In what way are you, or a character, strong?

There's a sound. It's a whisper. Far away. I can't quite hear if it's human or animal. I silence my mind and zero in on the stillness.
There's no wind down here. No howling or groaning. Nothing living. Or dead. Only my beating heart.
The darkness is complete. My hand is as black as the blackness surrounding me as I place it on the stone wall next to my head, finding a good hold in a crevice. I try not to let the lack of sight disorient me. It's been a long time since my torch burned out, but I'm not turning back until I know how far I can go. My people are depending on me.
The rock is cool. Dry. Not damp. I'm deeper than the water surrounding the rocky island. Deep enough that water no longer threatens to overtake the earth. It's a good sign. And a bad.
I take a deep breath, my lungs tightening against the stale air. They wish to smell the freshness of above ground, but that's not my mission.
Shuffling my foot against the uneven stone, I  try to steady my body against the wall and floor. A hole could end up next to me, swallowing not only my body, but the hope of escape with it. I must be diligent in making sure this path is not only big enough to fit people through, but safe enough for children to navigate. If my village survives the attack from above, then we must not let our victory go to waste.
There. The whisper calls to me again. It's closer. Like feet against smooth stone. Not scuffing, but gliding. Almost inhuman in it's rhythm. Sure. Steady. Strong.
A hint of light shatters the darkness. Shadows dance around the tunnel as the light moves closer. I'm able to see how gray the stone is. Gray with streaks of black and brown and red. Years of erosion piled together.
I scramble to an alcove a few strides behind me. I'm too large to fit into the small crevice, but I push back against the rock as if I could mold it to my size. It doesn't budge.
The cool rock chills my alerted body. I'm frozen. Unarmed. Alone. Almost. I must rely on my instincts and body to survive.
A slight curve in the tunnel brings the light busting into the cavern. It's so bright that I squint. The sudden change has left me blinded. Vulnerable. I lift my arm, blocking the light, and try to blink my eyes into sight. They burn from the effort.
The light stops. Along with a deep inhale. Like a gasp. But from the bottom of the lungs instead of the top.
The whisper has stopped. But my heart has filled the space with it's own rhythm. So fast that it could be a sprint to death.
"Who are you?" A deep voice demands.
My eyes have adjusted. Barely.
A quick debate breaks out in my head. Should I tell him my real name? Or should I lie? Is he from my village? Another scout searching for escape? But if he was, surely he'd know me. He must be the enemy. I've run into a trap. Not only have they found a way to harness the skies, they've mastered light and the earth. There's nothing left for us.
My hesitation brings the man closer. He smells of sweat. But not the sweat that's repulsive. It's sweet. Like oranges and cinnamon mixed with cloves. Maybe a hint of leather in there too.
He notices my flared nostrils and takes a step away. One glance at my clothes, or lack thereof should've been a total giveaway that I'm not like him. That I belong to the other side. 
I whimper and press further into the alcove. Submissive. Weak. Innocent. Someone just trying to escape the war. A woman with no real consequence.
He takes a step closer and the light drops from my face to my toes.
The relief is instant. The burning gone. I glance up at his face. It's my turn to gasp.
He's handsome. So handsome that if I wasn't already trying to play dumb, I would be struck dumb. A look of concern softens his sharp cheekbones and strong jaw that looks as smooth as a newborn's skin. I marvel at the thought, my hand wishing it could reach out and experience the sight for itself. His soft blue eyes, filled with warmth, I would name after a clear, cool morning sky. His hair, not snarled, and shorn with curls peaking from behind his ears, is as clean as if he took a swim this morning.
He looks as frozen in place as I am. A realization that we're both human. And a certain heat that doesn't radiate off the earth, warming the space between us. That we could be friends. Lovers, even. Not enemies.
His eyes drop from my face, sweeping my body. They linger a little too long in certain areas, something I've noticed with these strange people who insist on wrecking havoc in our lives. His cheeks are tinged with a flush that betrays his poise. He's as affected by me as I am by him. 
My body reacts to his appraisal. I feel warm from head to toe. Like someone has relit my discarded torch with new oil. But the heat is within me. Burning to break free.
My eyes rove over his body, which is covered in a woven fabric that couldn't be achieved by our finest weaver. It's mesmerizing of it's own right. I stare at the earthy green color and wonder if our dyes could match the hue. There are decorations above a breast pocket. They look important. Almost like the marks we place over our warrior's hearts when they've achieved a great feat.
His body is large, his bulky muscle obvious under his attire. I have no doubt that if he were to attack, I'd be on the losing end. Even with my skill. His height alone intimidates. He's much taller than most the men in our village. Even my father, with his unusual height, which demands respect, would only come to the tops of his ears. His chest rises and falls with his breaths. They are deep, as deep as his voice.
I glance back up to his face, noticing his full lips pulled toward the ground as if in thought. His brow is furrowed, creating two lines in his smooth skin. The man is as tongue tied as me.
There are no words for the emotions encircling us. It's as if the rock has shifted beneath my feet. I'm falling into a whirlpool of sunshine.
The moment stretches. Becomes so intense that  I feel like my skin is aflame.
He clears his throat. Swallows. It sounds loud in the quiet expanse.
"You need to get out of here. Now." His voice is hoarse. "There are men following me. They won't hesitate to hurt you." A tortured grimace. "Go. Now. There's only one exit, which is the way we came. And wherever you came from." He motions behind me. His voice gains intensity. "Go."
His persuasion works. I dart back into the darkness. Feeling my way along the now familiar walls. Rushing through the darkness. Hoping to find safety on the other side.
I stop to catch my breath. My beating heart throbbing from the sudden rush. As I lean over my knees, I realize I'm alone. The whisper has disappeared, along with the light.
It was the cowardly thing to do. To run away. I should've at least tried to fight. But I couldn't bring myself to attack someone who wasn't attacking me first.
I run my hands over my body, feeling the heat and sweat on my bare skin. I'm getting closer to the surface. The sun is warming the rock, which is moist from the water, creating humidity. I take a welcoming breath of the moist air. It spurs me forward.
As I jog, my mind is filled with the man's face. How he held no malice toward me. Nor I toward him. It's a strange feeling. Something I've never experienced toward these raging human slaughterers. Instead of fear and hate, there was another emotion. A realization that we're not that different. And that maybe we could exist in the same world. Even coexist. Without killing each other. It's a thought that pushes me faster. I need to get to my father. If there is a way to stop this fighting, to save countless lives, then I will do it. If dropping our weapons is the answer, then I will do it. If love instead of fear and hate will save those I love, I will not hesitate. After all, love is the answer to so many unanswerable questions.
My chest fills with the desire and heat of the moment I've just ran away from. Yes, it was a moment of lust filled emotion. But there was more to it than that. I can't explain it right now. But just the feeling of being the same, being compatible, stopped a fight that would've ended in death. Maybe I can end the war the same way.