A Short Story Currently In Progress. (Updated Feb 10th)

[accursed1]

  Aurore woke up to a sharp scream that pierced the dark silence. Jumping out of bed, she ran to the window just in time to see the hut across from hers burst into flames. Grabbing her cloak, she ran to the next room where her parents and baby brother were sleeping.
  “Get up! Raiders!” she whispered as she shook her father.
  He sat up, rolled out of bed,  took the sleeping Byron out of his cradle and headed out the door.  He stopped only  briefly to grab his axe. After rousing her mother, Aurore ran outside to see her father waiting at the side of the hut.  Shoving the still sleeping Byron into his mother’s arms, Dorgan gave his family a stern glance and whispered, “Run Kaley, run into the hills. Stay in the cave until I come for you.” Then without a backwards glance, Dorgan ran towards the burning huts, axe at the ready.
  All night the three huddled together in the cave, Kaley and Aurore taking turns keeping Byron quiet. During the night, others joined came, never a whole family, mostly children with stories of their fathers being killed in their beds, and mothers being dragged off. By morning their group numbered twenty, twenty survivors of a village of nearly one hundred. They decided it was time to put together a scouting party to see if the raiders had left, and what remained of their home. They settled on Aurore and a boy slightly older than her, Dirk. These children were the fastest and swiftest of the village, and could walk almost silently, so were the natural choices.
  The children stepped out of the brush that served as a cover to the entrance of the cave, and could see the whole village from the hill where they stood, or what was left of it. Some of the huts still smoldered in the dawn light, but it appeared as if the raiders had left. Aurore looked at dirk and nodded towards the village. Nodding back to her the two slipped silently down the bank and into the village below. Nothing was left standing, and nobody was around. A few dogs wandered whining for their masters and pawing through the rubble looking for something to eat.
  Wandering through the ashes that were the remnants of her whole life, Aurore looked for her father.  Not only was he nowhere to be found, but the only bodies that she did find were of those who were killed in their own beds.  With heavy hearts, the two started back up the hill to where the rest of the village waited for word of the condition of their home. The dogs who had seen the children walking through, tailed them back up, thinking maybe they could get food if they stayed close long enough. Aurore was glad for the company.
  They did not have to say anything when they reached the cave though, for their faces gave away what they had seen. Everyone hugged each other and cried, the babies as if feeling the pain of the others started to wail. Kaley calmed down first, being both the daughter and wife of warriors, she was used to the fact that her men had to die. After she composed herself, Kaley stepped up as leader of the group, and comforted the others, and tried to bring order to the broken villagers. After emotions had run their course, and everyone had more or less stopped crying, she addressed the group.
  “We need a plan. This place is not safe; does anyone have family in another village near here?”
  One woman pulled her head out of her hands, tears still running down her face, “My sister married a man from Twel, and they live on a farm just outside of the town. Do you think they are safe?”
  “I don’t know,” Kaley admitted, “but we can’t stay here and be sitting targets for anyone who decides to come by, we are a group of women and children. So Twel is the direction we will head? Does anyone object to this?”
  Everyone shook their heads in response, so Kaley continued, “Well then let’s get some sleep. We will leave at night fall, and travel only by moon light. We will keep hidden during the day, and these dogs can alert us if anyone gets too close. We all can use the rest. Children over 10 and women who are not nursing infants will have to take turns on sentry, and we will only light a fire to cook food, I will take first watch, Aurore can have second, and Dirk will take the last watch. Everyone else, get some sleep.”


  The Sun set with no incident; although the calm didn’t do much to help the villagers sleep. The cave was cold and dark, a small pool of water gathered in a ditch in one corner of the cave. Being thirsty, Aurore stopped for a drink before rousing the restless sleepers.
  “Come on, we need to leave before the raiders decide to come back! There is water over here, it’s brackish but will quench a bit of thirst. If we use it sparingly there should be enough for everyone.” Aurore said in a tone loud enough to wake everyone, but at the same time keeping at a level that would be less likely to travel to any unfriendly ears that may be in the area.
  The sounds of grumblings and babies whining filled the cave, but soon everyone had woken up and gathered what belongings they were able to take before their homes were razed. As some semblance of order finaly took place Kaley moved to the front of the cave where she could be seen and heard.
  “Renna, where did you say you have family?” Kaley asked when all eyes had shifted to her.
  “Just outside of Twell, there is a large farm. My sister and her husband own it. I just pray the raiders don’t beat us there.” Renna, the woman who had spoken out  earlier said in a trembling voice.

