The raft swayed slightly in the water. Bella stared dubiously at it. The entire thing was made of a few small logs tied together. She had visions of it falling apart halfway up the river and leaving her to drown.

"That's a better fate than getting killed by the soldiers." said Jonathan, nudging her towards it.

"And what about you?" she asked, looking nervously towards those who had come to see her off. Jonathan stood at her side, the others were a bit farther up the bank. Colin, Grace Ann, and the children huddled together, watching her with wide-eyed wonder. Her parents clung to each other, uncertain.

"We'll be fine." Jonathan lied. "The soldiers won't hurt the innocents."

She thought of Thom. She hadn't told them about seeing Thom die. Her eyes looked towards the three children.

"Have a good trip." said Grayson with a shy smile. He was starting to tolerate them. She'd kind of miss him.

"I'll save some tea for you." Valerie added. She stepped forward and held out a handful of leaves. "And bring these along in case you get thirsty."

"Thanks." Bella smiled and added them to her sack.

"I'll miss you." Mridina announced.

Bella remembered Thom's face... saw him gasp as the cold steel sliced his throat... and thought of what the soldiers might do to this precious child. Wouldn't they spare Mridina? In her heart, she knew the answer to that.

"Don't let the water splash you in your face." the little girl giggled.

They'd kill her. Bella felt cold.

"Bye bye!" Mridina waved, her small fingers wagging.

"Come with me." Bella held out her hand to the small child.

"All the way?" the girl asked, eagerly.

"Yes." Bella nodded.

Colin stepped forward, his protest silent. One hand stayed on the child's shoulder, unwilling to let her go.

"Colin... the soldiers..." Bella didn't finish her sentence.

She didn't have to. Colin nodded. He understood. He knew what was going to happen to them all.

Mridina climbed onto the raft beside Bella. It rocked softly under their weight. They both looked up on the bank, one last time of seeing the sad eyes and lonely smiles. Bella pushed away.

And the raft made its way slowly down the river. Bella didn't know what the future would bring for her, but she knew what it would bring to her family, to her friends, to everyone she held dear. She doubted she'd ever see them again.

But she knew she had to keep going. Because the fate of her world rode on her shoulders. And the head of a beautiful little girl rested there too.

End Part One.