3424896o6 The 5 parts of Story 1 are for Contest 1 (sorry it's long but the chapters are pretty short)

I was running. That's the first thing I remember. Running. And then heat. Searing, blinding heat. Smoke filled my lungs and I doubled over, coughing. A woman- my mother? screams out to me.

"Run, Cassandra!"

I remember trying to turn, to see her, but I trip and fall. I tried to scream back, but the smoke got caught in my throat. I need water, needed it now, and the flames almost claim me as I pass out.

This happened about six years ago. I'm probably fourteen or so now, but I don't know anything about my past. All I have is that one memory of the woman who might've been my mother, a scrap of paper, and my name. Cassandra. I don't have much time to ruminate on my past. There's always fighting. Only fighting, and survival. Hoping you don't get caught up in a fight, hoping you can find water. Hoping you'll make it to the next day. That was all my life was- meaningless survival. At least, until I met her.

She had golden hair the color of sunshine, and pretty blue eyes. But more importantly, she, like me, was an orphan, at least in name. And she was young. Even younger than me when I first lost my home.

I found her, carefully roaming over a burnt village on day. In this war, you never know when your village would be next. Of course, some villagers always resisted, but the Dictator's Army crushed them. Every time. Then they burned it to the ground and looted it.

The Dictator's Army was our enemy, but you probably already guessed that. I mean, they burn our cities, we call them the Dictator's army, what else do you need? We were just ants in their path, tiny hurdles to their goal of world domination. Kind of classic, if you think about it. Star Wars without the spaceships and lightsabers.

Anyway, I was carefully picking my way through the wreckage, looking for anything potentially usefully, but the soldiers did a good job this time. I was usually better than they are when it comes to finding secret, hidden spaces, but not this time. As I picked up a half-eaten tin of cracker rations- hidden under a stack of smoldering leaves- I heard a small sound. A twig break. Calm and cool, I lifted my dagger from where it was strapped to my waist.

"Who's there? I'm armed."

"Do-don't hurt me!" a high pitched girl's voice squeaked from behind a tree. She must've been young. I was careful- you can never rule out a trap that tugs on your heartstrings- but I softened slightly.

"It's okay. I won't. I'm not with them, okay?"

I heard a sniffle. "Okay."

And then she was there- blue eyes rimmed with red, blond hair, tear streaks on her ash-covered face. "Oh," I said. "Are you okay? What's your name?"

"Lo-Lottie."

"Is this a trap?"

"I'm not with the Dictator's Army, I promise!" she squealed. I smiled. The soldiers called themselves the Great Army, and were too stuck-up to call themselves anything else.

"It's okay, Lottie. My name is Cassandra."

"I'm scared," she said. "My family's gone. Fire..."

"How did you escape?"

"I ran. Really fast, really far. I'm glad nobody caught me."

"Me too. You're safe here, okay? I'll take care of you. Are you hungry?"

She nodded. "And thirsty."

"I don't have any water, but I do have some crackers." I handed her the cracker tin and she smiled, for the first time, as she ate. He smile was pretty. "How old are you, Lottie?" I asked, gently brushing her tears away.

"Six," she whispered, trembling.

"Oh Lottie, don't be afraid, okay? I'll take care of you, I promise. Just stay with me."

I silently vowed to myself that I would teach this little girl how to survive, and take care of her, no matter the cost.