Amirah woke up rather started as she sat up straight and breathed irregular. Was… all that happened just a dream? The female looked around and was hit with the hard realisation that what happened was not a dream. She looked frustrated as she let her ocean blue eyes meet the ground.
How could this have happened? Why were they even attacked in the first place? Who led the attack? … Who did this?
"Amirah". Upon hearing her name Amirah looked up, it was Saladdin whom seemed to have a sad look on his face. Which did not reassure the female at all.
"Come" He said and held out his hand for her to take, which she took a tad hesitant. What did he want to show her?
Saladin led her to the burned remains of the caravans of the once Great Surge.
Amirah's lip quivered as she fell on her knees with her head down. "Everything is gone..." her voice sounded a bit cracked as tears dripped down her cheek.
Saladin looked at her sad eyes. "I am sorry..." were the words he spoke.
The honey brown haired woman didn't look at Saladin. "Are they-" before she could finish her question Saladin spoke up. "Yes..." The girl bit her lip. Her parents were gone, and she assumed that the youngsters their parents were as well.
Everyone was gone, everyone she knew, everyone she grew up with. They were all gone. Soft sobs and hiccups could be heard from the girl.
"Why… Why did this happen? We never did anything wrong… So why" she choked out as her eyes became all red and puffy from crying.
Suddenly Saladin sat before her with a soft smile on his face, yet his eyes held sadness. "Here… I know it is not much… but I am sure you father wanted you to have this" he said.
Amirah looked up confused by white haired male's voice. What did he mean by that? Once she saw what the other held out to her, her eyes widen. "H-how-" she asked as she took with shaky hands the sword and ring from her father.
"I found them under the caravan… they must have gotten under it somehow" Saladin explained.
Amirah hugged the items close to her. The ring was a symbol of the leadership her father had in the great surge, It was a golden ring with a jet black stone. The sword was a bit more unique as unlike others it was a straight sword with a hilt was dark ocean blue with golden details. The sword itself even was a darker grey than other swords that were considered normal.
"T-thank you… Thank you, Saladin" Amirah cried out as she still kept the items close to her. Saladin just gave her a sad smile as she patted the girl on the head. He didn't say a word as you're welcome or no problem. Because he knew Amirah was grateful for this. After all she had something that belonged to her father, a memento you could say.
They sat there for a little while till Amirah calmed down and stopped crying. "How are you feeling?" Saladin asked her. "Better now… thank you" Amirah let out a small smile to the other.
Saladin then stood up and held out his hand again. "Come let's go back" he said. Amirah nodded. It was indeed best if they went back before the children would panic with them not being near them.
Once back at their little camp Amirah looked at the still sleeping children, then back at her friend. "What should we do, Saladin?" she asked. Sure she had taken the lead yesterday but she was unsure what to do now. Where should they go, how would they take care of themselves? Panic started to invade her mind.
Saladin placed a hand on her shoulder. "It will be fine, do not worry. But they need a strong leader, Amirah" he said.
"I cannot be that leader!" She yelled in a hushed tone, hoping she would not wake the others up. "I am not cut to be a leader!" The panic could be seen in her eyes, after all she cried just now not too long ago, should a leader never show such a weakness? Saladin just looked back with eyes telling her not worry.
"Yes you are. But you just need to believe in yourself and have some guidance. That is what I am for" he gave the other a reassuring smile. "Well make it work somehow, together"
Amirah took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she repeated his works in her mind to calm down. She then let out the breath she held in. Finally calmed down by the boy's words.
"Together" she smiled, and the male nodded to confirm her words and helped her up.
"I see two are back..." they both turned to the pink haired girl surprised. How long had she been awake? She then held out some fruit for them.
"Where did you find these, Murzim?" Amirah asked.
"In the forest, there is a lot of fruit here and not far ahead is a lake we could take water from" She said and pointed.
Saladin and Amirah looked at eachother and smiles. "Good work Murzim" Amirah patted the girl softly on the head whom no seemed to turn shy all of a sudden by being complimented.
