The early morning light filtered through the trees, casting long shadows across the camp. The quiet hum of camp life filled the air, but it was quieter than usual—fewer voices, fewer footsteps. The civilians that had remained behind, once a bustling group, were now scattered, the majority taken back to the capital in the supply carriages.
Lucas rubbed his sore muscles, a dull ache that had settled into his limbs after days of constant training and travel. Finn, beside him, seemed no better off, though they both had followed Astrid's advice to rest for the day. They had spent the morning stretching and eating, but now they wandered through the camp, looking for something to occupy their minds.
"Not much left here," Finn muttered, glancing around at the few remaining civilians. A mother and child sat by a fire, the only other group that seemed untouched by the exodus.
Lucas nodded, his thoughts wandering. His gaze drifted across the tents, over the few traders packing away their wares, to the empty space where their comrades usually gathered. He couldn't help but feel the weight of the silence pressing in around him.
As they passed a row of tents, something caught Lucas' attention. A small figure stood near one of the campfires, clutching a stuffed toy to her chest. It was a little girl, perhaps five or six, with big brown eyes and a messy braid that hung down her back. She was alone, watching the camp with a solemn gaze that didn't match the innocence of her age.
Lucas stopped, and Finn did too, glancing over. The girl turned at the sound of their footsteps and blinked at them. Her gaze lingered on Lucas, and something in her expression softened.
"Are you... one of the soldiers?" she asked, her voice small but clear.
Lucas gave her a gentle smile, kneeling to her level. "I'm no soldier," he replied, his tone kind. "But I do fight sometimes."
The girl's eyes lit up. "You're going to fight the bad guys, right?" she asked, clutching her stuffed toy tighter.
Lucas hesitated for a moment, a pang of sorrow rising in his chest. The idea of 'fighting the bad guys' felt so much heavier than it did when he had first joined Astrid. "Yeah," he said softly. "I'll fight for people like you."
Her face brightened, and she suddenly moved closer, holding out the stuffed toy. "I want you to have this," she said earnestly. "It'll help you fight them!"
Lucas chuckled softly, touched by her gesture. He accepted the toy, a little bear with a worn-out face, and nodded. "Thank you. I'll take care of it."
The girl giggled, her innocence filling the air like a bright spark. She looked up at him with admiration, then after a pause, she gave him a shy smile. "I'm Mara. You can be my older brother, right?"
Lucas blinked, surprised by the request. He glanced over at Finn, who was watching quietly, his eyes distant.
"Sure," Lucas said, his voice soft but sincere. "I can be your older brother."
As Mara ran off to play nearby, Lucas stood up, his chest tight with emotion. He watched her with a mixture of warmth and sorrow, the weight of her words settling in his heart. He had heard Finn's pain in passing, but now, seeing the joy that a simple act of kindness could bring to a child who had lost so much—it hit him harder than he expected.
For the first time since the invasion, he understood a little of what Finn had been carrying. The loss of his sister, the uncertainty of not knowing where she was or if she was safe, it was something Lucas could only imagine. The bond that had formed between them in those early days after the attack had always been deep, but now it was clearer—Finn's pain wasn't just from losing his home, it was from the uncertainty of not knowing whether his sister was alive, or where she might be.
Lucas's throat tightened, and he looked out toward the horizon, his heart heavy with worry.
"Where are you, Lila?" he whispered to himself. "Please be alright."
With the little stuffed bear still clutched in his hands, Lucas vowed that he would do everything he could to bring those like Mara and Finn the peace they deserved. And even if he had to fight every battle that came his way, he would protect them all.
The camp fell into a silence once more, but now, Lucas was no longer just a soldier. He was someone's brother. And that made all the difference.