Shira suggested I return to my home to gather necessary items for the journey ahead. I declined her offer to accompany me, feeling the need to do it alone. As she made her way back to her own place, I ventured towards my house. The devastation of the burnt-out buildings and scattered rubble still shook me to my core. As I walked through the debris, I searched for anything salvageable, but it became clear that there was little left. Packing for the journey ahead seemed like a daunting task in the face of the destruction that surrounded me.

I stood in the ruins of my room, this place, which had once been my sanctuary, was now unrecognizable. The walls were blackened and the ceiling had collapsed in on itself, leaving a heap of rubble on the ground.

I sifted through the debris, hoping to find something that would give me comfort or a sense of familiarity, but everything was either burnt to a crisp or crushed beyond recognition. The only thing that remained intact was my bed frame, although the mattress and sheets were long gone.

I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person would do this to a peaceful village. What kind of twisted mind would find joy in burning homes, destroying livelihoods, and tearing families apart? The anger inside of me boiled over, and for a moment, I considered tracking down whoever had done this.

But then I remembered the words of the soldier, offering us a chance to start anew. Maybe this was a sign, a chance to leave this destruction behind and begin again in a new place. I took a deep breath and tried to let go of my anger, knowing that it wouldn't bring back what was lost.

With a heavy heart, I turned away from my room and made my way towards the kitchen. Maybe there would be something salvageable in there.

Where just the previous night we had gathered around the table for dinner, enjoying each other's company and sharing stories, now there was only destruction and ruin. The stench of burnt wood and ash was overpowering, making my eyes water and my throat tighten. 

As I walked through the rubble, I noticed something glinting in the debris. It was the dice we had played with, still somehow intact despite the chaos around them. I picked them up and held them in my hand, feeling their weight and the smoothness of their edges. It was a small token of happier times, something to remind me of the good moments we had shared before everything went up in flames. With the dice safely in my pocket, I continued my search for anything else that might be useful on the journey ahead. But as I sifted through the debris, it became clear that there wasn't much left. 

I made my way to the farm, the fields that we had plowed and tended to all gone. The once vibrant fields that we had spent so many hours tending to were now nothing but a barren wasteland. The charred remains of the crops and grain were barely recognizable, and the earth beneath my feet was ashen and lifeless.

I headed over to the chicken coop, hoping to find some sign of life amidst the destruction. But as I approached the twisted metal and smoldering wood, it became clear that the chickens were all gone. There were no signs of their usual playful chatter or clucking, and the silence was deafening.

I couldn't help but wonder if any of them had managed to escape the flames, or if they had all perished in the fire. It was a devastating thought, and one that left me feeling hollow and numb.

With a heavy heart, I walked towards my father's room, my last stop before leaving my childhood home forever. The door creaked open, revealing a room that was less damaged than the rest of the house but still a shadow of its former self. Despite the destruction, one thing remained untouched - my father's bed. Without a second thought, I collapsed onto it and pulled the covers around me, savoring the moment of solace. It had been days since I had felt any sense of comfort or security, but in this moment, I could almost forget the tragedy that had befallen my village.

Closing my eyes, I let myself sink into the familiar embrace of my father's bed. Memories flooded back to me - memories of nights spent here listening to him tell me stories of his own adventures, of comforting me after bad dreams, of teaching me important lessons. He had always been a source of comfort and safety for me, and now, even in death, his bed provided a small comfort.

I could still smell the scent of his soap lingering in the air, a bittersweet reminder of what I had lost. The room was quiet, and for a moment, I allowed myself to just be still, to soak in the peace and the memory of my father.

The thought of leaving this place, of embarking on a journey into the unknown, was daunting. But the memory of my father gave me strength. He had always taught me to be brave and to face challenges head-on. And now, it was up to me to honor his memory and live up to his example.

As I lay there, my eyes started to feel heavy, and my thoughts began to drift. The next thing I knew, I had fallen asleep, and I was lost in a world of dreams. In my dream, I was walking through a vast forest, the trees towering above me like giants. I felt a sense of peace and calm that I had not felt in a long time.

As I slowly opened my eyes, I was met with the sight of Shira sitting on the floor, her eyes locked on mine. "What time is it?" I croaked, my voice hoarse from sleep. "It is nearly dawn," she replied softly. "Just about time for us to get going with the soldiers." I nodded understandingly.

Shira handed me a ration and told me to eat. Now that I thought about it, I was more hungry than I thought. All of the running had taken much out of me. As I chewed on the bland, tasteless food, Shira looked over at me and asked if I had everything together for the journey. I shook my head, knowing that there was not much of anything left in my burnt-out house.