They woke up the younger children, and gave them some fruit to eat, who of course ate it right away. Harun woke up with a groan. "I am glad to see you are awake… I must say you are quite brave for someone your age to protect your sisters like that" Saladin said, the young boy smiled a bit at that and then looked at Amirah.
"I am afraid I have some bad news… We are on our own from now on" Amirah started.
The youngster looked at her with scared eyes. "But it is okay, we have each other-" At that Dimah started to cry.
"I want my mama and papa!" she cried out. Her brother Harun went to her and hugged his little sister. He looked at the elder two with sad eyes.
Amirah kneeled down before the two before hugging the two. She knew how they felt. She too cried not too long ago about their death.
"I know… I am sorry, but they can't be with us anymore" she dried away the tears of the youngest child.
"But… even if they are not with here right now they are still with us… they have become stars and are watching us from above, guarding over us." This was something Amirah's father always told her when someone or something died. It… always reassured her and calmed her down.
Dimah looked at the other as she sniffled a bit "They have become stars?" she asked.
Amirah nodded "Yes, and they will always look out for you, so if you ever feel lonely, look up at the night sky. But don't forget that we are here for you as well" she said as she tickled the girl who laughed in return. "Okay?" she smiled.
The little girl nodded and wiped away her tears. She was too young to really understand it. But it seemed Amirah's words calmed her down a little. Harun just mouthed her a thank you, as he hugged his little sister and Shesha then joined into the group as well, feeling left out a bit.
Amirah gave a soft amused huff at this as she stood up. "Now eat the rest of your fruit, then we can head to the lake Murzim spot and get some water"
"Can we swim?!" Shesha asked excited. Amirah looked at Saladin wondering if it was a wise thing to do at this time. He nodded. "Sure, why not?" was the answer then and Shesha jumped around in joy.
Funny how children could react in situations… because you never knew how they would act. They could cry like Dimah, be silent in their own little world like Harun, or try and be happy like Shesha.
"Is it really that wise to stay there long?" Amirah whispered to Saladin.
"For now it is best that the children will calm down and feel more at ease. Something fun like this will help with that"
"I guess you are right..." However Amirah was worried. Worried that maybe the bandits were still close by. Saladin placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. As if saying things would turn out alright.
When everyone ate their food they headed towards the lake.
Once there Shesha jumped into the water right away splashing both Harun and Dimah. "Shesha!" Harun said scolding and sighed.
"That is not nice Shesha!" Dimah said kind of following her brother's example.
Amirah facepalmed at the scene. Saladin just kept quiet and sweatdropped a bit. Who knew the black haired girl could be so lively?
"... Childish..." Muttered Murzim, which fell on deaf ears as Shesha was just laughing. "Let's get some water and freshen up" Amirah said the others nodded.
In the end they stayed there the whole day, which was not Amirah's plan. She wished they had moved ahead more. A sigh left her lips.
"Everything alright?" Saladin asked as he took a place next to her. Amirah looked at him then back at the children whom were sleeping all cozy together. Her ocean blue eyes then looked back at the male.
"I don't know..."
It fell silent for a moment, and Saladin waited for her to talk again.
"I am not sure what to do… Where should we go? Are we safe here, right now, at this point, while still being so close to the great surge? What if the bandits come again? What if-" Amirah started to rattle until Saladin placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do not worry too much, Amirah. Everything will be alright"
"How can you be so sure?!" she asked a bit irritated by the white haired male at the moment.
"Because I know..." His hand left her shoulder has he looked ahead.
Amirah blinked at the other her eyes slightly wide. She didn't know why… but somehow it was as if Saladin's words pulled her in. His voice sounded full of confidence, as if he indeed was really sure that everything was going to be alright.
Not even her father in dire situations has such a strong and confident voice…
Saladin at that moment looked at her with a closed eyed smile. "You should get some rest Amirah, tomorrow will be a long day" he said and stood up walking away to his sleeping place.
Amirah watched him, still being a bit baffled.
For the first time since meeting him… this question crossed her mind.
Just… who are you actually, Saladin?
