You can tell from miles away that a battle is going to happen anytime soon. The pleasant aroma of cooking is in the air, weapons are being banged against seemingly everything, and thousands of people are milling about and giving orders. Not just the men, even the woman are preparing for the battle. I can actually get involved and help fight this time!

"Henrietta, can we play now?" Karola whined.

"You've been daydreaming for ages, and you promised that we would do something before you went off and fought the bad people!" Ernst started hopping around us in circles, roaring battle cries and swinging at the air with a stick he found.

"H-h-henrietta? P-please play with us b-b-before you go to fight, in c-case you don't-"

"Now, let's not think about that now. I'll come home safe and sound, and we can play together for hours," I soothed. Etta was still gasping from lack of breath. It's always really hard trying to listen to her talk, hearing all the effort she has to put in. I gently pushed Karola off my lap, and sprung up. Now came the hard part - deciding what game to play.

"Who's up for a game of hide and seek?" I said.

Ernst cheered, but Karola whined about not being able to run as fast as everyone and Etta started sucking her thumb and didn't say anything else. They never agree on anything, which is a handful sometimes, but I love them all anyway.

"Sorry Ernst, I don't think that's a popular choice. What about something that doesn't involve too much running around that everyone can play fairly in?"

"But I want to run around! Who cares if they can't keep up?" he grumbled, talking about the girls.

"Ernst," I said, my voice taking on a warning tone. "It wouldn't be fair if both the girls couldn't keep up. Please stop being so selfish and help us think of a game everyone can play." His face got redder and redder and his hands bawled into fists, but thankfully Mother came over before he could throw a tantrum.

"Henrietta, we're going to leave very soon. Are you sure you're coming?" she said.

I began to reconsider. I was so eager to jump in and help fight the battle. I can take care of myself, I'm thirteen. The eldest of all us children. What had happened in that ten or so minutes that made me reconsider?

She must have seen the doubt on my face, because then Mother said, "We have about fifteen minutes at most before we set off. Take your time to think about it. Come on now, Etta, leave Henrietta alone." She had leaned on my shoulder while Mother was speaking to me, and now started sniveling.

"I-I don't want H-Henrietta to...to go!" she wailed. My heart melted, I knew what I had to do now.

"Actually, I don't want to go to the battle. I need to stay hear and look after these three, in case, you know...you don't come back." Merely saying those words made a knot form in my stomach. I didn't want Mother and Father to die, but in case of the worst, I had to be Mother for Karola, Ernst and Etta.

"Well, if you're sure then," Mother trailed off. "I didn't expect you to change your mind so suddenly, but that's your choice. Goodbye Henrietta," she whispered in my ear. I then received the tightest hug of my life, and then she had to let me go. Karola started bawling into Mother's hair when she was picked up and Ernst tried to wriggle out of the hug, which made Mother look sad. Etta surprisingly seemed the most composed, giving Mother her hug with no fuss.

Even after everyone left for the battle, she was a lot quieter than usual. I suppose she's just missing Mother. I'm glad I chose to stay to look after my siblings, as it's looking quite unlikely my parents are coming home. I can just see the battleground from one of the hills, though I don't like to look often. It makes my eyes sting to think about how many people I'll never see again. People I've spent my whole life with and made so many memories together with.

But family comes first, as they say. My siblings are the only family I have left, and I stayed home with them so at least they'll have someone left.