Sparing a second look at the room we were in I had to smile. If I had to imagine a Paterian school, this would be it. Based on the marks on the floor the periphery was a track the boys could run. On the left wall were huge diagrams of wrestling moves and the sword fighting positions. The right wall was dedicated to nts and animals in the forest. The far wall was a map of the entire. Beneath the map I could just make out short descriptions of the different areas.


    Even in this dangerous time the boys still had their lessons and their physical exercise. My campmates had made sure the children would not suffer if they had to stay inside for some reason. Everything continued and they still got to learn, even in times of danger.


    “Mama!” I heard five voices yell out in synchrony.


    Mycah and his Brothers dropped what they were doing and ran to me. Instinctively, I knelt and held my arms out to them. The boys expected a kiss on the cheek and a little hug. Daddy and Damien had told them that’s how I should greet them. They returned the affection with their usual exuberance,


    “We’re learning about animals in the forest today!” Mycah told me excitedly.


    The little ones couldn’t wait to tell me all the things they’d learned already. The Child Keepers had even promised to take them to see for themselves, once the aliens were gone. The boys were enamored with the idea of getting on the big transports and experiencing the bright green world they’d seen outside the tunnels.


    I noted men approaching and I encouraged the boys to go back where they had been. My presence here should not be detracting from their education. Mycah’s family didn’t want to leave me, though.


    “Come with us, Mama,” Rees begged. “We like it when family is with us.”


    As I stood, I smiled down at him and then greeted the lead Child Keepers. They were campmates I’d never gotten to know, but it was evident to me they were formidable men. The five of them were muscr andmanding. This family was obviously in charge of everything here.


    “Ciara, from Earth,” I said politely to the man who appeared to be the lead Brother. “I am Damien’s mate. My job is usually with the tailors or the Healers, but I am not needed there today. My friend and I would like to assist with the children. It is something we both enjoy. Our families want us to Keep Mycah and his Brothers during the day. We wondered if we could help today, just to get an idea of what you do. We have put in a written petition to the Administrators.”


    “Hyun, born in the T’lynien Mountains,” the lead Brother announced in a deep bass. “We would be d for more help and you are encouraged to Keep your own family. My Brothers and I would be happy to help you learn.”


    I smiled realizing Hyun was born in this very mountain. He was probably a wealth of information about the world around us. The children were lucky to have men like this teaching them.


    Introductions were made between Rose and the rest of the Brothers. After my friend said her name a slightly smaller Brother in the back, named Lul, pulled out his pad and started to slide his fingers across the face. His face brightened as he looked back up at Rose.


    “You are mated to Basin’s family, rescued from the Caraspound?” Lul asked.


    Rose was proud of her family and smiled as she answered affirmatively.


    “Saves us a trip, then,” Lul said happily, “we have a young family here that was bred by the third Brother in Basin’s family. My Brothers and I have been watching them, but they should be with their breeders. There has been so much to do with all the boys we have not had time to bring them to Basin’s family.”


    Hyun misunderstood the look of shock on Rose’s face.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    “They were to be returned sooner,” Hyun pleaded. “We have so many children here right now. Caring for their immediate needs was our first priority.”


    “We could not continue to leave them with Child Keepers from thepounds,” Hyun’s Brother continued. “Those men do not understand the right way to treat children. We have been finding the children’s families as fast as we could. There is training that must happen with many of the men first. It is time consuming and we worry about who the children are left with…”


    “Especially the very young,” Lul said agreeing with his Brother. “The little ones need special care. They couldn’t be left with just anyone…”


    Rose regained herposure and sought to calm Hyun’s family.


    “We did not know there were children,” she said. “My mates and I would dly care for them and we are not upset you kept them safe. No one had ever told us these children existed…”


    Hyun and his family rxed visibly as Lul turned and called out toward the smallest boys in the whole hall.


    “Edas, bring your Brothers ande here! I want to introduce you to your new Keeper.”


    Five small boys were running toward us a momentter. They were younger than Mycah’s family, that was obvious. In fact, they barely looked old enough to be at apound. In their haste, one of them tripped and fell, dragging a Brother down with him. Theirck of coordination told me these were very young boys.


    Rose didn’t hesitate and went toward them, just like Hyun did. She picked the little boys up off the floor and set them on their feet before examining them closely for injury. They were surprised, but didn’t fight as she fussed over them. The little family watched her closely until one boy spoke.


    “You no have stripes!” he announced proudly.


    Rose smiled as she knelt down in front of him and he grinned up at her.


    “I do not have stripes,” she crooned. “You are a very observant boy. What is your name?”


    The five little ones announced their names proudly. Edas and his family didn’t have any fear of Rose. Hyun told them Rose would Keep them today. The children seemed to like the attention this new strange looking Paterian was paying them.


    I noted how the boys instinctively wanted to be close to those around them. Thepound had not started to teach them the devastating lesson of drawing in yet. These boys would be socialized the way they should be.


    I could not imagine how crushing it must have been for Damien’s family to grow up in apound. Istion was not natural on this, far from it. Men needed groups and other Paterians. Their nature was to be outgoing and trusting.


    Jonathan jerked me out of my thoughts as he pulled hard on my skirt.


    “Mama, where’s Daddy?” he asked looking at the door. I got the impression I had a heart beat before he tried to get out the entrance. Remembering his family’s persistence, they might actually seed.


    “Daddy is working,” I said grabbing Mycah’s hand and Jonathan’s hand. “We have to learn about the animals in the forest today.”


    I pulled my boys back to where they’d been and Rose walked with Edas and his Brothers. It wasn’t even mid-morning when Hyun and his Brothers left us alone to continue instructing our boys.