My family and Rose’s family thanked Gunth. All of our men were aware there were things they didn’t know.


    Fuji’s owners seemed strangely quiet while all this went on. They made no grand ims to change and did not openly agree with Basin and Damien. I got the feeling this reaction was not lost on the Administrators.


    “Stayne, you and your Brothers will stay and learn our ways. Your female breeders are old and powerful females. They have joined the rebellion openly and fear their new allegiance would have caused harm toe to you. One day soon you will meet them and then you will understand,” Gunth said looking slightly annoyed at Fuji’s old Masters.


    The men answered politely, but it was obvious they were not happy about this turn of events.


    Gunth lead Rose and me away, but I made a point to lock eyes with each member of my family. As I passed, each of them they broke eye contact to pass their left arm over their chest and bow their head. It was an apology and a sincere one at that.


    I would get them back, I swore to myself. It may take time and I’d have to do whatever the Administrators wanted, but this wasn’t over yet. My family wanted me and I wanted them. There had to be a ce on this world we could be together and free.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Rose and I were led out the archway and away from the Administrative area toward a set of steps. We were still in the heart of this cave system. From here I could see the entrance to the dining room and Armant’s small shop. Gunth climbed a set of stairs and let us to a small cave on the second floor. It was six entrances from the stairs I noted.


    “We will carve your names here,” Gunth said pointing to the left side of the door.


    Gunth pulled the thick drape aside and allowed us to enter before following us. Once the drape dropped closed the busy area outside was almost entirely muted. A single torch cast a soft glow on the small sitting area. Gunth showed us where other torches sat in the room and how to use them. We could light them when we liked, but should extinguish them when we left.


    The main room had simple elevated cushions to sit on. They reminded me of beanbag chairs. In the center of the room was arge fire pit. Gunth helped us light it for the first time. The whole area looked like afortable ce to rest after a long day.


    In a basket beside one of the chairs I saw knitting needles and something that resembled yarn. My girls knew how much I liked to knit. One of them had obviously left this for me. The small parcel was not the only thing in the room, though.


    Behind the fire along the wall was arge tub. Gunth told us it could be filled with water and we could bathe in our rooms. There were pots by the fire to heat the water in. I eyed the heavy looking bathing tub and Gunth reassured me.


    Strong men would dly help us dump it when we were done. Our physical weakness was not a disability. There were certainly things we would be superior at. The camp would use whatever attributes we had.


    “Hannah and Kennedy exined to us humans would want to have privacy. We realize this is something you have been denied for a long time,” Gunth said pointing to two drape covered openings in the rock wall.


    Gunth led us to inspect the smaller drapes along the back of the cave. Behind them were individual sleeping areas. A torch was present just inside. A narrow, low bed was in each room. Simple brown sheets and a quilt covered the beds. There was also some shelving carved into the wall itself.


    I inspected the shelving and was surprised. There was a towel for drying, a hair brush, and what appeared to be a toothbrush. Several ties were also present, they looked like the ones Evan used to bind his hair.


    “You and Rose may make yourselves another outfit,” Gunth exined, “or you may ask one of the tailors to make something you would like. It is your choice. Your clothing pieces can be folded and stored here when you are not using them.”


    I stood in the middle of the first bedroom with Rose and I noted how small and lonely it was. The tears tried toe, but I swallowed them. Now was the time to figure this ce out, not break down.


    cing a hand on the cool stone shelving I remembered what Gunth had said. We could have another outfit.


    “How would we acquire outfits?” I asked. “We have no… way to pay…”


    Gunth smiled gently and motioned us out of the tiny room and into the main area.


    “Sit with me,” he said, “and I will exin.”


    Rose and I sat together on one of therger cushions. It felt like it was filled with small seeds and molded around us as we sat. The chair was remarkablyfortable.


    Gunth was quite informative. Everything in this camp was shared. The food was grown and distributed equally. Housing was provided by the women, who dug it out for us. Beds were put together by woodworkers. Cloth was made and used by the tailors to make clothing. Weapons were made and distributed by the smiths. When we needed something, we only had to ask.


    Greed was not well tolerated here. If we had more clothes than anyone else, our requests for more would be ignored. If we hoarded food and another went hungry, the Administrators would sanction us. Resources were to be respected.


    I looked down at my skirt and was too numb to think of any questions. Rose had a more level head than I did. I felt her tense as she spoke to Gunth. It was a big step for her.


    “How do we wash? Where is the water?” she asked tentatively. “How do we clean our clothes?”