Kendle laughed, swaying with an arm around Michael's shoulders and the other holding hands with Henry. They were sitting around a camp fire, and the rebels were singing silly songs.

Gloria sat on Henry's other side and sang along, since she knew the songs. Kendle kept glancing over, she didn't know why she felt like she couldn't take her eyes off Gloria.

Then again, she had really missed her friend.

Yeah, that's it.

She just really missed her.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Gloria smiled at Kendle as they went to bed. "Relax!" She laughed, wrapping her arms around Kendle's shoulders.

Kendle laughed. "Okay! Okay! I don't know why I'm so tense," her smile faded. "I'm just not used to the idea that I'm actually free. I keep expecting to wake up and find that this was all a dream," she turned and buried her head in Gloria's shoulder.

Gloria stroked her hair and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

It was sometime later when Gloria awoke again, something slapping her in the face. She heard whimpering cries of fear.

Sitting up quickly, she looked around and was rewarded with another slap to the face. She looked down when something crashed into her leg and finally realized that it was Kendle.

Kendle was flailing, throwing her arms around wildly and thrashing her legs about.

"Kendle?" Gloria said, snatching Kendle's shoulders and trying to wake her up. "Kendle!" Gloria barked, shaking the other girl's shoulders. "Kendle, wake up!"

When Kendle still showed no signs of waking, Gloria gathered the girl up in her arms and cradled her against her chest, ignoring the arms that pushed and strained at her grip as Kendle tried to wiggle free.

Gloria smoothed a hand through Kendle's hair and whispered soothing words into her ear.

Finally Kendle calmed down and fell back into a still, hopefully dreamless sleep. Gloria sighed and gently laid her back down, brushing her hair from her face and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Oh, Kendle," she whispered as tears gathered in her eyes, a few slipping free before she could blink them away. "I'm so sorry."

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Kendle rolled over and blinked open her eyes to bright daylight streaming through open tent flaps. It took a moment to remember where she was, at first thinking that Jake and Emma had made her sleep outside again, before remembering the escape that happened a few days ago with Henry, Gloria, and Michael.

She yawned and sat up, stretching her arms above her head and grunting in satisfaction when her joints popped. She yawned again and crawled toward the entrance to the tent, staggering to her feet as she climbed out.

Glancing around to find her friends and brother, Kendle spotted them one by one. Gloria was hauling chopped wood to the firepit from the forest. Michael was helping cook breakfast beside the fire, turning the spit holding what looked like two roasting rabbits. Henry, the poor thing, was sitting on the grass, surrounded on all sides by older women.

The women seemed to range in age from mid-twenties to late fifties Kendle hazarded to guess. All strong and fit, but looking to be having the grandest time cooing and flitting around the young boy. Henry, being the sweet, sweet boy that he is, seemed to be having fun as well, soaking in all the attention from the ladies and basking in all their doting.

Kendle laughed a little and shook her head at the sight before heading over to Gloria. "Well good morning, sleepy head! I was beginning to worry that you'd never wake up!" Gloria called as a greeting when she noticed Kendle approaching, a smile filling her face.

Kendle smiled back. "I can't believe that I actually slept so late. I'm usually up before the sun is even thinking about coming out." She laughed. Gloria laughed with her. What a wonderful sound, laughter. She thought, grinning wider. "So, what can I help with?" Kendle cocked her head to the side and waited for instructions.

Gloria seemed to think for a moment, sweeping her eyes across the camp. Gloria snickered and then grinned widely. "Why don't you go rescue Henry? The poor boy looks about overwhelmed!"

Kendle turned to look back at Henry and the women huddled around him. It did look like all the attention was starting to get to him. Kendle nodded to Gloria, a small laugh falling from her lips before she turned back again and headed for the young boy and his fan club.

"Looks like you made some friends, Henry! Want to introduce me?" Kendle said, a wide grin splitting her face. Henry's face slipped into a relieved smile when he heard her and tension drained from his little shoulders as she settled to the grass beside him and pulled him into her lap.

He pointed to a woman, late-twenties maybe early-thirties, with long Auburn hair pulled back in a tight bun and startlingly green eyes. "This is Autumn. No one else has told me their names though." He said, scanning the rest of the women, probably trying to remember if any of them had told him their names.

Kendle smiled at Autumn and Autumn smiled warmly back. It was then that Kendle noticed the glowing golden star on her cheek. Despite knowing, rationally, that because this woman was here, was a part of the resistance, that she was against the whole 'Invalids are property, not people' tag line, Kendle couldn't help the small flinch that followed that observation.

Kendle tensed up and quickly dropped her gaze to the ground, studying the grass.

