The Darwin Chronicles, Book One: The Mountain Ranges
Chapter 25

They were gathered in the square once again. Joseph was reading off the list of the soldiers going to the mountains. Emmett was on it, and so was Amy. Only a few were Blackfire troops.

"We leave at noon," Joseph said. They went back home to prepare for the journey.

Eliza hurried to help them pack food. Emmett packed his clothes, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, and the plastic utensils that were given to everyone going. Amy came into his room and sat down on his bed with her own pack.

"What are you packing?" Emmett asked her nervously.

"Clothes. My hairbrush and comb. Toothbrush, toothpaste. A few other things that you don't need to know, and my paints and a few paintings."

"Your paints?" He asked. She nodded.

"None of your business. How about you?"

"Pretty much the same. Without the paints, and, I guess, the other things that I don't need to know." He watched as she blushed ever so slightly. "What are they?"

"Girl things. Now shut your mouth."

He grinned at her at looked around the room again to see what else he should take. He decided to take his drawing of his family. He took it down from his wall and folded it carefully, putting it into his breast pocket.

"A good choice," Amelia told him. He nodded. His mother came into the room anxiously.

"It's time to go," She said. She went to Emmett as Norie came into the doorway and hugged him and kissed his cheek. He hugged her back. It would be hard to leave. He knew that there was the chance that he might never see his family or home again. "Oh, my boy. My grown-up man. I can't believe you're going to fight the Ciis. Be careful, alright?"

"I will, Mom. I promise I'll do my best to get home." He kissed her cheek. She handed him a small bundle of food to take. To his and Amy's surprise, his mother hugged Amy too.

"Thank you. You healed Norie and risked your life in the Awakening for Emmett. You be careful too, alright?" She said breathlessly. Amy's eyes were surprisingly bright, as if she were about to cry. She nodded.

"Thank you for letting me stay, Mrs. Walker." Emmett's mother smiled at her and pulled away as Norie hugged and kissed Emmett. Then Norie hugged Amy. He noticed that this made the older girl's face light up considerably.

"Let's go," He told Amy. "We can't be late."

"Right." Amy pulled away and they headed out. Emmett took one more look at home as they turned into various birds and left Briarlight, following Joseph.