Alumin was hiding. He was with Mother and the other children. His Grandma and Grandpa were there too. They all looked worried, despite the fact that they insisted on assuring Alumin. Not allowing him to carry this burden with them somehow made it heavier on him.
Father and Alith were fighting out there. He wanted to fight too. He knew all too well he wouldn't be much help.
A sudden loud crash disturbed the consistent noise of battle. Everyone looked startled, yet nobody moved. Alumin peeked out of the window and saw a Sarini child running toward the hiding place. He was being chased. It was obvious he wasn't going to make it.
Alumin acted before he could think and dashed out the back. Finding a hiding spot, he took a rock and threw it at the two assailants chasing the kid. It found its mark and actually took one of them out. He screamed out to the kid, who soon started running toward him. The other Bazirian was not far behind. Funny how they prioritized the murder of a child over taking care of his friend who had just been hit by a rock. Alumin felt like he would never be able to understand these people.
Ghedden, Al's Grandpa, walked behind him and took out the Bazirian with a swift exhale and an attack to his chin. Ghedden was an aged man, once powerful, now frail. His connection to the sands remained strong. He was against killing them, but he had no strife against leaving them heavily injured. He then battered the two attackers' legs with a flurry of attacks. Alumin thought they might not walk again.
This was not the first war his Grandpa took part in.
"Get back inside, Alumin," he said sternly.
"There are others we can save," Alumin found himself saying, disobeying his Grandpa for the first time. He felt no fear. Saving that child made him feel invincible.
He ran off into the darkness. Being quicker, he escaped Ghedden's attempt to stop him.
"What a fool, this child," Ghedden thought, "almost as big a one as I was." He then ran off after Alumin.