Fernando starts to walk about and leave cemetery.  He thinks Mae and the girls just had their belongings, they will need blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, and boy-scout mess kit. Hair and tooth brushes, soaps and lotions may also be needed as well. He does not care on the costs, it is only money, money which he can burn the town with.
 
But the walk was long and the weather in Fight Town was getting worst. In the least he needs to a pull cart and a sheeting or blanket to keep the things dry while going from store to store. His first stop appears to be an Army Surplus Store. He did not notice it there before, not that he even passed through this part of town before. He laughs at the name on the store front “Rambo’s Guns, Knives & Army Supplies.”
 
“Somebody must have seen the old Rambo movies.” Fernando says to himself. He walks in, finding the place open, and the place filled Macho Men type in cut-off denim vests of various highway gangs and questionable military affiliations, nothing matching with what General Jastrey has to offer. It is odd however as he did not noticed vans or motorcycles parked outside that such gangs would own and ride.
 
He continues to walk about, looking over the various things. He finds a large duffle bag which to carry everything in. They had sleeping bags for large adults but not for children or teens, but he takes four of what he could find. He then took as many blankets as he could find and carry, knowing that he needs a couple himself. He was able to get eight.  
 
As he walked about and gathering items, he was trying to make sure not to get into anyone else’s way or bump into them. A couple of the crowd had other plans as they follow him through the store. Fernando finds a pile boy scout mess kits but in pieces, and had to assemble four sets with pan, top, folding handles, fold-away spoons/forks/knives, cooking utensils and other items. With the items found, he thinks he has everything he can get from this store. He starts his way to the cashier before somebody walks into him.
 
“WATCH WHERE’S YOU’S GOIN’ YOU IGNORAGMOUS BEFORE I MAKE YOU!” One of the biker gang members yells him
 
Fernando just looks up at him silent for the moment as he sizes him up. The biker gang member tries to show off to his friend with more yelling, shoving and bravado, not seeing how fast Fernando moves as he puts the ball of the crystal against his jaw, breaking it and knocking him out cold. He then looks at his friends, “Anyone else thinks they can mess with me, they can try. If not I want to be left alone.”
 
His friends slowly raise their hands up to their shoulders and back away from the scene. Fernando makes it to the cashier, putting his things on the counter. The one behind the counter looks at Fernando before counting off his things. He begins to pile them, writing them down on paper.
 
“How much for everything?” Fernando asks.
 
“Give me $200 for the whole thing.” The sales person says.
 
Fernando thinks that the price is a bit steep but he’ll pay it. He goes into his pocket and pulls out 20 $10 silver coins and puts it on the counter, counting each one as he puts them on the counter.
 
The sales person counts off the silver coins, with Fernando watching to make sure no con games are played. The salesperson takes the coins and looks up at him.
 
“No bag to pack things in?” Fernando asks.
 
“This is a Cash & Carry Establishment. You bring in your own bag and carry it.” The sales person tells him.
 
Fernando gives him a dissatisfied nod before he starts packing the duffle bag, starting with the sleeping bags first, then the blankets and then the mess kits. He takes the loaded duffle bag and flings it onto his shoulder, before he starts to walk out the door. A few biker gang members follow him to the door but not out of it and go back to their wounded warrior, leaving Fernando outside to his own devices. Fernando looks back a couple of times as he continues to walk down the lock before going to the other stores.
 
He thinks what he needs next – pillows comes to mind, and furniture blankets as they can be used for floor padding to sleep on. That still does not fill the need for a camper for them to sleep in and in this town, they can be stupid and expensive. He goes into one of the closest stores to him, and sees things he needs to get for them and for others: various soaps for personal washing with towels and grooming aides.
 
