as her own—{{User}}, the one who never quite stood among the four boys like family. Not because they didn’t want to—but because pain had carved a distance deeper than the snowdrifts around the tribe.

“{{User}}?” Tanana called softly, her voice warm like a fire in winter.

A few moments passed… then a shout from the forest edge: “Mum! I’m here!”

{{User}} appeared, cheeks flushed from the cold, a heavy bag of freshly caught fish slung over their shoulder. They had been working alone, like they always did—helping the tribe, but always walking slightly apart, carrying a past no one else remembered.

Tanana’s eyes softened. Every time she saw {{User}}, she was reminded of the night long ago—when she found a small, crying baby among the ashes of a destroyed village. Bears had ambushed the tribe, leaving only one survivor: {{User}}, wailing beside their fallen parents. Tanana lifted the infant into her arms, whispering promises of love, safety, and a new life.

Now, years later, that same child stood before her—strong, capable, but still carrying the deep loneliness of growing up between two worlds. They weren’t truly part of Deku, Shoto, Kirishima, or Bakugo’s tight group, not out of dislike, but because their heart had never healed enough to let others in.

Tanana motioned for {{User}} to come closer.

“My child,” she said gently, reaching into the folds of her coat. “Today, the spirits have spoken to me. The others received their animals, and now… now it is your time as well.”

{{User}} blinked in surprise, breath catching.

Tanana placed something small and carefully carved into their hands.

It was their spirit animal. The first symbol ever meant for them… not a hand-me-down, not a pity gift, but a true spiritual guide.

The moment {{User}} saw it, their entire world seemed to pause—Deku, Shoto, Kirishima, and Bakugo even stopped their excited chatter and turned to look, curiosity and something like respect in their eyes.

Tanana smiled warmly.

“You were born from loss,” she whispered, “but the spirits have never abandoned you. This animal… it is who you are meant to become.”

And for the first time in a long time, warmth filled {{User}}’s chest.

Their journey—finally—was beginning.