Thanks to all who have reviewed, I'm a little worried about why I have not gotten the notices in my email, but I noticed them on the site.

Chapter two is now in session! Though it is a shorty.

Two

Boom!

I cursed quite unladylike as the ground shook again, resulting in my body being thrown forward. It wasn't as if I weren't dirty enough. One of the other refugees helped me up, urging me to hurry, but with a kind smile. That was one thing about these refugees: they smiled.

I clung to my satchel desperately as we moved closer and closer to the border. We were still far away, but the farther we got from our departure point, the more worried I became.

I didn't know any of these people, and they all looked the same to me. All covered in soot and grime, all quiet. I knew I was the same to them as they were to me, except all of them knew somebody else. My friend had failed to show up. I tried to hold back the caravan as long as possible, but he ever came.

We slept in the day and traveled by night. Sometimes we would wake up and some other would not. We left them behind, without any proper ceremony. We didn't have a choice.

"Ma'am?"

I looked over at a worn-looking man with a little girl at his side. "This little girl lost her momma. Nobody will take her." He look at me meaningfully. "Perhaps you can look after her?"

I glanced at the little girl again. Her cheeks were streaked from tears. She had nobody. I had nobody.

"Sure."

Relieved, the man smiled thankfully. "See, Keri? I told you that I would find you a mommy." The little girl looked far from grateful towards the man. She just let go of him and clung to me. I stroked her head. The man shook my hand and said, "Thank you, very much," and left. I kneeled down beside the girl.

"Hi Keri, my name's Amethyst. You can call me Ama."

"Can I call you mommy?"

I was startled. "If you want." The little girl hugged me and I returned the hug.

"Hurry up!" I glanced around. People were giving me hard stares. There wasn't time to wait around. We had to get moving.

I stood up and took the girl's hand. "Come on," I said encouragingly. "We're on a big adventure, aren't we?"

The little girl shook her head and said no more.