Damien scoffed and the others just grinned. They hadn’t been bested by a punishment in countless moons. There was nothing to worry about.


    I didn’t have long to worry about Nu-reeh’s reaction. We hadn’t been sitting but a few more moments when I heard her call Damien’s name from outside the door.


    The wind outside was frigid as we stepped outside into the early morning. I wrapped my arms around myself, but the cold blew through my blue dress. Nu-reeh saw me and growled like the beast she was. It terrified me.


    “Damien,” she said angrily, “I sent a coat for the ve and warm gloves.”


    Evan bounded inside and returned with my outfit, which I was quickly wrapped in. Inside the coat I was instantly warmer. With the hood lifted only my face still felt the chill of the morning.


    Nu-reeh stepped toward me once I was bundled and spoke very softly.


    “Did you sleep wellst night, human ve?”


    Damien started to answer and she shushed him. Nu-reeh wanted to know how I’d slept from me.


    “Well, Mistress,” I answered politely.


    “Are you eating well?” she asked. “Are you vomiting again?”


    “No, Mistress, my Masters feed me the root drink and I am eating well.”


    Nu-reeh considered me for a moment before her wed hand settled over my belly with her talonsying against my mons. I was terrified. She seemed not to notice and merely touched my bump for several long moments.


    “It is a boy, then,” she said contemtively, “and the ve is not as sickly as I expected. You did well, Damien.”


    “Thank you, Mistress,” the men all said sounding confused.


    Nu-reeh turned to our transport and inspected it carefully as she spoke, “I will tell you now that I expect the ve to not breed for a time after this birth. I will make sure the ve receives the correct drink this time…”


    Nu-reeh’s voice faded off, but it sounded like she went on to say something like ‘you have to do it yourself, if you want it done right’.


    “Come,” she suddenly said straightening, “follow me into the mountains.”


    The men loaded our overnight bag onto the transport and prepared to take off, but Nu-reeh stopped them.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    “I provided a face shield for the ve,” she stated. “It will protect against cold wind and idents. Where is it?”


    Christof clipped the face shield over me and I did feel markedly warmer. I had not realized how chilly my face got while we were outside. This outfit really had been made with my specific needs in mind.


    The flight to Nu-reeh’s home mountain took longer than before. Nu-reeh wouldn’t let Kein take the transport up to full speed. Compared to before it seemed like we moved quite slowly. She also yelled and scolded Kein on several asions. Evidently, Nu-reeh found him to be a reckless driver. She wanted him far from the mountain sides and to keep the transport steadier than he was.


    The men muttered about how damned overbearing she was bing, but I was starting to understand. There was a boy in my belly, one that she imed. Nu-reeh was doing as she probably always did, she was protecting her son.


    My eyes misted as I realized how grateful I was. It did not matter that I was the female breeder. Nu-reeh would ce my boy and give him a mark. My little one would not be an outcast on this world. He would be protected and looked after by a strong female.


    Nu-reeh’s home mountain came into view before it was time for the midday meal. Wended and Nu-reeh walked us to our quarters. She told Damien the cooks would have special meals for me and Healers would be visiting to evaluate me.


    “You train the ve to fight,” she said calmly. “Why is that?”


    Evidently she had see us in the Children’s yard practicing.


    “Exercise, Mistress,” Damien answered.


    The answer pleased Nu-reeh. Exercise would keep me healthy. The activity should continue, but my men were forbidden from using metal weapons around me. She would have wooden training staffs made and brought to us.


    “I want the ve in her new coat and gloves anytime she leaves your area,” she demanded.


    Damien agreed and I had no issue with that. The mountains were certainly colder than every other time we’d been here. The colder air in the tunnels would be distressing to me if I wasn’t dressed well.


    The quarters that Nu-reeh had for us looked just like they hadst time we’d been here. The pool was still present and filled with warm moving water. We carried our few bags into the rooms we had usedst time. Everything was as it had been before. Smokeless torches already lit the main room, giving it a warm feel.


    Inside the safety of our rooms the men couldn’t contain themselves any longer.


    “She didn’t punish us?!” Kein eximed incredulously, pulling the mesh away from my face.


    “Not even a day in the cave,” Bane added, lighting the central fire pit.


    I peeled off the gloves and slid the coat off as Christof marveled at this strange chain of events.


    This was unheard of. They had anticipated punishment for defying Nu-reeh’s wishes, but she had surprised us. She just seemed gentle with my family and protective of me. The new Nu-reeh disconcerted my men more than the old angry Nu-reeh ever had.


    We rxed and talked until it was time for the midday meal. Damien led us to the big dining area and all talk stopped when we walked in. My men didn’t falter as they walked to their table, but I felt d I was so well protected. The attention was unnerving.


    Several women appeared in the doorways and the usual chatter in the room started again. I saw Damien and Evan pass a look between them. I agreed internally, the women were at it again.


    The day’s surprises weren’t done yet. Christof and Bane went to get the meal and returned looking perplexed.


    “We did not choose your food,” Christof said setting arge bowl before me. “Nu-reeh is portioning your meals herself. Eat it all.”


    The food in the bowl looked familiar, which was strange. It looked like Earth food. I would swear there were chunks of sweet potato floating in the thick broth of the bowl.


    Bane handed me arge spoon and the men watched me carefully. I scooped up a chunk and tasted it. The familiar starchy vor exploded in my mouth and my eyes went wide. It was sweet potato!


    “This is food from Earth,” I whispered looking down.


    “The cooks said it would build your system,” Christof said. “They told us the Healers had told them that you will be healthier eating food from your native world. This should be very good for you.”


    There was unease on the faces around me. The idea that someone else was looking after my well being was disconcerting. I was their responsibility and they were happy to take care of me.


    “She will stop, you know.” I said quietly. “Once the boy is no longer inside of me, she won’t care if I live or die. You all have never been like that. I can always count on you all.”