Disclaimer: The only characters I own are extra soldier and commanders I make up along the way to help the story run smoothly otherwise Tamora Pierce owns them.

Kel headed out on Hoshi with Peachblossom in tow when the dawn broke the night sky. She had Tobe and five other soldiers with her for protection. Kel annoyed at the thought that she might need protection irked her to no end.

Once free of Steadfast she controlled her self from kicking Hoshi into a gallop. The ride seemed to past by slowly, stopping for lunch when the clock hit noon.

By dusk, the view of New Hope slowly came into Kel's view. She kicked Hoshi into a gallop stopping her only so the guards could open the gate. Kel jumped off Hoshi once inside the wall's of New Hope.

Kel, spotting Commander Nightwing who looked after New Hope while Kel was gone ran up to him. Reaching him he started explaining what happened to New Hope.

"They just came in Lady, the doors were unlocked cause we had people down in the woods hunting and fishing. Our lookout was looking at the other end of the field when they came sneaking up on us. They just ran through the gate. They knew where everything was they ran straight to your quarters and started tearing everything apart it's like they were looking for something." Kel stiffened wondering what anyone would be looking for in her room…wait the… her thought was cut off by the Commander Nightwing telling the her who became hurt.

"…and Mistress Franche-"

"Mistress Franche? Mistress Franche is hurt?" Kel realized the anger was building up inside her at the news. "Where is Mistress Franche? Where is she?" Kel said as calm as she could be even though her voice quivered a bit and her hands locked firmly behind her back shook from range and shock.

"In the infirmary Lady Knight."

Kel started heading towards the infirmary realizing that she only knew of the injured people; among them being three out of the four cooks of the camp, Mistress Franche and many other refugees both children and adults.

Kel turned back to Commander Nightwing "Sir who was killed and also who killed them?"

"Lady all the new refugees were killed which were ten of them and the rest were soldiers here at New Hope. And lady they were actually eleven refugees but one of them was under a spell, a spell that made him kill all his people and the soldiers were killed fighting the Scanra who attacked the next day."

"Wait Commander what do you mean the next day the soldiers were attacked what about the refugees? Wasn't everyone attacked at the same time? How did you find out that man was under a curse?" Kel would have continued asking questions but she noticed the commander was trying to get his answers in between Kel's quick breaths and rapid questions.

"Lady Knight this is how it happened. The day the refugees came everyone seemed to be getting along well but once everyone was asleep one of the men who were acting odd once he arrived at New Hope in the black of the night he got up and murdered all of his people. The next day we asked him questions of who sent him to kill his people and why he did it. He tried to answer but then died trying. As soon as he died the Scranas came looming down on us swords in hand."

Kel stood there unable to speak. She excused herself from the commander realizing she heard the whole story. She made her way to the infirmary resisting the urge to run to her rooms to see if the papers were still there.

Inside the infirmary the refugees greeted her as if nothing had happened Kel put on a smile her Yamani training keeping her from bursting into tears. She made her way to each bed saying thank you and complementing them on their good fighting skills. The last bed she came to was Mistress Franche's. She sat down on the bed trying the best she could not to jostle the older woman. Unfortunately she bumped into Mistress Franche's arm making her eyes open. Mistress Franche seeing who it was smiled widely.

"Kel your back! We all missed you so much during the fight but we did it we fought them…nearly killing ourselves though. Oh, how happy I am to see you!" Mistress Franche exclaimed.

"Franche how are you faring?" Kel said giving the lady a hug.

"Just fine Kel. Just fine." Franche said grunting as she tried to push herself into an upright position. Kel gently pushed the Franche's shoulders down preventing her from sitting up.

"I best leave you to rest." Kel said. "I'll come by tomorrow. By the end of the week I expect you to be up and about understood?"

Franche let out a laugh and waved Kel away from her. Before leaving Kel gave her one last hug and then headed to her headquarters to see how much damage was done to them.

Entering her room Kel saw that her door had been knocked down hanging onto one screw. Her bed had been flipped over and her dresser doors and been opened and looked through. Clothes and papers lay scattered on the floor. Kel let out a sigh of relief when she realized that her papers hadn't been found. She lifted up the floorboard were she kept them just to make sure.

After reassuring herself she put the floorboard back in place and stepped outside into the night air.

Well she thought at least New Hope is still in one piece.

Hey guys! I have the next few chapters written so I'll post them up soon. I didn't really like this chapter. It's a filler chapter nothing very interesting happens. The next chapter will be much more interesting! I have a little surprise! Oh..and wait of those papers under the floorboard anyone know what they are? Anyway next chapter will be up soon!

ladyknight257