'At our current pace, we should reach our destination within 5 days,' Draco thought upon the map.

  After cross-cheg the map multiple times to ehey didn't get lost, he folded it and began making dinner for them.

  Dinner wasn't going to be anythiravagant, just potato soup with dried meat.

  Draco ate the same portions as the rest, having decided to minimize his portions until they settled, despite his rge appetite.

  After eating, Dracht out a board fame of checkers to kill the time ahem busy.

  He had found an old board and its pieces ie sha the farm before they left.

  "Who wants to py?" Draco asked. He knew he had to distract his young siblings from thinking too much about gloomy things.

  He had to keep their spirits up until they could easily cope with the loss they had suffered.

  The st thing he wao happen was for them to bee emotionally unstable.

  "Me!" Nikoos yelled. Checkers wasn't a game very popur with young children, but Nikoos had enjoyed watg Grandpa Marcus and John py the game.

  "Sure, let's begin," Draco said, setting up the game.

  The others, curious, soon gathered around to watch the game. The game proceeded with Nikoos starting first.

  Michalis, Eleni, Dimitra, Vasileios, Vasiliki, and Cir, having seen Draco py the game before, began whispering advice to Nikoos, hoping to help him against their skilled older brother.

  "Move your piece here," Michalis whispered, pointing to a square.

  "No, no, take that one instead," Eleni interjected.

  "Hurry up, Niko, before Draii makes his move!" Dimitra urged.

  Nikoos carefully sidered his options, his brow furrowed in tration.

  He moved his piece, carefully avoiding the traps Draco had set up.

  Draco, watg his younger siblings' antics, couldn't help but chuckle.

  "You know, you're ly being subtle with your advice," he teased.

  Nikoos gnced up, a sheepish grin on his fabsp;

  "I need all the help I get against you, Draii," he admitted.

  The game tinued, with the younger siblings whisperiedly and Draco occasionally gentle guidao Nikoos.

  Despite Draco's superior skills, Nikoos mao hold his own, much to the delight of his siblings.

  "Nice move, Niko!" Vasileios excimed, g his brother on the back.

  Draco, sensing Nikoos' growing fidence, decided to let him have a ce at winning.

  He made a few strategic mistakes, allowing Nikoos to capture several of his pieces.

  "Oh, no! Draco, what are you doing?" Cir cried, her eyes wide. She was the only one currently on his side.

  Draco wi her. "Just giving Niko a little challehat's all," he whispered.

  Nikoos, sensing an opportunity, redoubled his efforts, carefully maneuvering his pieces to capture Draco's remaining ones.

  The tension in the air alpable as the game reached its climax.

  Finally, with a triumphant grin, Nikoos jumped Draco's st piece, g victory.

  "I did it!" he shouted, jumping up and down.

  The other siblied into cheers and appuse, gathering around Nikoos to gratute him.

  Draco leaned back, a proud smile on his fabsp;

  "Well done, Niko," he said, ruffling his brother's hair.

  "You really gave me a run for my money." he said.

  Nikoos beamed, his chest puffed out with pride.

  "I couldn't have do without the advice of the others," he admitted.

  The echoes of ughter and the sound of their joyful chatter filled the cave as they tio py, each of them taking turns challenging Drabsp;

  The siblings lost themselves in the game, momentarily fetting their troubles and finding so simple pleasure.

  As the night wore on, the children began to yawn, their eyelids growing heavy.

  Draced around, seeing the exhaustion on their faces.

  "Alright, time for bed, everyone," he announced, gently ushering them towards their makeshift sleeping area.

  The childreantly set aside the checkers board, their bodies weighed down by the day's events.

  One by ohey curled up in their bs, their eyes slowly drifting shut.

  Draco took o look around, ensuring everyone was settled and fortable.

  With a tented sigh, he too y dowing the sound of his siblings' gentle breathing lull him to sleep.

  The m, the children woke up to the familiar st of their leftover dinner from the night.

  They gathered around, eagerly finishing off the hearty soup and dried meat.

  "Alright, everyone," Draco said, ohey had their fill.

  "Let's get ready to tinue our journey. We should reach our destination in five days, if we keep up the pace." he announced.

  The children nodded, quickly pag up their belongings and scrambling bato the carriage.

  Draco took o look around, ensuring they hadn't fotten anything, before climbing in himself and urging the horses forward.

  The journey tinued, with the children passing the time by pying mames of checkers, telling stories, and gazing out at the passing sery.

  Draco kept a watchful eye on them, making sure they were all fortable and tent.

  Finally, after five days of steady travel, they arrived at their destination – a pce where the river cutting through the forest and the eastern mountai.

  Draco desded from the carriage, surveying the area with a critical eye.

  "I'll be ba a bit. Remain on guard." he instructed.

  He wao find the perfect spot for their new home – a pce with abundant sunlight, close to the river for water and fishing, and with enough space for farming, grazing, and training.

  Walking around, he soon found the ideal location, a small clearing in the forest with a gentle slope leading down to the river.

  Quickly, he returo his siblings, direg the carriage to the area.

  "This is it, our emporary home," Dranounced, his voice filled with a excitement.

  The children stepped from the carriage, curiously iing their surroundings.

  "Uhm, Draco, there's nothing here, just the forest surrounding us and the mountain behind you." Cir said, her brow furrowed in fusion.

  Draco chuckled, pg a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  "Didn't I tell you all that we were going to be living in the wild for the hree to four years?" he asked, his tone light and pyful.

  Cir's eyes widened in surprise.

  "But I thought we were going to aown or a vilge!" she excimed.

  Draco shook his head. "No, my dear," he said, "This is where we'll be making our new home. It may not look like muow, but with a little work, we'll have a cozy and fortable pce to live.".

  The other children, sensing Cir’s apprehension, gathered around Draco, their faces etched with a mix of uainty and curiosity.

  Drailed reassuringly. "Don't worry, everyone," he said.

  "I've already scouted the area, and I know this is the perfect spot for us. We'll have plenty of space for farming, grazing, and training, not to mention easy access to the river for water and fishing." he added.

  He paused, his gaze sweeping over his siblings.

  "I know it might not be what you were expeg, but I promise this will be a good pce for us to call home, at least for the time being" he reassured.

  The children exged uain gnces, but the warmth and vi in Draco's voice slowly began to put them at ease.

  They khey could trust their older brother, and if he believed this was the right pce for them, then they were willing to give it a try.

  "Alright, everyone," Draco said, g his hands together.

  "Let's get started! We have a lot of work to do, but I know we do it, together." he instructed.

  A/N: You all probably getting bored with the childhood arc. Don’t worry, will make a time skip in a feters so the Orario ar begin. Thanks for the tinued support.