Off to one side I was surprised to see Fuji surrounded by women that looked a lot like she used to. These women glittered and stood nude, even in the cold, but I was sure it didn’t bother them. They were demure and attentive, as good ves from Batra should be, but they couldn’t take their eyes off Fuji. Something about her had captured their attention.


    Rose and I made our way toward Fuji’s mane of hair. She had new scars on her back and sides. Our friend must have been part of the war outside. Fuji looked battle tested.


    “I will teach you freedom,” Fuji was stating in a resonating voice to her audience. “You will grow strong and powerful like I am. You cannot go back to Batra as you are, we have much to do first.”


    The women didn’t say anything, they just watched her. It was obvious her appearance had the desired effect. Fuji’s appearance was shocking; she looked powerful.


    Our friend turned to greet us and walked toward Rose and me. I noted right away Fuji was moving differently, almost prowling. There was a speed and fluidity to her movement I’d never seen before. Her eyes seemed to take in every part of Rose and me before settling on our faces. Fuji looked very much like she was hunting.


    My heart sped up a little as Fuji got nearer. I heard Rose catch her breath beside me. It was hard not to feel like prey when being approached in such a manner.


    “Do you fear me?” Fuji asked in an almostughing tone as she stopped less than a body length away. “I didn’t expect the smell of fear from you, old friends. There is nothing to be worried about.”


    It was hard not to feel a little concerned. Fuji looked like a predator you’d see in a zoo, one you’d want held safely behind the bars. My finely honed instincts screamed caution.


    Rose regained herposure and smiled a warm smile.


    “You just seem different,” Rose stated, trying to shrug nonchntly .


    “My race are hunters,” Fuji practically purred, stepping closer, as he tail moved hypnotically. “We are carnivores and I have rediscovered my natural tendencies. Being outside hunting everyday brought most of it back. The battle gave me the chance to fully explore my instincts.”


    I felt the girls roll in my belly and found honesty the best policy.


    “Do you eat humans now?” I asked bluntly. If she did, we’d be having this discussion with the business end of my weapon aimed at her.


    Fujiughed for a moment before calming down and meeting my eyes.


    “No,” she stated simply, “I don’t think so, but I won’t change who I am to make you happy. I’ve done that for too long.”


    I looked into Fuji’s strange purple eyes and understood her, probably for the first time. You could tame a creature, but you could never take away its basic instincts. The things that made Fuji who and what she was had been beaten down, but never dissolved. Her spirit hady silent and dormant, but it was back now.


    “If you’re going to start hunting Paterians, they aren’t going to like it,” I warned her, while dropping my voice.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    Fuji flicked her tail and seemed almost bored with this conversation.


    “We aren’t going to hunt Paterians,” she remarked almost flippantly. “These women are going to be strong and then we will go reim our home. This world has no interest for me. We cannot breed and grow my race here.”


    I looked past Fuji at the perhaps twenty huddled women from Batra. They didn’t really seem like a fighting force. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Rose. She had the same look on her face; it irritated Fuji.


    “It will take time and I have to get all of them here,” Fuji said in an exasperated tone. “I know I can’t win with just this.”


    I was incredulous as I questioned Fuji, “You’re going to take over the whole with just the few ves on this? It just seems impossible.”


    My old friend brushed off my concern with a casual air. “My is weak,” she stated with conviction, “wait and see what I do.”


    It was not an idle threat Fuji was making and I understood that. She wasmanding, now that she’d discovered herself. I felt for sure she would surprise the vers of her home world.


    Rose and I stayed for a few moments to listen to Hassar speak to the other races of women, but it was obvious we weren’t really needed. Hassar made it quite clear the choice Rose and I made should not influence the other women. Our behavior had been quite frowned upon at the time.


    The women asked many questions, but Hassar and her Sister answered them. Rose and I were not asked to participate in this session. We almost seemed in the way. My friend and I slipped out when we realized we were just sitting and listening like everyone else. This was not how we could provide for the camp.


    Rose and I walked through the halls and found a quiet ce to sit beside a fire pit. Neither of us was sure what to do. Distantly we heard the asional boom that told us of skirmishes still raging with the aliens outside. It didn’t feel like a good day just to take a day off. There had to be something we could do.


    “We could help with the children,” Rose said innocently. “I’m sure the Administrators won’t object to you teaching your own young. We could go and see how the children learn today…”


    I smiled slyly at her and had to agree. Spending the day with our little boys would really appeal to me. It wasn’t like we had any clue what the boys did all day. We should go down and watch for a while before we tried it ourselves. There was most likely some sort of curriculum they used.


    The children’s area was near the infirmary, deep in the mountain. It made sense to cluster the weak and defenseless together. The entrance was set back off the main thoroughfare. We had to walk a short distance down a hall to reach the actual entrance. I was a little surprised to see a door at the end of the hall. The strong metal structure was a powerful reminder of what children were worth. They would always be protected.


    Outside the entrance to the children’s area an armed guard of three families stood. We’d had too many close calls with sneaky aliens and we certainly had enough Warriors to spread around now. The men were friendly it seemed, but vignt as we approached.


    The guards from the camp made a point to introduce themselves and speak politely to Rose and me. There were men with them that must have been Warriors from thepounds. I assumed our campmates had been told to model good behavior. Rose and I returned their greetings and made small talk.


    Unlike the menst night, these Warriors seemed more epting of our equality in the camp. They watched us curiously and spoke to us cautiously, there was no malice. I figured they either had no real opinion on humans or were just going with the flow of the camp. Either way, I was relieved not to have to fight again. The night before had been stressful.


    The door was opened, after it was unlocked, and the guards allowed us entry. After we stepped inside I heard the heavy structure closed and re-secured. The men were leaving nothing to chance.


    The inside of children’s area was a shock for Rose and me. It was so well lit I blinked a little. I had not realized they’d brought this many young ones back, although the size of this space still dwarfed the men and boys in here. It was like the inside of a football stadium. It appeared all the boys were taught together, although they seemed to be divided by age group.


    Older boys sat to one side and they sat at tables. As the children got smaller they tended to have them grouped sitting on the floor. I imagined they’d run out of tables and the little boys probably didn’t mind. Several groups of men were with each different age group, presumably teaching.