The cabin settled into a quiet that felt almost sacred once Marga finally fell asleep.

Elijah tucked her in on the narrow bed tucked against the far wall, kneeling to adjust the blanket so it covered her shoulders. She clutched her rabbit to her chest, curls fanned across the pillow, her breathing slow and even. The fear that had clung to her earlier seemed to have loosened its grip, replaced by the deep exhaustion only children could surrender to so completely.

I watched from the doorway, ...