“It is a pleasure me for to carry their offspring. None of us here is forced to breed, we all do so because we choose it.”

Kana looked quizzically at me with her good eye as Rhane reappeared. The Healer removed the cloth I was using for pressure and examined his work. He wrapped her head and facial wounds before addressing her.

“Lay still, Kana," he commanded sternly.

“If you sit up or walk the stitching will not hold. Stay here until the sun rises, your wounds should be better by then. I judge you will be well enough to go out and fight in two or three day cycles. I am placing a cloth over your eyes. I wish you to keep them closed as much as you can. Not moving your eyes will assist in the healing."

Kana bristled visibly at what was certainly a command, but she didn't speak. The Healer tied a band around her head. I saw two patches set in the fabric, those were fitted over her eyes. She would be blind with this on, but again, she did not complain.

“Your Sisters will also live," Rhane commented. "They will take Longer to heal. You all will fight for us again, just Let us make you stronger first."

Rhane left abruptly as more women were brought into the hall. I gathered up what had been left around Kana and tided up her slab a bit.

“Would you Like a drink of water?" I asked her suddenly.

She paused a moment before answering. "Yes, that would be good."

I got the jug and brought it to her. She opened her mouth and I poured in a good portion. Kana swallowed and we repeated several times. Once she was done, she requested water for her Sisters.

It was a strange and taxing day. I worked as hard as I could, just Like my family was doing. Our jobs were markedly different though.

Damien and his Brothers were not fighting like they had the day before. Much of the battle was happening far above them. They seemed to only be doing the cleanup work on the aliens the women shot out of the sky. It gave the men from the camps a chance to check the village and the compound.

My connection to my men faded in and out. Through Evan, I still felt Jonathan, he was alive, but I didn't know anything else. It was frustrating, but I just focused on praying for my son in the few moments I had to myself.

Hannah and Kennedy sent brief messages to me. They were staying near where my men were stationed. Everyone was working hard to keep the men in the Barnas compound safe.

Through the rest of the day and the next night we were very busy. Rose and I were sent to our rooms to sleep at the dawn of the next day. We were both so tired, I barely remembered the strange dreams I had of my men. They were soaring in a tight space with Little Light, but I felt no fear, only a strong concern. It was a strange dream and I could not place its significance.

Rose and I woke to a big commotion. I had no conception of time, but Rose did. She guessed it about midday and said we should get back to work.

We ran out and toward the healing area. Only half of the torches were lit and the skylight above was long ago closed. The passageway inside the mountain was dark and foreboding, much more so than it had been. I laid a hand on my gun and removed it from it's holster. Something felt wrong.

The yelling started and Rose and I froze. Several gun blasts echoed in the passageway. They seemed to be coming from the main entrance. My senses sharpened and I saw the world as my family did.

Rose turned and faced away from me, so we were back to back. We wanted to move closer to the wall, but before we could a creature rose from it's hiding place behind one of the fire pits.

A tongue flicked out past the wicked teeth in the creature's snout and I met the yellow stare of the strangest thing I'd ever seen. It dwarfed me significantly, but it was not very wide. Long arms with sharp tips on the end slid out of it's skin and rose into the air like weapons. The creature seemed to move even when standing still. Whatever it was almost vibrated with some half contained energy.

Rose and I stood our ground as it suddenly appeared to the right of where it had been. Now I could see all of it. The thick snake Like body of it's lower half slithered with amazing speed. It shifted and swayed before rapidly moving left and forward.

It was coming for us and quickly. The thing knew it was no longer hidden, but it seemed to smirk at the knowledge. I couldn't speak its language, but the sounds coming from it sounded as though it knew it had won already.