He turned back to the people in the cave and gave a small nod. They began to rise. They stepped out into the morning light.
Elias led the way down the muddy path. The sunrise was behind him, casting his shadow long before him. Behind him came the young mother with her baby, the widow leaning on the shepherd, the boy walking close to his father. A small group of people who had lost everything. But they were walking. They were walking together.
The valley lay before them, scarred but alive. The