Mycah's family looked up at her and then at me, before their attention was back on the doorway. What was happening outside had most of their focus.

"We just need to clean them up so the Healers can help them," I said trying to sound calm.

Rose and I cleaned the wounds on both boys. The teeth marks were deep in some places and Jonathan had some uneven tears that were bleeding profusely. Our charges didn't flinch or whine as we worked. Mycah's family watched us and didn't interfere. When the Healers approached I wasn't surprised when the boys accepted the poking and prodding without any complaint.

Then, I focused on my men and felt the order to their thoughts. The Great Harmonious Spirit that gripped them had them exploring the underground tunnels the water took. Rue's family had developed a way to breathe air under the water and my men were using them. They swam deep into the underground streams Looking for the aliens. The organized search was very effective.

My family was close now and although I was not invited to participate in The Great Harmonious Spirit, I could witness it. My men were intimately connected to other men they knew well and trusted. For instance, I could sense Mund's and Basin's families deeply. Tyle's family was tightly bound into that original coil and so was Mycah's family. I felt Stayne and his Brothers fighting alongside Arnold's family. Those connections branched out and I felt other men, which led to bonds with still more men. It was like an enormous spiderweb of relationships.

This was what Thom had been talking about when he'd originally talked to us about The Great Harmonious Spirit. The men connected to other men they trusted. That's why little Jonathan had been able to call for help underwater. He'd used his love for his father and had initiated The Great Harmonious Spirit.

I felt a personal sense of relief it was Rhane and his Brothers helping my boy. These Healers were old and well respected. I knew they would not miss anything.

The Healer's worked quickly and efficiently cauterizing bleeding and examining the wounds. Every Little cut was checked very thoroughly. Several of the more jagged bite marks received a stitch or two. My little ones did not fight the Healers.

Jonathan looked up at them and suddenly grew his secondary teeth, which surprised me. I looked at his wicked smile and gasped. He'd broken a tooth.

The Healers just used a device to grab the damaged tooth and pull it out quickly. That must have hurt because all the little Brothers touched Jonathan for a moment. The Healers used another device to stop the bleeding. I just hoped that tooth would grow back.

Rhane and his Brother applied healing salve and wrapped both Aiden's and Jonathan's wounds in clean cloths. The boys accepted the wraps and then lay back on the slab. The rest of Mycah's family Lay down so they were all touching. Their eyes drifted shut and they stayed Like that, seemingly asleep. Think about this, is it clothes or cloths?

“What is going on?" I asked quietly, looking up at Rhane as he packed up his tools.

The Healers were part of The Great Harmonious Spirit and they found my confusion unfathomable. It took them a moment to answer.

“Injured males must rest so they can heal. These boys will rest until the next meal and then we will check them. You stay here and watch them, Ciara," Rhane told me before he moved away with his family.

I looked at Rose and she smiled wanly back.

“That sounded reassuring," she said taking my pail and cleaning towel.

“I know you must be worried, but they seem fine."

“FINE?!" a woman roared behind us.

The men in the hall that were being commanded by The Great Harmonious Spirit barely spared her a glance. Rose and I both jumped nearly a foot in the air hearing her outburst.

“They are not fine!" the woman raved.

“They are children that were attacked by an ALIEN! This is not a safe place for the men! They will be killed here!"

I couldn't help but Let out a sharp, coarse laugh at her outrage.