 
[Flight Town Convoy Parking Lot]
 
Stepping out of Hondo’s jeep with the others, Ichigo looks at the commotion around her. She decides that it would be best if she gets inside Fernando’s camper. Lucky for her it was unlocked and she was able to let herself in. Once inside she checks and locks all the doors before getting on the bed and starts taking off her outer layers and climbing under the blankets. It was not enough to silence the arguing outside, especially between Hondo and Val. She also hears the familiar voices she thought she would not hear again – the Bunny Ring Girls. She does not know why they are there, nor does she want to find out, and thus decides to remain inside the electric camper until Fernando returns.

Soup, sandwiches, some kettle chips, veggies, a pear, and cookies were to be the lunch for the day for the camp, with the military making the soup, chips, and cookies.
 
 
Valentine set up the work tables and had started into cutting vegetables by the time the bunny girls came out. The day had warmed up considerably, but was still on the cool side, with a light cloud cover and a storm threatening to roll in by around supper time. Ruth came back out of the camper with some of the sandwhich making supplies and both her and Val frowned as the girls approached.
 
 
Mae had on slacks and a t-shirt, Kiah had on jean shorts, a low cut tank-top, and a long sleeved shirt worn open like a jacket, the youngest girl had on a short skirt and a t-shirt and the other one had on jeans and a tank-top.  
 
 
Mae lead the other to Ruth and Val. She was a bit timid but felt the other girls needed her to lead them to something better and this was hopefully the start. She smiled as she approached but it seemed to mask her own fear and feelings of shame at her past. Kiah frowned, taking on a hard look to mask her own insecurities as she marched almost rigidly by Mae’s side, while the younger two followed them, not so worried about hiding their fear and apprehensions to it all. None of the four of them dared get their hopes up too high, but they had to at least attempt to make a better life for themselves, to say they tried.
 
 
Ruth met them and tried to smile, but a worried look was apparent.
 
“Aren’t you girls cold?” She asked
 
 
Mae blushed with embarrassment and tried to make eye contact but found it hard. The younger two looked at the ground and Kiah stared at Ruth with a firm look.
 
 
“It’s all we have other than our work outfits.” Mae said timidly
 
 
“We were just supposed to show our goods to get clients and our handlers got most our money for housing and feeding us. Didn’t leave much to get clothes to make proper people feel comfortable.” Kiah said with an edge or hardness in her voice.
 
 
“It’s not about us feeling comfortable, it’s about you being safe and warm. I have a sister and two female cousins so you could prance around in nothing and not phase me, but I know its not a warm day.” Ruth said
 
 
Mae shrugged, “We will manage. You learn to make do.”
 
 
“Making do is one thing we all understand, but you are with us now. We help our own.” Ruth said
 
 
Ruth turned to Val, “Can we buy them clothes after lunch?”
 
 
Val shrugged, “Hondo and Fernando have most the money. I don’t have access to it since… well, you know.”
 
 
“I’ve not seen Fernando since this morning. We will have to talk to one of them.” Ruth said.
 
 
“I .. I can’t talk to them. You’ll have to.” Val said sadly.
 
 
Ruth nodded, “I can do that, but it will have to wait. They can’t wait, though.”
 
 
Val nodded, “I have some of Tonya’s jeans that might fit Kiah and I have a spare Jacket that Mae can use. Can probably dig something up for the other two, too, but they might be a bit large on them. I think Zoey’s clothes would be a bit small for them.”
 
 
“I can get clothes for the younger two from my sister and cousin.” Ruth said
 
 
“We can’t pay for any of that!” Mae exclaimed.
 
 
“You just help the camp with chores and that’s all we ask. That and to make something of yourselves.” Ruth said.
 
 
Mae looked down and blushed, “We can’t repay such kindness.”
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “I don’t believe it! There are always strings attached or payments due. Nothing is ever that simple and no one is that giving.”
 
 
Ruth frowned, “I know its hard to believe, and I know you had to have had a hard life….”
 
 
“What do you know of me or a hard life?! What hardships have you ever faced!!” Kiah said angrily cutting Ruth off.
 
 
Ruth frowned and looked down, trying to contain her own emotions as thoughts of her lost family and the fear they all felt in the slavers hands came back to her, all memories she did her best to repress.
 
