Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Village'...But I did think up the characters and names in my story that weren't in the movie. If that means anything...

A.N: for those of you have been asking for longer chapters... Sorry that they aren't long. I do try. But I think I try too hard, so the chapters don't actually get that longer.

But hey, I try.

Anna, Michael and Nathan stood before the elders in the meeting hall.

"Why were you out there so late, Anna?" Her grandfather asked her, looking at her.

"I was... Well Michael said he felt sick... So I- I went out to see him...because he said he was sick."

"So...Michael left his post to go to your home and tell you that he felt sick, and then you both went back to the watch tower?"

"No." Michael and Anna said in together.

"How did you know he was sick then?" A different elder asked, a lady. Mrs. Hunt.

"Well-"Nathan spoke up, "Michael was feeling sick... And I went to find someone, and I saw that Anna was sitting outside... I told Anna that Michael said he was feeling ill, so I brought her with me back to the tower. I thought she could somehow help him. I know I left my post and...I'm sorry for it."

"Though your intentions were good, I'm very disappointed in you, Nathan."

Nathan gave a small nod, "Yes, ma'm."

Her grandfather nodded and seemed to be in deep thought. Mrs. Hunt whispered something to him, and he nodded again, "Michael and Anna... You may leave, Nathan, you need to stay and answer a few quick questions, then you can be on your way."

Nathan nodded and looked to Anna and Michael who were both looking at him. He nodded for them to go, "I'll be fine." He muttered, "You two can leave."

Michael nodded then hastily walked out of the door. Anna continued to watch Nathan, "Are you sure?"

"I am, Anna... You go on... Go play..." He gave a smile and nodded to the door, "Go now."

She nodded and walked out.

Anna closed the door and stood there quietly, looking at the ground.

After a few minutes, Anna walked a distance from the meeting hall before she came to a boy her age who was standing in front of her silently.

Anna folded her arms and stared back, "Yes?"

"I say you should throw yourself out into the forest... Instead of putting meat on the rock, you should sit yourself there and wait for the creatures to come and get you."

She stared at him in shock. Anna wasn't expecting that reply. It took her a few moments for her to react.

"W- What?" She wet her lips, "What did you just say?"

The boy cleared his throat and took a step closer, "I said, 'I say you should throw yourself out into the forest... Instead of putting meat on the rock, you should sit yourself there and wait for the creatures to come and get you'. Did you hear me that time?" He said in a calm tone of voice.

Her hand curled into a fist as she stared at him. Anna had never hit a person or animal in her life. But this one came easily. Her first connected with his cheek in an instant. Maybe it was the element of surprise, or from the force, but the boy dropped down to the grass, his hand pressed against his cheek. "You hit me!" He shouted angrily.

Anna looked at her hand then down to him, "I did? I mean... I did. I know I did. That was what I meant to do."

He gathered himself and stood up, "Why'd you hit me?!" The boy demanded of her.

"Obviously I hit you because of what you said."

"It's only the truth." The boy said defensively.

"I don't care, it wasn't something very mannerly to say. It was very, very rude.. And so, for that reason, I hit you."

"You just wait, Anna Hunt. I'm telling."

"Telling who? Your parents and say that you got hit by a girl because you said a very, very rude comment to her? Tell your friends that I hit you?"

He scowled but said nothing. Quickly he turned and walked away.

"You hit him?" A voice asked.

Anna turned to see Nathan walking toward her. She shrugged, "I... I didn't mean to. It just happened."

Nathan grinned, "Well I haven't got anything against hitting him Anna. If he insulted you, you had every right to right to hit him."

"Really?" Anna asked cheerfully.

"I suppose." He said with a nod.

"So what did they ask?"

"Nothing that you need to worry about." Nathan said with a reassuring smile.

They looked each other in an awkward silence. Nathan rubbed the back of his neck and looked around. Anna dropped her gaze to the ground.

"Anna!" She heard her brother yell at the top of his lungs, and Anna looked to see Nicholas running up to them, "It's time to eat."

"Is that all you had to say?"

Nicholas looked to Nathan, to Anna, Nathan, then back to Anna, "Yes."

"Well next time... Don't yell that loud in less it's important."

Nicholas's face twisted in confusion, "I thought dinner was important."

"It is. But I mean when it's something really, really important. Okay?"

He nodded, "Okay then. It's time to eat, Anna." He said in a quiet but very matter-of-fact way. Nicholas smiled then left the two of them.

Anna watched her brother go then looked back to Nathan, "Well..."

"Yes, well..." Nathan said quietly.

The awkward silence lingered for a moment longer.

"I suppose I should be going home now."

"I should also..."

They both nodded a few times, and Anna turned to leave.

"Oh, Anna..." Nathan said before she started to walk.

"Yes?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but he closed his mouth, changing his mind. Again he opened it, "Nothing...Nothing important... Good-night."

"Good-night, Nathan."