I looked at Rose and she at me. We had no idea what most of this food was. My memories of food were all borrowed from Damien and his Brothers. When we had been bonded I’d just used what they already knew and we’d never really talked about it or focused on it. Honestly, they always picked it out anyway. Finally I found something I recognized and took what looked like a serving. Further down I found something else the men had fed me several times.
Rose seemed to be in the same position I was. Neither of us was exactly sure what was on the tables in front of us. The preparation was different. It wasn’t like either of us was that hungry either.
We picked the same things and followed Ratru to a round table with enough chairs for two or three families.
The family we sat with was very friendly; almost everyone that passed seemed to know them. Rose and I were introduced to countless other families. Everyone was kind and seemed happy to be together.
I nibbled on the food I’d taken as the room flowed around us. Ratru and his Brothers made polite small talk with us and inquired curiously about Earth. We answered their questions as best we could. It wasn’t hard for anyone to tell that both Rose and I felt strange talking to these men.
Talons hitting the floor told me a female wasing. I turned my head expecting Reed or Hassar, but was thrilled to see Hannah and Ra instead.
“Baby Girl,” I cried jumping up and hugging my daughter tightly, “I’m so d to see you!”
Both girls greeted me fondly, then greeted Rose, and the men we were eating with. Men from an adjoining table pulled severalrger stools over so Hannah and Ra could sit with us. They settled down looking very satisfied.
I wasn’t satisfied and neither was Rose. I ignored the pleasantries and jumped into the issue.
“Hannah,” I said urgently in English, “please you have to help us. They won’t let our families near us. The Administrators here think our men would hurt us or keep us like ves. You have to make them see reason.”
“Was that an Earthnguage?” Ratru asked curiously. “The sound is so different!”
My eyes flitted to him, but settled back on Hannah pleadingly.
I knew her eyes, they were Damien’s. Just like his eyes I could see her emotions reflected quite inly in them. I did not like what I saw at all.
My oldest daughter sighed and wiped her hand across her forehead in a very human gesture and shook her head. My heart fell as I watched her.
“No, Hannah, no, please you know your father would never harm me. I am not his ve. Don’t make us stay away from each other. I need them,” I begged shamelessly.
Ra looked at her Sister and I saw the unspokenmunication between them. They had expected this difficult conversation.
“This camp is built upon several important fundamental values, Mama,” Hannah exined slowly. “Respect, equality, and hard work are all very important to the men and women that live here.”
Ratru and his Brothers agreed with her and continued to watch the conversation.
“I can do all of that,” I pleaded. “Damien and his Brothers can do all of that. We can do it together.”
Rose grabbed my hand and spoke quickly. “My family can do that, too, so can I.”
Hannah looked hard at me before she spoke.
“Damien does not respect you as an equal,” she said simply. “He believes you are weak. My father doubts your ability to care for yourself so he has never taught you how to do so on this world. He thinks you will perish without his care.”
That made perfect sense. “Of course, I am weak here,” I said exasperated. “I’m the weakest thing in this room. Anyone could do anything to me and I have no way to stop them. That’s been proved countless times.”
I saw the steel in Hannah as she gave me a critical eye.
“Were you stronger than Uncle Bob?” Hannah asked, unexpectedly referring to my family on Earth.
I snorted augh. Bob was a strapping minor league football yer who had been permanently sidelined due to a series of knee injuries. He was doing automotive workst time I saw him. For his size and strength he had been a very gentle man. He didn’t stay with us often. Of all my uncles, I got along with him the best.
“Of course not,” I said, “Bob was huge and he worked out all the time.”
Hannah continued her strange lesson, despite my obvious confusion.
“Were you afraid of Bob?” she asked simply.This is from N?velDrama.Org.
“Never,” I responded quickly, he just wasn’t that kind of guy. Hannah should have known that.
My daughter nodded as she spoke. “Bob respected you. He made a conscious choice to do that. Much like Bob, the men and women here would not treat you badly on principle alone. You are equal to them because you are a living, sentient creature. Just by being yourself, you deserve respect.”
“I’m not equal to them,” I said gesturing around and I heard Ratru’s family suck in a surprised breath.
My eyes met his and I saw the pity he had for me.
“I’m not,” I argued, “they are stronger and faster. Their species is better than mine.”
Hannah snorted augh. “When they do not feel safe they cannot breed and their race is being destroyed because of it. Men from thepounds take a long time to learn to trust our women. Once they are rescued it takes a long time for them mate sessfully.
“Even with the bonds of very, you have produced more children than anyone in this room. Your bloodline is living on because of your gic advantages and your ability to adapt. If the women had not limited human breeding, your species would have taken over this. Yes, humans are easily killed, but you reproduce so quickly your weakness is almost irrelevant.”
All around us at the various tables men murmured in agreement with Hannah. I had not realized we were having such an interesting conversation.
“You arepletely untaught and it makes you helpless here,” Hannah told me. “Daddy would never allow you the freedom to learn how to take care of yourself. He believes you need him and he has managed to convince you of the same thing.”
“It isn’t like that,” I argued trying to understand this argument.
Hannah shook her head and pointed to my te. “It is that way. Exin to me what you are eating right now.”