Ecclesiastes 3:8

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

"What?"

Daniel stared at Penelope from his seat on a bedroll. A light smattering of rain pattered around them, each drop sending up a puff of red dust until the valley floor was completely damp. She stood under one of the lean-tos, her hand on one of the poles supporting the structure as she looked out at the Sorrows camp. The Sorrows rushed about, trying to protect some of their belongings from the rain.

Penelope turned her head and looked Daniel squarely in the face. "I said," she said slowly, "I think Joshua's right." She took a deep breath. "We should fight the White Legs."

He sighed, removing his hat and rubbing the back of his head. "No. Why?" he groaned, shaking his head. "Why? Haven't you seen enough of what's going on here to see that the Sorrows don't need to butcher the White Legs for a piece of land?" Penelope folded her arms, her expression hard.

His knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on his hat. "What Joshua wants is more than an attack. He wants a slaughter. And he needs more than you and the Dead Horses to do it." Daniel looked up at her, his mouth pressed into a firm line. "The Sorrows can't be pushed into this. You and Joshua don't have the right to force them into it. Please, consider what I'm saying." He searched her face before his eyes became steely. "But I've seen that look before, on Joshua. Nothing I say will budge you."

He pushed himself off of the ground and jammed his hat back on his head. "I can't believe this," he muttered. He turned to look back at Penelope, anger simmering just under the surface. Heavy raindrops darkened his shoulders. "You might as well try and explain yourself, though I'm sure it's all misguided."

Penelope clenched her fists. "Damn your self righteousness, Daniel," she muttered angrily. "The White Legs come down from Salt Lake and you just want to give Zion to them! This isn't just the Sorrows home we're talking about – it's your home as well." She pointed a finger at him. "Who are you to take them away just because you think it's best?"

"Who are you to lead them into battle, Gentile? To corrupt them like this?" Daniel scoffed. "You're as much of an outsider to them as I am, if not more so."

"The Dead Horses will go to battle with the White Legs. The Sorrows have killed just as many. Corruption is a necessity. You think I signed up to kill people? It's how people survive in these times." Penelope gave him an icy look. "If you take them out of Zion, I guarantee you'll spend the rest of your life wondering if it was the right thing to do."

"That's...that doesn't matter," he snapped.

"I think it does. Can you live with the fact that you might have led them to an even worse place? That you destroyed their culture? The Sorrows are rooted in Zion, always have been."

"Mercy isn't for you, is it?" he growled. A roll of thunder punctuated his words. Penelope let her eyes search his face, pausing. After a moment, she spoke softly.

"Mercy is not a right and I give it out as I see fit. The White Legs are nothing but thugs and certainly don't deserve it." Penelope gripped the pole a little tighter, turning her head. "It doesn't matter. I will help lead the tribals against the White Legs. End of discussion."

Daniel muttered something under his breath and stalked away. When he was out of sight, Penelope sighed and collapsed onto the bedroll, burying her head between her knees. Another crash of thunder, louder this time, echoed across the valley.

"May I join you?"

She looked up at Joshua, standing in the rain, and sighed. "I don't see why not," she replied a little coldly. She didn't move as he sat beside her, uncomfortably close to the rain.

Warmth radiated from him as he sat beside her, leaning back on his hands. They watched the raindrops create ripples in the river, the thunder creating a low cadence in the distance.

"I'm sorry for...well, for being an ass, I suppose," Joshua stated. Penelope looked at him, a little startled, before laughing. He looked at her blankly. "What?"

"No, just...I never expected you to say that."

"That I'm sorry?"

"No. Ass." She chuckled again.

His eyes crinkled a little bit before he looked away. "Well, I try not to use words such as that lightly." Joshua shrugged and glanced back at her. "I also wanted to apologize for yelling at you. You're very capable – incredibly so – and I shouldn't have assumed you to be fragile." He hesitated. "And also for running away when...well, you know."

"Yeah. I...It wasn't my smartest idea." She refused to look at him, her eyes trained on the river.

"It's just that...I'm old enough to be your father, and..." He struggled to find the words before just giving out a long sigh. "I've never...I'm not...it's been a long while since a woman has expressed...I mean..." He shook his head. "Forget it."

They sat in silence for a while, the sky darkening as the clouds compounded. The rain fell a little heavier, creating a steady beat against the ground.

"Do you ever wonder if you're doing the right thing?" Penelope murmured. Joshua turned his head.

"I suppose you're speaking of the decision to evacuate or fight."

"Yes."

"Does this mean that you have made a decision?"

Penelope hesitated. "Yes."

"And...?"

"Joshua, please," she sighed, before looking at him, searching his eyes. "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing."

There was a heavy pause as she buried her head in her hands. The beat of rain against the lean-to filled the silence.

"Penelope," Joshua said finally. She lowered her hands to look at the Burned Man. "You are a good person, and intelligent. You care for the Dead Horses and the Sorrows just as Daniel and I do." He hesitated before reaching out to touch her shoulder. "I'm sure whatever you chose is ultimately the right choice for them."

She nodded silently, her eyes darkened in thought.

"Now, perhaps you would like to get out from under this and into a nice dry cave away from the rain?" he offered and she nodded again, taking his proffered hand as he helped her up. They hurried through the rain into one of the caves, where Sorrows were gathered around a smoldering fire.

Penelope leaned her back against one of the walls of the cave and slid down until she was sitting on the floor. Joshua greeted a few of the Sorrows, letting out low laughter at some of the things they said. She looked away quickly when he glanced at her from across the fire.

There was a tap on her shoulder and she looked up to see Waking Cloud.

"I saw Daniel," the Sorrows woman remarked. Penelope suppressed a groan, staring back into the fire.

"I suppose he told you about my decision."

Waking Cloud nodded before hesitating. "If it means anything, I think you made the right choice," she said. Penelope looked back up at her, startled. "The White Legs will always kill. This is the best way."

"Thank you, Waking Cloud."

"But tell me: did you choose this for Joshua?"

"W-what?" Penelope spluttered. Waking Cloud looked amused. "N-no! No! I..." She paused, her eyebrows drawing together. "I chose this in spite of Joshua," she said finally. "It's just the right thing to do."

Waking Cloud studied the young woman for a moment before nodding. "You have honor. Do not lose it in the days to come."

Penelope blinked, watching as the Sorrows woman walked away, leaving her to stare into the fireplace and wonder about the importance of questioning your decisions.