Hi!

I'm back! Well, even though I had a great time at camp, I have to say I'm glad to be home, now I can write up a storm once again. This part isn't long, but I think it's very important.

I want to thank Liz Skywalker, Jenn, and Euphoria for there wonderful reviews, and Alex Foster, for reviewing my poem.

Hey guys, if you like the story, PLEASE leave a comment. Any little comment.

And now, drum roll please,

THE DISCLAIMER!

I do not own The Giver and claim no rights to it, it all belongs to Lois Lowry!


Okay, now you can read the story.






Chapter four
First Community
January 2, 2246

Jonas' breath caught as they entered the Community, so much like his own. Several buildings were burnt down and people ran from them, they didn't seem like people though, more like ghosts, with their pale skin, and tattered clothing, they peeked from inside broken windows, around cracked open doors.

Nobody challenged them. He wondered if this was what awaited him in the Community he used to call home. But, he didn't think so. The Giver was there.

More wonders Jonas? More questions? More...guilt?' Out of my head! He felt like screaming it, but he knew it wouldn't make any difference. It would only come back.

Duke whispered.

This is a Community? Not exactly what I had in mind. Jake whispered back.

Nothing here to see. Lets' go. said Goren firmly.

This isn't natural. You'd think they'd pull themselves together. That someone would do something. Granny voiced.

Obviously nobody tried very hard. This place looks like a dungeon. Duke said.

Have you ever seen a dungeon? Jonas said, surprised.

No, but if I did, this is what it would look like. Duke replied.

Let's keep going. I don't think anyone wants to camp here. Goren urged.

They rode on.

No more words were spoken until the Community was out f sight behind them.

What are we going to do if Jonas' Community looks like that? Jake asked.

Then we try to find his friends. And leave.Granny answered.

The rest of the day was quiet, not much was said. Jonas guessed they all felt a little out of it after what they'd seen earlier, and even the fact that it was no longer in sight, didn't erase the image fro their minds. Not even close. They all wondered if that was what awaited them at the end of the road.

It was only another full da before the saw another community in the distance. But this one seemed different. They could see people, and the fields up ahead looked tended, and healthy.

As they came closer, they saw people coming towards them, two girls, and an older boy.

Greetings! Welcome to our home. They all caught the point that had been given, Community had not been used.

Come on! Gretele will want to meet you! She is, was, our chief elder. She pulled us back together after the Memories. We are modeled after what we know of Elsewhere.

Goren smiled broadly. You are a great sight you town. The last Community we'd seen was in considerably less repair.

The boy just nodded sadly. He turned, and they followed him. The two little girls ran back to the field.

He led them into the town and to a large building. Inside was many offices, but only one was full. As the boy called out, that one person looked up, and smiled.

Hello. You aren't from around here are you? Gretele asked.

No. We aren't. I'm Goren, and these are my sons, Duke and Jake, my mother in law, and Jonas, my new adopted son.

Jonas looked up in surprise. Goren, had ... adopted him. He didn't know what to think, he drifted out of reality for a while.

Jonas? The Jonas? Receiver? We have much to thank you for. Gretele asked.

Jonas blushed. Your welcome. I think.

You are of course headed to Jonas' Community? If so. There is a shortcut, you can get there in five days time, but I warn you, there is a war going on there. Gretele explained.

A war? Goren asked.

Yes. The adults and the Community elders, against The Citizens in Training, and the Old.
There are only a few names that we know. Among them are The Giver, The Chief Elder, and two other names, that don't seem to have been important before now. Asher, and Fiona.

Jonas felt his heart flutter. A civil war in his old Community? With Jonas and Fiona at the head?

Wait a sec. How do you know terms like civil war? Granny asked.

You'll find tat Elders know many things. They just don't often share them. And with that she turned back to her desk.

As they left, the same boy who had brought them in, handed them a map. You'll want that.

They left that Community with higher hopes, than when they'd left the last. For now they knew that change was possible.

Community
January 2, 2246

Asher felt like he had to be in three places at once. He was tired, he was frustrated, and if another person cam up to him with a petty problem, he thought he'd explode.

There was a knock at the door.

What is it now? he demanded.

Fiona opened the door and walked in. Are you feeling alight? You seemed a bit strung up the whole day.

Just a bit tired I guess. Have I been that cranky?

You bet! Now, there are some fireworks that need your special touch, get a move on! Fiona shooed him out of the room, then followed him.

Fiona felt pride as she walked down the hallway, and that was precision of language, she saw people working together. Young with Old, as she passes a play room, she saw small children, being cared for by older children, each of whom had now adopted a couple younger siblings.

As she watched the other little kids in the room, she wasn't nearly prepared for the mini tank that plowed into her.

Bruno shouted.

Fiona replied, winded. She glanced at Asher and saw no help was going to come from him, he'd been similarity plowed into by a giggling Phillipa.

Come on you little rascal! Back into the playroom with you. Asher tickled his little sister, making her howl in glee. She ran back into the playroom, to escape her older brother.

Bruno backed away, as if saying, don't you dare try that on me.

Fiona didn't and merely grinned and pointed to the playroom.

They are who we are doing this for.Asher whispered, so quietly that Fiona almost didn't hear him.

She agreed. They were the future.



~Siti~