05 Helping Out

The scent of dawn filled the air as the first rays of sunlight shined through the glass windows of the house. The past few days had been unexpectedly peaceful. Though Zoran initially worried about the girls adjusting, they grew comfortable around him much faster than expected. The awkward silences and occasional glances now almost nonexistent, giving way to happy chatters and an overall more natural atmosphere.

Still, there were times where the girls would quietly observe him. They watched him closely as he navigated his wheelchair, completing tasks most would find simple but, in his crippled condition, requires much more work and patience.

This morning was no different. As Zoran finished cooking their breakfast-simple bowls of mushroom porridge and started plating them on the table, he felt the girls' eyes on him, it was different from their usual curious, carefree attitude.

"Is there something you want to say?" he asked without turning around, his calm tone cutting through the silence.

Elara, the the eldest and leader of the group, cleared her throat. "We… we've been talking," she began, her voice stuttering slightly.

"And? Is there something wrong?" Zoran replied, placing the bowls on the table.

Elara pressed on. "We've been watching you do everything on your own these past few days. It… doesn't feel right watching you do everything alone."

Zoran leaned back in his wheelchair, studying them one by one. Elara's expression was earnest, her hands clenched nervously in front of her. Fiore avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the grain of the wooden table, though her nod was just as genuine. Mira looked at him with fierce, intense eyes, as if daring him to refuse. Hanna nervously shook her wings as she looked at him. Even tiny Nysa hovered in the air, her arms crossed, her tiny wings fluttering impatiently. Sylvie just stared at him quietly, pouting her face.

"Help, huh?" Zoran finally said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Yeah!" Mira jumped in. "You're always saying we have to pull our weight, right? Well, let us do it!"

"Even if it means getting all tired and dirty?" Zoran asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mira's tail twitched, and she huffed. "I'm not a kitten! I can handle it, ok?"

Zoran couldn't help but smirk. "Alright, let's put that to the test. Starting today, I'll be giving you chores to do. Think of it as training.

"Wait, what?" Mira's bravado wavered.

But Elara stepped forward, cutting her off with a determined look. "We're ready."

"Great then," Zoran said, wheeling himself closer. "Let's see how long that enthusiasm lasts."

---

Zoran spent the next hour giving out tasks, thinking of chores that suited them best according to their personality and traits.

"Elara, you'll be in charge of cleaning the rooms. It's the heart of this place, so keep it tidy," Zoran said.

Elara straightened up, her expression serious. "Understood."

"Fiore," he continued, "you'll tend to the garden. It's small for now, but if we're lucky, it'll start providing us with fresh vegetables in a few weeks."

Fiore nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'll do my best."

"Mira, you're on foraging duty. See if you can find anything edible in the forest nearby. Berries, herbs, small animals—whatever looks delicious."

"Finally, something exciting!" Mira's ears perked up. "Leave it to me."

"Nysa, you'll handle dusting. You're small enough to reach the spots the rest of us can't."

The fairy scrunched up her face. "Dusting? That's so boring!"

"Would you rather trade with Mira and go hunting?" Zoran asked, his tone amused.

Nysa's wings faltered, and she quickly shook her head. "Dusting it is!"

"Hanna, you'll fetch water from the well," Zoran said. "It's not far, and your wings will make it easier to carry smaller buckets."

The harpy gave a hesitant nod, her feathers ruffling slightly.

"And Sylvie," Zoran said, turning to the youngest. "You'll help Elara with cleaning for now. Watch and learn. One day, you'll be doing this on your own."

Sylvie grinned, showing her cute fanged teeth. "Okay!"

---

The day unfolded with a mix of effort, chaos, and laughters.

In the room, Elara took her task seriously, sweeping the floor with practiced efficiency, not leaving behind a speck of dust. Sylvie, however, was less focused. She held a broom far too large for her small frame and began swinging it like a sword, pretending to battle imaginary enemies.

"Take that! And that!" she cried, spinning in circles.

"Sylvie!" Elara scolded, snatching the broom away. "Don't play with the broom!"

"But it's way more fun like this!" Sylvie pouted.

"Fun won't keep the floor clean," Elara replied, handing the broom back. "Try again, and this time, focus."

Outside, Fiore knelt by the garden, gently loosening the soil around the seedlings. She hummed softly as she worked, occasionally whispering to the plants as if encouraging them to grow.

"Do you think they can actually hear you?" Mira called out as she passed by, carrying an empty basket.

Fiore shrugged. "Maybe. Plants are alive too, you know."

Mira snorted. "If you say so, Flower Girl."

Unfortunately, Mira was distracted by talking with Fiore, and she didn't notice the muddy patch ahead. Her foot slipped, and she tumbled into the dirt, landing with a loud squelch.

Fiore burst into laughter. "Careful, Mira. The forest fights back!"

"Stupid mud," Mira grumbled, wiping her hands on her pants.

Meanwhile, Nysa flitted around the house, dusting shelves and corners with a small cloth Zoran had prepared for her. She grumbled under her breath, complaining about how "pointless" dusting was. At one point, she knocked over a jar of flour, creating a white cloud that made her sneeze.

"Achoo! Oh no! Achoo!" she cried, frantically trying to clean up the mess.

Zoran wheeled over, taking one look at the scene. "Relax, Nysa. I'll help with the cleaning. Mistakes happen, but be mindful next time ok?"

Nysa hesitated, then nodded, her tiny hands working quickly to fix the spill as Zoran helped out.

As for Hanna, fetching water proved more difficult than expected. Though her wings allowed her to carry the buckets with ease, her balance wasn't perfect. By the time she returned, half the water had splashed out, leaving most of her body soaked.

"You're supposed to water the plants, not yourself, you know?" Fiore teased.

Hanna huffed, shaking out her feathers. "I'm still learning, okay?"

---

By evening, the girls were exhausted but proud of their efforts. They gathered in the bedroom, their laughter filling the air as they recounted the day's mishaps.

"I can't believe Mira fell into the mud," Sylvie giggled, her small hands clutching her stomach.

"Laugh it up, kid," Mira grumbled, though her twitching tail betrayed her amusement.

Zoran watched them from his spot near the fireplace, a faint smile on his lips. For the first time, the house felt alive—filled with warmth and purpose.

"You've all done well today," he said, his calm voice silencing the chatter. "Small steps lead to great changes. Keep at it."

The girls were overjoyed from his praise, their pride evident. Even Nysa, who loved to argue with him at every turn, hesitated. With a soft flutter of her wings, she landed lightly on his shoulder. 

"You're not so bad for someone stuck in a chair." she muttered.

Zoran raised an eyebrow but let the comment slide.

As the fire crackled and the stars appeared in the night sky, the house settled into a peaceful silence. Though the road ahead was long, Zoran felt it. Slowly but surely, this house is turning into a home. A home he secretly dreamt of his entire life.