“Why are you awake?" Mycah asked Loudly.

“The moons aren't set and it isn't time to be up, yet."

The young family was standing and staring at me. They were as bright and awake as I'd ever seen them. The observant, nosy little boys had heard me get up and followed.

"I drank water before bed and now I need to go release it,” I explained in a quiet voice.

“Go back to the bed with your male breeders. I'll be back in a moment."

I saw them thinking and then Jonathan and Rees were putting their hands over their private parts. I'd seen that gesture on Earth. The power of suggestion was too much and now the Little boys needed to use the pot, too.

“Get your boots," I sighed. "We'll all go use the pot and then go back to bed."

I helped the Little ones with their foot wear and felt Damien's family in my mind. Assuring them all was well, I walked through our leather drape into the central area where the men congregated. The room with the Lacquered pots was close to our rooms. It was Late and I expected we would be the only ones out here. We were not.

Three families sat morosely around the communal fire pit in the central area. From their dress it was easy to tell they'd been Warriors at one of the compounds. They must be particularly stressed to still be up at this time of night. I knew Paterians like their routines. This wasn't when these men should be up if they weren't on guard duty.

Mycah's family followed me but started to go toward the men. They were always curious, but this seemed Like a bad time. I reached down and grabbed Mycah's hand to pull him with me.

"Come with me, boys," I said in a commanding tone. "Leave them alone and let them talk. We are using the pots and then going back to bed.”

From the fire I heard some low, vile cursing and chose to ignore it. The men couldn't believe I'd dare to touch Mycah and the idea I was commanding his Brothers was horribly offensive. My awareness was raised, but the men didn't move as I pulled Mycah to the room with the lacquered pots.

The little boys followed their Brother and proceeded to repeat the things they'd just heard. The filthy cursing was not what I wanted Mycah's family to learn. Bane had taught me these words, but we didn't use them except in jest. It wasn't appropriate for the young ones to say.

“Those aren't good words," I told Mycah. "We don't need to use those types of words. Your male breeders will teach you better words. Honorable men speak respectfully to everyone. You and your Brothers need to act honorably.”

While we used the pots the boys wanted to know what those words meant. I explained they were ways of saying you didn't Like someone, but they were very impolite. No one would respect you if you spoke to others like that, I tried to tell them. It was a difficult and trying conversation. Certainly not one I wanted to have this time of night.

Now the boys wanted to know why those men didn't Like them.

"They don't like me," I told Mycah's family gently as I straightened the wrap on Niah's waist. "Men on Pateria used to be taught that humans aren't valuable. They think I should be a slave. Daddy, Christof, and Damien have talked to you about this. That isn't how we think.”

In preparation for the boy's curious nature I took Mycah's hand as we walked out of the room with the Lacquered pots. Jonathan took my other hand and the rest of the family followed as we made our way back to our rooms.

The boys had no sense that this was the wrong time to talk and started to say the things Damien's family had taught them. Slavery was wrong. Humans were strong and should be valued. Mama was special and we were lucky to have her in the family. Their bright, clear voices seemed to resonate in the contained space.

I saw the men by the fire start to rise and now they had my full attention. My eyes took in their enraged features and their clenched fists. Unfortunately, watching them infuriated them further, but they were a danger and I couldn't look away. My safety and the boys’ safety was my business.

The men were coming toward us, prowling really. They wanted to hurt me. As far as they were concerned a slave that did what I had done deserved to be punished. With my girls nestled in my belly and Mycah's family right here, that just could not happen.

I released the boys’ hands and shooed them toward our rooms.