[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lara woke to find her head felt as if it was held by red hot pincers. Opening her eyes for a moment she realised
It was not a good idea and snapped them shut. The light stung her eyes.
“Ered” she groaned sleepily “I have such a-”
She paused, registering the cold stone under her back.
“Ered?” she asked, eyes still tight shut. Suddenly an image flashed into her head. Blood…Ered! Struggling to sit upright she gazed around in terror.
Laila she thought with a chill. Where is she?

Getting up with a barely stifled sob she began to run. As she went she saw faces among the treea. Some she recognised, people she had seen in the market or spoken to a few times. All their faces showed the same emotions she felt. Pain, fear, horror. Lara ignored them.
Ered she thought desperately now Laila is in danger and you are not here to tell me it will all be alright. But will it?

In a heart stopping moment she saw a woman sitting holding "laila!" she called, running over and taking the baby. Laila smiled and grabbed a loose sterand of Lara's hair. Her eyes looked just like Ered's, and Lara choked. She's so innocent she thought and even among these- monsters- she's happy. Now I have to be Papa as well as Mama. And I wasn't even a good Mama!
Suddenly she remembered the woman who had looked after Laila.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" she said to her, from the heart.