[center][h2]Anne Mayer[/h2][h3]??? — Cave Entrance[/h3][/center]
The child's tears were like a shard of broken glass, stabbing her through the heart. Anne lurched to her feet, heedless of the pain and sickness that still echoed through her nerves, ready to do whatever she could to help fix this, protect him, and wipe out the injustices that had led them all to this sorry state of affairs.

Except Joker was already there. A few gentle words, a warm embrace, a reassurance for a small soul in terrible pain. His simple act of kindness stopped Anne dead in her tracks, and the tension seeped out of her all at once, replaced with a soft smile that stayed with her as she watched over them for however long they needed.

Even in the midst of war, kids like them would strive to take care of each other, protect one another, and live on in hopes of reaching a brighter tomorrow. Just like her and Pray, so long ago...

It filled her with a different kind of resolve, just as fierce as before, but rooted in faith and optimism this time. So long as people were still willing to reach out and hold each other in times of need, so long as there was even a chance the children could grow up without fear and hatred in their hearts, then this planet could still be saved. 

[i]...I won't let any of them die.[/i] 

After a few minutes, once she'd recovered and Alvin had a chance to calm down, Anne walked to the edge of the cave and peered out into the woods. A peaceful forest greeted her, leaves rustling in the wind, with nary a sign of the roving shadows from before. "I think it's safe," she told the others, and once again lifted Millie into her arms. "We can go back now, Alvin. I don't know what kind of state the village is in, but I'm certain the others will have protected all they could."