"Atha!" a young voice called. She looked up and saw a little boy racing towards her along the path. "Atha, are you going tomorrow, too?"

"Yes, I am," she said, turning the back of her hand towards him to show the red ink stain as he approached. Belon was one of the many children she looked after in the camp. He wasn't too young for work like the others, though. He was too rambunctious to listen to instructions. She braced herself, just in time before he nearly tackled her to the ground in a giant hug.

"I'm so glad you're coming! I would've been so sad if we had to leave you behind!" He squeezed her around the middle.

"Aw, that's so sweet, Belon. I'm glad we'll be going together, too." She ruffled his unruly brown hair. The boy gave her an endearing smile, then grabbed her hand and tugged for her to follow him.

"Come on, Mama said supper is almost ready. You can eat with us tonight!"

"I don't know, Belon. Your mother probably wasn't planning on feeding me."

"Maybe not, but there's plenty of food to go around! Mama says we can't bring all of our stuff with us for the crossing, so she cooked up a lot of it to eat tonight." Although the thought of having a full belly before going to sleep was enticing, Atha was hesitant to insert herself into their meal time. Belon's mother was not as light-hearted and care-free as her son was. Just the thought of the middle-aged woman focusing that disaproving look on her was enough to make Atha cringe.

"I'm sorry, Belon, but I don't think I can come."

"What? Why?" He pushed his lips out into a pout. "I know you don't have anything to do."

Why must he be so blunt? "I need to go and pack up my things." It wasn't a lie, she really did need to do that. But she did not have many possessions. It would take less than ten minutes to pack everything up, and she could easily do it in the morning before the crossing. Luckily, Belon did not have any knowledge of how quickly she could be ready to go. 

"I guess that makes sense," Belon said with a disapointed sigh. "I'll see you tomorrow though! Maybe we can be in the same wagon-boat!"

"We'll have to see." Belon gave Atha one last squeeze around her middle, then let go and took off running back down the path. Atha watched him go, smiling softly to herself. Then she continued on.

It had darkened considerably by the time she had traversed the entire camp. She stared sulkily at her tiny tent. It was really just a large blanket, draped over a length of rope which was tied to two wooden poles. She had slept on the ground every night since coming here. Atha only had this pitiful excuse for a shelter, and the clothes on her back. That was how she knew that there couldn't be anything worse on the other side of the Waleshi Wash.

Atha sat down underneath the blanket, wrapping her arms around her legs. Less than a day, and she'd be on a wagon-boat, journeying to a new place. A new opportunity.

Atha, along with the other Pilgrim's that would be making this crossing, made her way to the water's edge. A bundle was slung across her shoulder, the remnants of her pitiful tent.

A dozen wagon-boats lined the shore, slowly filling up with people. Guides stood in front of the ramps, helping to load the people and their belongings. Atha shuffled along, cutching tightly to the rope she'd used to tie up her bundle. She was excited, but she knew that everyone else was nervous. Being surrounded by the burning water for weeks on end couldn't be a pleasant idea for any of them. But it was the only way to a better life, and they would endure it. Atha tried to mimic the somber expressions of all the people around her.

She saw some of the children she had watched before running around, weaving in between the adults. They were laughing and playing with one another. But they were quickly scolded by their parents. Don't they know the danger that lies ahead of them? Atha was glad that they had all been chosen. They deserved better than what the Pilgrim's Camp provided.

Finally, it was Atha's turn. She showed her red ink stain to the guide waiting on the shore, and she was waved on. She carried her bundle up the ramp and into one of the waiting wagon-boats. Right when she got to the top she somehow lost her balance for a second, but someone grabbed her hand and pulled her up the rest of the way. She looked up and saw the man that had 'saved' her from the burning water the day before. A quick smile flashed across his face, and he led her over the ramp and into the wagon-boat.

"I thought I told you to be more careful," he said.

"Thank you," Atha mumbled, taking her hand out of his and ducking into the vehicle. She only glanced back once to see him still watching her, a puzzled expression on his face. She worried that he thought she had been rude. But she really had no idea what else to say to him.

Each wagon-boat had two levels. The bottom was completely enclosed, while the top was open to the sky. A ladder allowed the Pilgrims to pass between levels. For the most part, the Pilgrim's kept their belongings on the bottom level. Atha moved as quickly as she could to claim a good spot on the upper level. She did not want to pass this journey without being able to see the sky. Or the water.

It was already crowded by the time Atha made it up the ladder. People kept coming until there was hardly any room to turn around. Atha was all but shoved into a corner near the front to make room. Soon, all of the wagon-boats were full, and the ramps were hoisted up. The animal skins were repositioned expertly by the guides to keep out the burning water.  It was time to go.

The guides divided up into groups. About half went to the front of the wagon-boats, and donned the harnesses to pull. All of the guides would rotate with this duty, ensuring that none were worked too hard. The rest of the guides took up other starting positions, most at the back of the wagon-boats to push, and others standing in the water to direct.

"Heave, men!" Came the order from the lead guide, a stocky, older man with a full beard. The men in the harnesses threw themselves against the ropes, digging in their feet, while the men behind pushed with all their might. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, all of the giant, spiked wheels began to turn in unison. The wagon-boat Atha was in took its position fifth in line. The caravan went on single file, getting its start on the long journey.

The caravan only stopped when night had fallen. It was too dangerous to continue in the dark. 

Each Pilgrim was given their rations of gruel, along with a small cup full of rain water, the only water that was safe to use anymore. Atha hadn't eaten anything all day, or the night before, so she shoveled the paste-like food into her mouth and washed it down. She wished that she could drink some of the water that was spread out all around her. It was the sweetest she had ever tasted. But she couldn't, not with all of those people around her. And how could she get down from the wagon-boat without being seen, anyway?

Atha handed her bowl, spoon, and cup back to the guide who had given them to her. Then she untied her bundle, and draped the blanket around her shoulders, settling in for the night. Scrunching down into her corner, she tried her best to get comfortable. She watched others around her doing the same. Fathers and mothers directed their children on where to lay down, spreading out blankets as best they could in the limited space. Others were not yet finished with their small meal. They scraped their bowls for the last morsels of gruel, and anxiously slurped down the water. The guides were busy gathering up bowls and such. Then they would finsih their nightly duties by putting up the rain catching skins, just in case the heavens should open in the night. They would then make their way to the front of the caravan, where the guide-only wagon-boats were.

Atha saw the guide that had helped her twice now coming towards her end of the wagon-boat, and she quickly closed her eyes, feigning sleep. She heard him stop right in front of her, maneuver the rain skin, tie it off, and walk away. She relaxed after he had gone, and soon fell asleep.