"Hold this, Ciara," he commanded suddenly.

I did as he asked and the woman stayed quiet beneath us.

"Good," he said, “now when I tell you, press here."

I found the activity nauseating as he fixed her face and then her eye. He removed the shrapnel with a variety of tools. Thankfully, my stomach minded itself and I didn't vomit. I just made a point to think of something else as he reattached the muscles of her face back into their rightful places. What was left of her skin, he pulled to cover most of the damage. Once he was done her face looked almost normal. He continued to work on the eye once the face was done.

“Cousin, you may keep sight in this eye," he said suddenly addressing the woman.

“It may not have permanently damaged you. I am glad they brought you here. I am Rhane, born in the T'ylene mountains. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The woman was quiet for a moment before she spoke.

“Kana, from the T'yonin Mountains," she said.

“My Sisters are from there as well.”

I was shocked the woman could converse as we worked on her eye, but I had forgotten how strong these people were. Bowing to pain would be dishonorable for anyone.

“Beautiful mountains I have heard," Rhane, the Healer, said starting to stitch the edge of the eye with nearly invisible thread, "I have never been so far myself. My Brother was born near there, but he was too young to remember the place. We were raised by our male breeders here in this mountain. My Brother's female breeder brings us tanka fruit when she visits. It is our favorite."

The woman seemed confused by the conversation. I'm sure it's the first time a man had addressed her with such informality and Lack of fear.

"Ciara," Rhane said to me, “press here...a little harder...good now hold that pressure until I tell you."

Rhane backed away and came to stand on Kana's good side.

“I need to help my Brother with your Sister's injuries," he said. "Rest here and let Ciara hold the pressure. I'll be back."

The Healer left quickly to go assist his Brother and I was left with a very confused looking woman. I shifted slightly and my belly caught her gaze.

“Are you continuing the task Nu-reeh set for you? I see you are carrying another child for them, slave," she addressed me.

I didn't have time to answer as a beaded woman on a slab just next to us growled a response.

"There are no slaves in this camp, cousin. We saved you, so respect our ways. That is a free creature that chose to help you," she said harshly.

The new woman, Kana, seemed taken aback for a moment before rephrasing the question.

“You are carrying a child, human. Do they force you to breed as well?" The woman behind me grunted, but I spoke quickly.

“I love my men, Kana," I said politely.