Serene came by that night as promised, ready to lead the family to safety. Elden gave one more look to her beloved home, the only she ever knew. “Good bye,” she whispered. “What was that?” one of her younger sisters said. “uh, um, n-nothing, Elizabet,” Elden stammered, afraid the others would hear. In her family, if you said something, everyone would ask questions. Right now, she was glad everyone was busy leaving, so they wouldn’t ask. “I know I sound selfish, so I must stop. It’s just a dumb house. I’ll come back in a few weeks,” she said to Geldradian. She urged him to a trot, posting expertly well. She caught up with her dear friend, and they quietly chatted here and there. They were near the village now, and Serene told everyone to not say a word, and to make the horses go at a slow walk. They crept by unheard. “Like I said, we’ll be back in a few weeks, I know it,” Elden said to herself.