But then Shira surprised me by telling me she had an extra explorer's pack in her shed that had been spared from the fire. She had brought it for me. I was overwhelmed with gratitude as I looked through the pack and saw that it had everything someone would need for a short adventure. It was like a treasure trove of adventure gear. The backpack was filled with a bedroll, some rations, a mess kit, and a waterskin. There was also a flint and steel, and some torches. As I continued to sift through the pack, I found a small first aid kit and a compass. I couldn't believe how prepared I was for the journey ahead.

"Wow, Shira, this is amazing," I said, marveling at the contents of the pack. "I feel like a real adventurer now."

Shira smiled. "I'm glad you like it. And don't worry, I have my own pack too." As I gazed at her personal pack from afar, I couldn't help but notice how different it was from the explorer's pack she had given me. The pack was smaller and made of a rustic, earthy brown leather, with embroidered wildflowers and leaves on the straps. I could see several pouches attached to the pack, filled to the brim with various dried herbs and plants. While I recognized some of the herbs like lavender and chamomile, others were new to me, such as the leaves of a plant with small purple flowers that I had never seen before.

I also spotted a mortar and pestle attached to the side, which I guessed was used to grind up the herbs, along with a wooden spoon and small knife for measuring and cutting. The pack had a well-loved and well-used feel to it, as if it had accompanied Shira on countless adventures. I felt a deep sense of respect and admiration for Shira's vast knowledge of the natural world.

Shira suggests we start heading to the group since dawn is fast approaching. We gather our belongings and join the group outside. I quickly count our numbers and realize that only ten of us remain. It's hard to imagine how we could possibly start a new town with such a small group. As I voice my concerns, one of the soldiers informs us that there are a few other villages that were also affected by the attacks and are willing to join forces with us to build our numbers.

We all board the carriage and begin our journey down the road. As we travel, Shira casts a spell and a small berry appears in everyone's hand. She explains that it's a special berry that will provide us with a full day's nourishment, despite its small size.

I take a bite of the berry and am surprised by its sweet and tangy flavor. Looking around, I notice the villagers eagerly consuming their berries as well. It's comforting to know that we have a powerful ally like Shira on our side, with her knowledge of magic and herbalism. With her help and the addition of the other villages, perhaps we stand a chance at building a new home and rebuilding what we've lost.

As we set out on our journey, leaving behind the destruction that was our village, I couldn't help but feel a sense of uncertainty about what the future held. The soldiers had explained that it would take us around a week to make it to the coast, where we would then take a ship with the other victims and our new community members to our new island, our new home.

It didn't take long for us to leave the ruins behind and be surrounded by green and lush forests. The scenery was a welcome change from the devastation we had left behind. Each night we stopped to make camp and set up our tents. With our small bit of free time, Shira helped me keep my thoughts at bay by taking me out into the forest to gather herbs. She showed me which ones could be used in cooking, which ones could be used medicinally and which ones have deadly consequences. I was fascinated by her knowledge and listened intently as she explained the properties of each herb. She plucked a few leaves from each plant and let me smell them, explaining their uses and benefits. I felt grateful to have her as my mentor and guide, helping me learn about the natural world and how to use it to survive.

As we continued our journey, the days blurred together, and before I knew it, we had arrived at the coast. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with apprehension. We stepped off the carriage and onto the sandy beach, the salty smell of the sea filled my nostrils. I had never seen the ocean before, and the sight of the vast, endless expanse of blue water was both breathtaking and intimidating.

The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was like a lullaby, soothing yet powerful. The ship that was to be the vessel to take us to our new home was anchored in the distance, its towering masts and expansive sails gave it the appearance of a colossal creature resting atop the sea.

I had never seen such a large ship before, and I was in awe of its size and majesty. As we approached it, I felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I looked around at the other survivors of the goblin attack who were joining us on the ship. There were around 50 people in total, including our group. I looked around at the different types of people, mostly adults, but I did see a set of two people around my age. They both had on black cloaks to keep them warm. The girl had dirty blonde hair and the boy had more brunette hair. I was a bit intimidated by the large group, so I decided to stay near Shira's side as we boarded the ship.

After we settled in, I noticed several people looking lost and scared. The ship felt cramped, and the air was thick with anxiety. However, as days passed, everyone began to form a sense of community amongst ourselves. Shira and Charlie emerged as leaders, joined by a group of three others willing to take charge. The others were receptive to this development, happy to have a clear leadership structure in place both now and when we reached the island.

Although I was slowly getting used to the idea of living in this new community, I was still hesitant to strike up conversations with anyone other than Shira. I preferred to stick close to her, letting her do the talking while I observed and listened. So when Shira left for a leadership meeting, I found myself alone and unsure of what to do.

I wandered around the ship aimlessly for a while before ending up at the edge of the ship, staring out at the vast, endless ocean. As I stood there lost in thought, a sudden chill rolled up my spine, making me shiver. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to keep warm in the chilly sea breeze.

Before I had time to react, I felt two individuals putting their arms around either side of my shoulders. Startled, I looked to my right and left, and saw that it was the two cloaked individuals who were close to my age.