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Worry fills me as I glance around me. Mother stands off to the side, talking to my slightly older brother. Generally, I'd strain to hear what they were saying, but I'm too worried too. My father gathers my younger sister, explaining what's happening. We were a larger family, and we're lucky to have so many of us alive. Most families had more casualties. Of course, my younger sister's twin and my even younger brother died. How are we supposed to make it through this trip and keep the remainder of us alive? I honestly don't know.
Father says it'll be safer up north. I'm not sure if I agree. After all, there are more clans up there. Maybe they aren't kind. They might not appreciate us strangers barging in. Of course, he thinks it's safer because of the fact that so many clans survive there. But they might not want to share food.
Mother would say I should keep my opinions to myself. So, that's what I'm doing. I'm keeping my opinions to myself. After all, if I speak up, I would probably just get scolded. I don't want to be humiliated in front of my older brother. He means a lot to me, and I would hate to lose any respect he still has for me.
"Come on, Shift!" Speaking of my brother, there he is, calling for me. "It's time to go!"
Right. I walk over to my family, and glance back one more time at our home, which is in ruins. It makes sense to leave. I know that. But I don't want to all the same. This is my home. This is the only place I've known all my life. How can I just be forced to leave it?
My brother looks me in the eyes, and I see him trying to silently encourage him. He knows how tough this is on me. Father has always wanted to travel, and Mother didn't really care for where we lived. Our younger sister is too young to really be attached to this spot. The only person that I think actually understands what I'm going through is my brother.
I follow my family up on to the stony trail that will lead us up into the mountains. But, before I do, I have to glance back one more time. Take in one more, final look at my home. This really is goodbye. It wrenches my heart to think of it that way, but that's the way it is. I will never see the place where I made my first nest, or caught my first piece of prey, or the first hole I dug. All of those memories that I stored in my heart, that resurfaced every time I saw one of those spots, might never resurface now. But, I have to say goodbye. I turn my head away and follow my family.
Maybe I can do this after all, as long as I have my brother's support, because that means everything to me.