Once the group had got their meager belongings together, and got somewhat organised, they started out. It was decided that avoiding the carnage that was bound to be found in the village was the best idea, as they left the cave and started to trudge carefully through the forest they heard a sound behind them. Turning quickly, Aurore looked around for something she could use as a weapon. The only thing she found to be suitable was a large stick, it would have to do.  Stick in hand and ready to strike, Aurore stood her ground only to see two of the dogs that were following her yesterday come bounding through the bush, tails wagging and obviously happy to see the group.
   “Oh silly dogs come on stay close and try to be quiet.” Aurore whispered to the pair of canines.
   They walked through the night sticking to the forest, where they had some cover from any enemies that may be lurking, waiting to finish them off.  As daylight was breaking and just barely visible through the foliage and the tree tops, they came to a clearing. Kaley stopped the group and motioned for them to come closer so she could quietly address them.
   “To get back into the forest, we have to cross this open farmland. I suggest that we sprint right across, although in this open, we will be perfect targets for any archers lying in wait. These people are ruthless cold blooded murders, and they won’t care about killing any of the youngins’. I suggest that all small children get passed to the faster and stronger of the group; I don’t want to lose anyone.  Now remember, we stick together. In a group we are a bigger target, but running singly makes it easier for someone with a good eye to pick us off individually. If we are attacked, protect your own and head for the forest on the other side, hide and wait for the rest of us to catch up. Aurore and I will try to help any injured. Does everyone agree?” The assembled nodded their heads solemnly, and after the babies and toddlers were passed to the stronger people, Kaley gave a nod and whispered, “Together  now, let’s go.”
   Aurore felt the adrenaline pump through her body as she tightly grasped the small child riding on her back. To her the landscape seemed to crawl by as if time had slowed down. The dogs, seeming to sense the urgency in the matter, has stopped waging their tails and jogged beside the group, neither ahead or behind. Fortunately they made it to the other side of the clearing undetected by any enemies, but not yet feeling safe, they continued on their way.
   The morning sun was getting hot and the children were more than cranky by the time they found a good spot to sleep the day away.
        “Listen Mummy, I hear water!” A little boy exclaimed excitedly as he tugged on his mother’s sleeve.  At this, everyone stopped to listen.
   “It is water, and I’m so thirsty.” A girl whined.
   “Ok, let’s go find the source of the water, and see if we can make a place to sleep. We all need it” Kaley smiled, relieved to be able to stop for a while. They followed the sound until they came to a sparkling creek.
         The ground was covered with tiny flowers, nearby bushes were producing berries and the trees were bearing apples. Not only were they going to have fresh water to drink, but it seemed that they would also get a bit to eat. The children started to run around frolicking in the flowers and splashing the water. After drinking their fill, the adults sat down in the shade provided by the apple trees, while the older kids set to gathering berries and apples. They were just about to eat, when a gruff voice broke out of nowhere.
   “Who are you, and what are you doing in my woods?”

[Jerry]

Well, it's not bad. A bit of spacing of the paragraphs wouldn't hurt (like after each paragraph, press enter twice instead of once and to change scene, you can keep the spacing you kept near to the end).

[accursed1]

As I have said before; this piece of work will be edited when it reaches completion, I will though consider the extra spacing, if space allows for it, I don't know how much room I have to work with. 

[Jerry]

I'm not sure how 'not being bad' can be changed by editing... or do you mean that you'll make it the opposite?

Anyway, you have all the room you want. Size is not really important when you have a grand project

[accursed1]

I was more or less referring to your spacing comment, and not to your "it's not bad" comment. After it is edited, it will be better than "not bad". Just watch and see! Before I edit I will be taking into concentration, all the comments and ideas that I have been given here, and work it into my finished piece.