My eyes met his and I saw the pity he had for me.

"I'm not," I argued, "they are stronger and faster. Their species is better than mine."

Hannah snorted a Laugh.

“When they do not feel safe they cannot breed and their race is being destroyed because of it. Men from the compounds take a long time to learn to trust our women. Once they are rescued it takes a long time for them mate successfully.

“Even with the bonds of slavery, you have produced more children than anyone in this room. Your bloodline is living on because of your genetic advantages and your ability to adapt. If the women had not limited human breeding, your species would have taken over this planet. Yes, humans are easily killed, but you reproduce so quickly your weakness is almost irrelevant."

All around us at the various tables men murmured in agreement with Hannah. I had not realized we were having such an interesting conversation.

“You are completely untaught and it makes you helpless here," Hannah told me. "Daddy would never allow you the freedom to learn how to take care of yourself. He believes you need him and he has managed to convince you of the same thing."

"It isn't like that," I argued trying to understand this argument.

Hannah shook her head and pointed to my plate. "It is that way. Explain to me what you are eating right now.”

I looked down at the chunks of brown and strips of light purple. The change in topic had surprised me. I had no idea what it was, but I'd eaten it before and not been ill.

“It's...I don't know. It's food," I said simply looking back at her and feeling frustrated.

“Daddy and his Brothers," Hannah said, “never taught you what the food you ate was. They served you food that was good for you, but never told you what it was or how to acquire it. In their minds there is no reason to do this. You could never Live without them. They have denied you the most basic of survival skills."

I tried to put on a stern face, “Hannah, I love your father. I want to be with him. We can learn together."

"Mama," Hannah replied patiently, “Daddy is stubborn. He won't believe you are equal, until you prove to him you are. I don't think you will believe it either. His view of this world must change and so must yours."

I made a fluttering gesture with my hands and pushed the plate away "So I don't know food, Hannah, that's no reason to separate me from my family!" I argued.

Hannah sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"Do you know what the Earth equivalent of your food choices would be. Perhaps a small fruit salad and some lettuce. How Long would you last eating that way? Are you trying to waste away? It is not easy for you get the right nutrients here. This is a vital lesson," Hannah said pointing at the discarded food.

“Well, I just didn't know and I wasn't hungry. argument solidity.

“I said feeling her

I really had no idea how to take care of myself. She was right. I didn't know where to find water or food. I had no idea what foods contained the vital vitamins and such I remembered learning about on Earth. I had only just been taught to start a fire last night. If I needed shelter, I would not know where to look. I had a partial knowledge of what was dangerous here, from what I'd read, but it wasn't complete. My studies had been guided solely on my own curiosity. A Lot of what I'd read about may not even be relevant.

“They taught me swords," I said hopefully. "I had my own at the compound."

“That is not enough," Hannah said simply, “and I think you are smart enough to know that."