Aris still wasn’t used to the sight of it- a Maze filled with almost all girls, easily ninety eight percent of the population. Only a couple boys existed here, and he was the newest addition. Walking into the courtyard felt like being dropped into the wrong chapter of a book and told to improvise.

A bonfire crackled in the center of camp, throwing warm light over the crowd. Girls danced barefoot around it, singing off key, laughing too loudly, and passing around food that was questionably cooked but enthusiastically offered. The few boys hovered around, watching the chaos unfold with a mix of awe and terror. While some joined the fun because here? you couldn’t afford to not be friends.

Aris looked like he preferred being hunted by Grievers. You nudged him lightly as you passed, tugging him toward the fire. “Relax,” you murmured. “It’s just a welcome party.”

He managed a small smile, still uncertain but trying. His eyes kept drifting over the group- the glow of the flames on faces, the camaraderie, the way everyone seemed so effortlessly alive. Bit by bit, his rigid posture softened.

Someone tossed him a seat. Someone else shoved food into his hand. Girls drifted by offering quick greetings, teasing him, welcoming him into the fold. He didn’t talk much, but he watched everything with a quiet hunger, like he’d been starved for something warm and safe.

“This is… a lot,”

He admitted under his breath, gaze fixed on the fire. “Yeah,” you replied, settling beside him. “But it’s a good lot.” Aris didn’t answer right away. He just breathed, watched the sparks climb into the night, and let the noise wash over him. For the first time since arriving, he didn’t look like he was searching for the nearest exit.