Scouting

Ray felt his heart pound through his ribs. "It will be alright," he thought clutching his chest. He glanced at the man that sat with him; his broad shoulders blocked the sun and his thick arms held on the reins.

"What are you looking at, kid?" Henry asked without taking his eyes off the path.

Ray stumbled for words. "I... I was thinking. If someone like that lady had to go through so much, what can I do against them?"

Henry gave him a look. "You said you wanted to help."

"I do," he muttered. It's just... I am scared."

Henry's lips turned to a smile. "Feeling not so heroic now, kid," his eyes passed a glance at him. "Feeling scared is normal. It means you are alive."

Ray's eyes grew wide. "Does that mean you are also scared?"

"I was and the fear grows dull with each passing day. The day I die will be the day when it goes away fully," his words were soft.