 
Val stood up, “We don’t know what you went through, Kaih, but everyone here has went through something. Mine is of my own making, but doesn’t make what they did any less horrible. Ruth, her sister and cousins were captured by slavers, chained in trucks and were headed to the slave markets. Their brothers, uncles, and fathers all murdered and their mothers were killed when the slavers around central town decided to purge. They purged because my husband, Hondo, dare stop the slavers and saved their victims lives.”
 
 
“Your ex-husband, you mean?” Kiah asked coldly.
 
 
Val hung her head and nodded, “Yes, ex-husband… that’s what I meant.”
 
 
“Val is right, though. If it was not for Hondo risking himself for us and Fernando helping him, we’d be dead or slaves, sex slaves is what I was told we were headed for. The four of us were on that truck that day he took a stand against the slavers… The purge started because of what he did but it was not his fault. Several others here were saved from that too.” Ruth said quietly.
 
 
Mae cocked her head, “So your mother was killed because of him? Don’t you hate him for that?”
 
 
Ruth shook her head, “No. I mourn for her and my aunt still, but what awaited them would have been worse than death for us all. Everyone was too afraid of the slavers to do anything but he wasn’t. Because of him and Fernando the slave trade around that area has be stopped, at least as being publicly acceptable. I’m sure black market slavery still happens but it was a start.”
 
 
Val nodded, “Hondo took the purge very personally and I believe still blames himself for it, but he did a lot of good there. Save two girls close to your ages, both wessen, 16 and 10 years old. We adopted them, even.”
 
 
“You dump them like you dumped him?” Kiah asked
 
 
Val frowned and looked down.
 
 
“Kiah, stop!” Mae exclaimed.
 
 
Val shook her head, “No, I deserve her hate as well as much more… I didn’t leave my girls… I still love them but, *sigh* They were taken away from me.”
 
 
“Why?” Mae asked.
 
 
“I..I had some anger outbursts… I said some hurtful things to the other one, Tonya and the younger.. Zoey is her name, I scared her. They.. they were both taken from me and I was tolds to stay away from them… It was to protect them, but I wouldn’t have hurt them! I love them!!” Val said  sounding desperate.
 
 
“But you did hurt them.” Kiah retorted.
 
 
A tear fell from Val’s eye, “Yeah.. yeah I did.”
 
 
Ruth looked between them all. This conversation had gotten out of hand.
 
 
“We need to get lunch ready as the military will be bringing their part here soon! Val, take the older two and get them some warmer clothes and I’ll take the younger two.” Ruth said
 
 
Ruth held her hand out to the younger two but they stood firmly where they were until Mae nodded to them in a silent exchange, letting them know it was alright.  
 
 
Even though they had been ring girls and had to preform unspeakable acts for clients, they were still a bit shy. They had managed to do their jobs only out of fear of what would happen if they did not do them. Mae and Kiah had both tried to shield them the best they could but there was only so much two teenagers like them could do, both of them battling their own fears as they tried to protect the younger girls.  
 
 
The two girls reluctantly followed Ruth and the two older followed Val. In Ruth’s camper they met up with Ruth’s sister and younger cousin, both of whom were excited to see more girls their age and the four instantly started jabbering. Ruth had to put an end to it though and get the two ring girls dressed and back outside so her sister and younger cousin could go back to the task that they were on.
 
Val, Mae, and Kiah walked silently to the camper and Val gave Kiah a pair of jeans and a light jacket, which she gave Mae one of her other dusters. Mae apologized for Kiah but Val shook her head and said she deserved it. Kiah just fumed quietly, more so at herself for opening her mouth and at her own insecurities than at anyone. She made a mental note to apologize to Ruth later, but she wanted to do so alone. As for Val, Kiah just could not feel sorry for her. She too had been at the fights. Mae seemed to have a crush on Fernando, which she could understand why, but there was something about that Cowboy in the fight and even how he took charge when they got to camp and even in the way he socked Fernando when after he yelled at his adopted daughter, that made her feel a flutter inside her body. The fact that Val had gave him up so easily and made so much drama over him not finding her, just made Kiah angry. Val was here, alive, healthy, and had a man who loved her, a ruggedly handsome one to boot, but she chose to focus on the bad and blame him. Kiah found it not only infuriating, but also outrageously unfair.
 
