Kamei silently ate her dinner, worried at the unusual silence. Helaman's word had sunk in deep, and the whole city had been tense, strained. Samuel regarded the whole situation with unusual seriousness, and her father was unusually upset.
Kamei looked at her younger brother, who was barely thirteen years old. He ate his food with a large amount of energy that was absent from the rest of the family.
"Mori, that's disgusting," Kamei complained. Mori stopped stuffing his mouth full of fruit and mae an ugly face at her. Their parents-absorbed in a silent conversation-did not notice. Kamei didn't eat for the rest of the meal; she couldn't find it in her to make the seemingly herculean effort.
That night, alone in her room, she listened to her parents worried whispers.
"Omnis, I'm afriad for the Nephites. The Lamanites are so powerful."
"Don't be afraid, Lolthi. God will keep us safe. My only wish is we could help."
"Can't we?"
"We covenanted with God that we would never fight again. Not even to defend ourselves."
Kamei heard her mother start to sob. She imagined her Father embracing her to try and ease her fear and pain. Kamei laid down in bed, then folded her arms, closed her eyes, and whispered a prayer. A prayer that all would be well.