The humans didn't take the whisperer, only my sword. There is a large water container made of that strange material the humans make things from. It's not metal or ceramic. Had the women called it plastic?
And another container of food, as if I am to be kept here for quite a while.
What is the point in capturing a warrior if not to put him to work?
Again, I'm thinking that human tribes work the same way as the Honey tribes. I may not have spent much time with the women, but I'm beginning to think their tribe is very different. With different rules and expectations.
The knot of dread tightens in my stomach.
I keep walking, hoping that moving will calm the restlessness of my mind. My body aches, and there are scratches on my arms and legs. I suspect the men dragged me part of the way. And because I was unconscious, I have no idea where I am. I'll be too far away to sense my brothers, and I'm not used to the pattern of stars, so they cannot guide me. But I can use the mountains and the river.
And if my brothers have left?
I stop.
I shouldn't be thinking of leaving. I gave my life so I could be free. This was my choice. I draw in a slow breath and use my kam to reach out, not expecting to sense anyone, the same as every other time. My head snaps up. There are five humans approaching.
I still have water and food, so it is not to replenish them. Nor is it to deal with my waste, as there is a device that seems to do that…or at least that is what I have been using it for.
The metal bowl has a small pipe that disappears through the wall. It also has a button and because there is nothing else to do, I took my time investigating what happens to things put in the bowl. A press of the button sends them through the pipe. What happens on the other side of the wall is a mystery, but using it is better than making a mess and having to smell it.
Now I worry that I did the wrong thing.
Do all brutes worry about doing their jobs wrong?
In my tribe, they were never ill-treated, but I cannot say the same for the other tribes. My brothers all come from different tribes and from talking to them, I learned that while we are similar, we are not the same. I must remember the humans are far more different than my brothers.
Soon, the humans are close enough that I can hear their voices. One of them is higher pitched. A woman?
Maybe there is more than one.
I sit on the edge of the bed and curl my fingers toward my palm to show that I'm not a threat. But then I remember the way the human women pointed and waved their hands. Humans don't make a charge. Open hands are unthreatening to them. I uncurl my fingers and place my hands flat on the bed instead.
Something clicks and then the door opens. Lights flicker to life overhead and sunlight streams in through the door. I close my eyes and turn my head away. I am accustomed to the only light being what comes through the holes in the wall. Though there are no holes in the walls of my cage so I can't look outside.
The human woman lets out a gasp. "Is that an alien? The rumors are true."
"He's one of the aliens that attacked your sister's expedition," a man says.
We didn't attack anyone. We saved the human women from the screamer.
It was the human soldiers who attacked us. But I keep the argument to myself, because the man's voice is familiar. He was there when I offered myself.
I blink a few times, my eyes now adjusted to the sharp light, and turn my head to look at the humans.
There are four soldiers, all dressed in black and carrying weapons. I think they were all there the other night. The woman I have never seen before. She's dressed differently, in dark blue pants and a cream shirt. Her blonde hair is tied back in a single braid, but shorter strands hang over her forehead, almost into her eyes.
She watches me with her lips pressed together. Her eyes narrow as her gaze jumps from me to the items in my cage, and then around the rest of the room before landing back on me. "You captured an alien and locked him up for me to study?"
The older man, who seems to be in charge, responds, "The leaders want to know everything about them. We need to know what kind of threat they pose."
What kind of threatwepose?
The humans are the ones who are the threat. I don't understand why they are so worried that we took some of their women when they have so many. Don't they understand taking women is allowed?
No, they don't because they aren't Honey. And from what the other women said, they aren't from this world either. They sailed the stars to reach here. I cannot imagine how a ship gets into the sky.
"Okay." The woman swipes at the hair hanging over her forehead as her eyes narrow. "You realize studying a living creature is better done in the wild, right?"