"Autumn, this is Kendle! She takes care of me when my mommy and daddy are busy which is like, all the time. She makes my lunch and walks me to the bus stop and plays with me when she has time between all the choreses mommy and daddy give her." Henry said, patting Kendle's knee.

Kendle glanced up and smiled at Autumn again, more sheepishly this time, before ducking her head once more.

"She even letted me cut her hair! Mommy told me I had to but I liked it long and I thought it would make Kendle sad to lose all her hair. But Kendle said that it was okay, she said she thought it was getting too long anyway and she just didn't know how to cut it herself. So I cutted her hair and showed her." Henry said excitedly, and Kendle looked up, watching as he waved his hands around flamboyantly.

She noticed that Autumn's emerald eyes were trained on her though as Henry continued to tell stories about all the things he and Kendle had done together and all the stuff Kendle did for him.

Kendle had a feeling that Autumn was going to want to talk to her about this later. And it wasn't going to end well.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Henry felt Kendle tense up beneath him and he stopped talking, turning to look at her. He tilted his head to one side, trying to figure out what was wrong. “Kendle?” He asked, confused. “What’s wrong?” Kendle smiled at him and relaxed, shaking her head.

“Nothing’s wrong little man, I’m fine.” Henry pursed his lips and pouted, not believing that for a second.

“I’m not a ‘little man’!” He huffed, puffing out his chest. “I am six years old; I’m a big boy! You can tells me stuff.” Kendle laughed and mused his hair; Henry heard Autumn giggle behind him.

“Sure you are, kiddo. Hey, why don’t you go see if Michael needs any help over by the fire; I’m sure his arms are getting tired from turning those spits for so long.” Kendle suggested, raising an eyebrow.

Henry furrowed his brow, contemplating Kendle’s idea. Then he shrugged and grinned widely. “Okay! I’ll go help Michael and then you’ll see how growed up I am and you’ll tells me what’s wrong!” He said and jumped up, running toward Michael, Kendle’s laugh following him across the clearing.

You’ll see, Kendle! I can be responsible and then you’ll let me take care of you just like you always take care of me.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Kendle watched as Henry’s back retreated across the clearing, smiling to herself as she saw him throw his arms up in the air and wave them frantically, shouting at Michael that he was coming to help. She laughed when he flung himself at her older brother and Michael quickly let go of the spits and scrambled to catch the flying little boy, both of them tumbling to the ground.

Kendle heard another soft laugh behind her and instantly remembered Autumn. Slowly, she turned back around to face the young woman, keeping her head low, looking up at Autumn through a curtain of messy black hair.

“Now, now none of that, Kendle. Look at me, please.” Autumn said gently. Kendle slowly lifted her head and met her eyes. “There you go.” Autumn smiled. Kendle smiled softly in return. “You have such beautiful eyes, you shouldn’t hide them so often.”

Kendle felt her face go up in flames and resisted the urge to duck her head. Autumn laughed. “I take it you don’t get a lot of compliments, hm?” She said, tilting her head, a sad smile crossing her face. Kendle shook her head, feeling her blush deepen.

There was a beat of silence and then Autumn spoke again. “You don’t talk much I gather? Or is that just around those of us with a star on out cheeks?” She said, leaning forward and gazing intently at Kendle.

Kendle swallowed before answering softly, “Usually only around those of you with stars on your cheeks.” She said, allowing a small quirk to her lips. “It’s been a rough life with you lot.” She said, her voice a bit stronger now.

Autumn scanned a critical eye along Kendle’s body, nodding as she went. “I’ll bet.”

Kendle was suddenly very aware of the fact that she was wearing a loose shirt and shorts, her many scars on vivid display. She again swallowed the urge to duck her head and instead just nodded. She had just opened her mouth and was about to give an example of just how awful, when suddenly everyone was shouting and running.

"They're here! Everybody move! Go, go, go!" Jacob yelled, running toward the center of the small camp from the trees. Kendle jumped to her feet, quickly followed by Autumn, who grabbed her hand and took off running for the trees opposite the side of the clearing that Jacob had appeared from.

Kendle pulled her arm free and ran toward her friends, wanting to make sure that they got out of whatever was going on okay. She spotted Gloria and Michael but she couldn't see Henry anywhere.

"Henry!" She cried, spinning around and trying to spot him through all the people running about to get away. "Henry!" She shouldered her way through the fleeing rebels back toward the center of the clearing.

She spotted him and was by his side in a second, scooping him up and turning to hightail it towards the trees. But just then, the army burst into the clearing behind her and opened fire.

Kendle pulled Henry closer to her chest and tried to shield him. She felt something graze her shoulder but she kept running. Something whipped past her cheek, but she didn't stop.

