“Sweet woman,” a voice crooned softly and I looked up surprised.


    Kein knelt directly in front of me and took my hands. I hadn’t even noticed or heard him.


    I rose to stand and motion to my left surprised me. Basin stood with Rose, her kneeling ce under his


    arm and a bowl in his hand. It seemed they were going with us.


    We walked as group into the forest. I heard the rustle of the leaves as we passed through and the tread


    of boots behind me. When Kein stopped I looked at the thick forest still in front of us.


    “Sit,” Kein said softly pushing me back.


    He’d ced my kneeling ce on a stump. It made afortable chair. Obediently, I sat and watched


    him. Light filtered down through the trees and dappled the inside of the forest. A stream of Light hit his


    head and I noted how soft the waves in his hair looked.


    “She hasn’t spoken without a prompt in two day cycles,” Kein said and I looked at him absently. “She


    just stares in front of her and waits for us to tell her what to do. What is wrong? Did she say anything to


    you today?”


    The question was not directed to me, Rose sat Like I did on a simr stump.


    “No,” Rose answered, “it is probably a form of sadness. It is very deep. It can get worse with childbirth.


    I imagine the children leaving her is making it worse.”


    Do many women on Earth get this?” Basin asked carefully.


    “Yes, my sister on Earth had it,” Rose answered. “She was ill like this for a long time. We had things on


    Earth to help, but here…I just don’t know.”


    Basin started to name off healing creams he’d heard of. Rose considered them, but didn’t think any


    would help. She talked about the electroshock therapy, that her sister had undergone. It was difficult,


    but she tried to exin the concept to Kein and Basin. Everyone seemed frustrated.


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    They were standing in the forest and talking about me like I wasn’t here. Some deep part of me wanted


    to be irritated with them, but that would take so much energy. Still, I managed some attitude.


    “I’m right here,” I protested weakly Looking at Kein.


    ninjanovel


    The voice behind me startled me as the rest of the family made themselves known.


    “Barely, Little Sister,” Bane said sounding worried, “you are barely here.”


    “You must not do this,” Rose said shaking my arm.


    “I know your girls, they are very strong. They will be upset if they hear of this. Hannah will protect


    Kennedy if she needs it. Your girls will do well.”


    My shoulders slumped a little as I started to tear. “I have to do it again.” “Yes,” Rose said with


    determination, “and we will help you. You must wake up and stop this. The girls would be upset. It is


    time to be strong.”


    We talked through Lunch. At some point we ate. I was fed the root in addition to my meal. The men


    knew how my stomach could be.


    I felt like a zombie and fought to pull myself out of it. For the first time in a long time I tried to converse


    normally. It seemed to work and my mind cleared a little.


    After the lunch, I felt a Little more Like myself. I talked to Rose on the beach and tried to make peace


    with my situation. Sinking into a depression wasn’t going to help. I had to keep myself out of it.