A virus swept through the reform school rendering many children sick. Hero could hear them coughing all throughout the nights as he snuggled up against the bitter cold.

                One morning when he woke up early to get his morning chores done before the other children awoke. It was one of his duties to help out in the kitchen.

                "It's a shame we've had to lose them like this." He heard Head Mistress saying.

                "You didn't make enough money at the last auction to cover expenses?" the doctor asked. "Or are you putting most of it in your pocket?"

                Hero peeked around the corner to see the goat doctor with an empty syringe standing in front of the infirmary with Head Mistress.

                "I do what I can to keep my school running." Head Mistress said. "I provide the most obedient house slaves."

                "Yes," the doctor said. "But still most of the boys end up in the fields and the girls in streets." He put his syringe away. "Let's move it out." He called into the infirmary. "Give the place a thorough wipe down. This should stop infection from spreading."

                Head Mistress paid the doctor. "How fortunate of me Doctor Oslo that you have a black heart." She stepped back as members of the medical staff exited the infirmary carrying sheets like stretchers.

                Hero would tell by the shapes of them that children were in them. They carried the total of five children out doors with the doctor and Head Mistress behind them. Hero  followed them outside hiding in the early morning shadows.

                They carried the sheets to the edge of a thin patch of trees near the play ground where they set them on the ground.

                "That's deep enough." The doctor said and two male lions climbed up out of a freshly dug trench.

                "Are you sure they other children won't find them?" one of the lions asked.

                "Nonsense," Head Mistress said.

                "We're due for a heavy snow tomorrow night," Doctor Oslo said. "Go on," he then said to the medical staff.

                "That night of the gala how unfortunate," Head Mistress said.

                Hero ducked behind the merry-go-round as the sheets were dumped into the ground.   Hero spun around and ran through the snow back to the school where he slammed the door behind him. He ran right into the kitchen and collided with the cook.

                "Fool boy!" The tigress hissed and smacked him across the face. "Get that mop and clean that water mess up, and you're tracking snow all over the floor." She turned her back on him and submerged her arms in suds.

                Holding his burning face Hero retrieved the mop from the corner and started out to clean the hallways.

                "Oh, and I'll be sending you on an errand for me this afternoon," Cook said. "I'll explain it in detail later." She waved him off and Hero saw to his mess.

                The mop was heavy and his paws were already aching from the cold as he pushed it across old wooden floors. He kept telling himself that he was better off than the children that had been auctioned but he was starting to feel not so sure.

                "Would you like something warm to drink before you are off, Doctor?" Head Mistress asked as she strolled back into the school.

                "No, we had better be moving if we are to reach Manor town before the snow blocks the road. "The wife and kids miss their father I'm sure."

                "Well suit yourself," Head Mistress said walking right across the freshly mopped floor. The doctor tipped his hat to her and Head Mistress continued past the infirmary and through the swinging kitchen door.

                With a sigh Hero went back to the other end of the hall and started again.

/

                When the sun was well up Hero found Awash and told him about what he had seen then led him out to the place it had happened. They had done a supreme job of hiding the grave.

                Awash looked over his shoulders at the other children on the play ground. "We're dancing on graves." He reasoned.

                "Are you sure what you saw wasn't a dream?" Maringa asked. "It doesn't look like anyone is buried here." She stomped her foot on the ground.

                "Stop that!" Awash yelled. "He removed his white scarf and tied it to one of the birch trees. "There."

                "What will that do?" Hero asked.

                "Shhh," Maringa said and bowed her head in silence.

                Hero watched her and Awash until they opened their eyes again and Awash faced him. "In Tangia, white is the color of mourning. Any Tangian who ever passes will know this place is a grave and they can say a prayer for the children."

                Hero raised his ears and looked at the flying white scarf.

                "Would you like to say something in Nagorin, Hero?" Awash asked him.

                Hero sighed. "All father." He began. "In the light of day, in the shadow of evening...there death comes near. The hands of the one pursuing us are always open and with them he places each one in his grave. Greatly we await the key to this grave so it will be unlocked and the abundant of the captives will be set free, forever and ever amen."

                "Amen." Awash and Maringa both said.

                Afternoon classes had begun when Hero went to find Cook. The tigress was at the cooking crane by the fireplace stirring a pot. "There you are." She side pushing the pot back over the fire. She licked her claws as she went over to the table.

                "I have a list of groceries to pick up and I'll be sending you to get them." She scribbled something down on a thin sheet of paper with a pencil. "You'll me expected at the bottom of the mountain by twilight."

                Hero's ear perked up. "You mean I'll be going alone?"

                Cook folded the paper and came around the table. "Well it's not as if you can run away," she said giving him the paper. "But just to be sure..." She took a belled collar off the table and clipped around his neck. She jingled the key in front of him. "Don't do anything foolish."

                Hero swallowed and he could feel the collar pressing into his neck. There wasn't even enough room to get one claw beneath it.

                "The only other way to remove it is to take your head off," Cook said. "Do you understand?" She stretched her eyes wide and Hero nodded. "Then get on. Don't keep the wagon master waiting. It's a many days' journey into Imperial City.  I'd go myself but don't fancy being caught in that blizzard."

                Hero's ear shot up. "Imperial City?" he questioned Cook as she went back over to the cooking pot.

                "Yes," She said impatiently. "How else do you expect to get quality food and furnishings for Head Mistress. She's above anything you'd find in the village. She's a lady you know."

                Hero wrinkled his nose. They didn't have all these fancy titles in Nagoray. Two of the agents entered the kitchen and looked at Hero. Hero was glad to see Siloam was one of them.

                "Siloam and Kidron will accompany you." Cook said. Siloam gave Hero a secret wink and Kidron, the silver fox gave him a nasty smirk.

 Hero tucked the list into his coat pocket and started off. Fortunately he didn't run into Head Mistress on his way out. He knew he wouldn't try to escape but that didn't mean he couldn't plan on it in the future.

                On his way down the mountain he made notes of crevices and places where the sunlight didn't hit. He also took notes of precarious places along the mountain. Kidron kept them at a swift pace and they reached the bottom of the mountain by nightfall.

                At the base Hero looked back up and could see the dim glow of the school just above the pines. They climbed onto the wagon and after Kidron gave directions they sat back on the journey. Already the winds were starting up again.