We Will Not Die

  I slowly opened the door, fearing that Ma and the others would wake up and question me about what had happened at the meeting.

  Aourine wasn’t sure whether anyone beyond the skies — the Guardians of the Unirex, or anyone at all — had received our message. She said we had to be patient.

  Patience… I don’t think anyone who knows doom awaits would be patient.

  Thud.

  I winced as I knocked down the pot, lost in my thoughts. I should have kept my eyes open to the dark, trusting the familiar shadows to guide me.

  I quickly lowered down, picked the pot up and stood it straight.

  “Eralla…”

  A soft, groggy voice called out. I looked over at the rows of satta laid against the wall. Fattaralla sat up, rubbing her eyes before opening them. Her eyes resembled Fa. Hazel.

  My shoulder relaxed as I walked over to my satta and sat down.

  She followed, standing up and somehow managing to cross the hut to my satta.

  She plopped down, looking up at me.

  “Are we going to die?”

  “No, don’t say that.”

  “But everyone is saying the same thing.”

  “Then we should remind them they’re wrong.”

  I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer.

  “We will not die…”

  “How can you be so sure?”

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  She asked, tilting her head to look up at me.

  “Because I have trust in Aourine…”

  “Aourine who?”

  Oh right, she was too young to recall Aourine.

  “Just someone who will help us leave this place.”

  I lay down, tired from the day’s work. Spending the entire day in Aktoe and waiting… waiting for a signal.

  She sat up, leaving my embrace.

  “Are you sure we are not going to die?”

  I nodded my head, staring up at her.

  “I am sure we are not going to die.”

  Finally, she laid back down, hugging me tightly.

  “Now go to sleep.”

  I murmured against her forehead.

  Hours passed by…

  I blinked, still unable to fall asleep. She had been asleep as soon as her head landed on the hanto*.

  I stared up at the ceiling, lost in thoughts.

  Whatever was going through Aourine’s head, I knew she would make sure that no innocent would die.

  Despite our fallout, I know her.

  She was still a kind woman underneath her shell, which had hardened over time.

  She will do what is best for us. For me.

  Aourine.

  ???

  Txetia Glossary

  Hanto (Hen-toh) — means “pillow”.