Kendle didn't stop, she couldn't stop, until she knew Henry was safe.

They were almost to the edge of the trees, only a few steps away, when Kendle felt something tear into her leg.

She stumbled and fell, barely able to bite back her scream.

"Kendle!" Henry cried, scrambling to his feet and trying to get Kendle to hers.

He managed to get Kendle to her knees but she could go no further. He tugged desperately at her arm.

Kendle heard the pounding feet of the soldiers behind her and knew she would only get Henry caught.

She shoved him back, pushed him toward the trees. "Run, Henry! Go find Gloria! It'll be okay!" She yelled, pushing him again. Henry was hesitant, he stared at her and then the soldiers that were running at them. "Please, Henry!" She begged. "Go! Go!"

Henry turned and ran into the trees, quickly disappearing from sight. Kendle sobbed in relief. They won't get him. She struggled to heave herself to her feet, turning to face the soldiers as she leaned all her weight on her left leg so she wouldn't collapse.

She stuck her chin out in defiance, trying to hide the tremors wracking her body. She would not give in. They could take her, but she couldn't let them get to her friends.

She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

She opened then and they were upon her. She didn't fight as they cuffed her hands and kicked her to the ground, only screamed when that kick slammed into her right leg, where she had been shot.

The world flared white for a moment before her vision returned and she panted.

She curled in on herself when they started aiming kicks at her stomach, trying to protect her ribs.

She screamed again when she felt another bullet rip through her leg, tearing up her knee.

The world started to go black around the edges, and it finally faded altogether when someone's foot found her head.

Kendle embraced the darkness, knowing that there was nothing else she could do.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Gloria paced the new clearing, Michael doing the same opposite her. “Where the hell are they?” She said, turning to stare at the trees, willing Kendle and Henry to come through them. Michael turned and watched the trees with her. Come on, come on!

When Kendle and Henry still didn’t appear after a few minutes, Gloria decided she had had enough. “That’s it!” She cried, marching toward the trees, intent on going back to look for them. “I’m going to find them!”

Jacob grabbed her arm. She turned back to glare at him. “Gloria, you can’t. You have to consider the fact that–”

“No!” She cried, yanking her arm out of his grip. “They didn’t get them. Kendle wouldn’t let them!” She backed away from everyone. “I just got her back, I will not lose her again so soon!” Michael approached her slowly, holding his hands out in front of himself as though she was an injured animal that he had to approach with caution.

“Gloria, I don't like the thought any more than you do, but we have to be prepared for the worst.” He said gently and Gloria could hear the barely concealed tears. Kendle was his sister and he had thought her dead for years. He just got her back too, he had been missing her a lot longer than Gloria had.

Suddenly she felt selfish.

“You’re right,” she sighed, taking a step toward him and another. She broke and ran the last few steps, flinging herself into his arms and burying her head in his chest. “I just got her back! I don’t want to lose her again! I can’t!” She sobbed. Michael wrapped his arms around her tightly and buried his face in her hair, comforting her as he took comfort for himself.

“Gloria!” A voice carried through the trees. “Gloria! Michael!” It was young, far away but getting closer.

Gloria pulled away from Michael and turned to stare at the trees. A small boy came running out of them a moment later, face streaked with tears. He was covered with dirt and it looked like he had fallen down a few times on his way there.

“Henry!” Gloria cried, running to meet him and sweeping him up in her arms. Michael right behind her, wrapping his arms around them both. “You’re okay!” She hugged him tightly and the young boy hugged her tightly back, burying his face in her shoulder and letting out huge, body-heaving sobs. “Henry, honey, what’s wrong? Where’s Kendle?” She said, stroking his hair, the worry clawing a deep pit in her stomach as she guessed what had happened. The question made Henry cry harder, wailing now.

He lifted his head and stared at Gloria with teary eyes. “I-I was lost, I didn’t know what was happening and I couldn’t find you guys but then Kendle was there and-and she picked me up and started runnin’  and then she fell down and the big bad people were running after us and she told me to run. I tried to get her to come with me, but she couldn’t get up. And I-I runded!” He wailed. “I lefted her and they got her!”

Gloria was frozen, unable to comprehend what Henry had just said. She felt Michael stiffen behind her. “They…” She couldn’t get the words out, her throat was too tight. “They got Kendle?” She whispered. Henry nodded and buried his head in her shoulder again.

Gloria’s legs were not strong enough to hold her up, her knees gave out and she fell to the ground. Michael fell with her. “She’s gone.” It came out as a choked whisper and it was then that the tears filled her eyes, blurring her vision.

"She's gone."

Word Count: 2875