 
Soon all of them were back at Ruth’s camper, but a whole lot less was said.  
 
 
After some begging and pleading, Ruth’s sister took the next to the youngest girl in the camper to get her to help there, with making bread, while her younger cousin came out to work with the younger girl in assembling vegetable baggies and placing meal items in bags depending on vegetarian or meat meal. Val chopped vegetable while Mae and Kiah made sandwiches, along with Terri, who joined them not long after they came back. The other sheep and Ruth worked on dishing soup up into containers and bagging up chips and cookies to be added to the bags, while Maribelle worked on making up sweet water drinks from concentrates and brewing tea for those who did not want to drink something sugary.  
 
 
As always it was a process, that was made harder by having to feed so many but made easier with many hands.  
 
 
Lunch was served on time for the first time in a couple days, which made the whole camp a bit happier.  
 
Hondo drove in and grabbed the meals for the hanger, and left some money with Ruth for supplies in town and clothes for the girls, but she said she would not have time to make a run into town until the evening or after breakfast tomorrow. Hondo said he would take the girls into town, but Ruth said they could handle it. Ruth had heard about Hondo punching Fernando and was told that Fernando was the one rescuing these girls and worried that if Hondo got more involved that Fernando would take an affront to it, so she felt it best to help them herself, even if she did not have a lot of time to do so.  
 
With lunch done and the sheep girls on dishes Ruth told Val and the girls they could go rest. Val declind, saying she nodded to keep busy and Mae said, that if there was more to do they would like to stay and help, stating that they would stay as long as Val did. It made Val feel bad as she was trying to hide from herself and staying busy helped. The whiskey helped some, but not enough. How much she was drinking worried Ruth and the girls did not miss he emptying a flask and starting on a second before lunch was done.
 
 
Ruth finally gave in and let them help with prep for super. Vegetarian Chili, seasoned beef on the side to add to for the meat eaters, rice, and cornbread were the supper of the evening. The military would be adding to it some as usual, but not eating from what they made as they were making cold meals for their troops to take with them as they had increased patrols, especially around Wessen town, due to tensions still in the area.  
 
About 3:45 pm The bunny girls and Val had finished up, the chili was slowly bubbled over a wood fire, cornbread batter was ready to bake, the meat was cooking in a dutch oven, the rice had been cooked and put away, ready to warm up just before supper, and the preparation dishes and tables had been washed and put away.  
 
 
Val was fairly drunk by now but not completely hammered yet, but all the same Mae tried to help her back to the camper.
 
 
“I’m fine!” Val protested as she swayed a bit and Mae grabbed her arm.
 
 
“Miss Val, it’s alright to take some help when offered. If none of us did we’d never rise above our troubles.” Mae said, thinking on Fernando’s kindness in helping them out of that cesspool called Fight-Town.
 
 
Val gave in as they all went back to her camper. Once there Mae helped her get her coat and boots off, before helping her into the recliner.
 
“I don’t know why you’re bothing with her.” Kiah grumbled as she sat on the couch.
 
 
“Why did Fernando help us? Or Hondo have us put up here? They didn’t owe us the help and did we deserve it?” Mae asked
 
 
“How didn’t we deserve some help after all we’ve been through!” Kiah exclaimed
 
 
“It’s not like we fought to get out of that life. We did not even think it was possible until a hand was held out to us. We had to take the offer and trust it was real. We have to do our share here and try to be better than the whores they tried to make us be in that town. But we would never had been able to do that ourselves. Maybe Val put herself into the trouble she’s in, but maybe she can’t get out until a hand is offered to her.” Mae postulated.
 
 
“I can’t believe Hondo hasn’t tried and if Fernando is what you say he is then I bet he did too!” Kiah retorted.
 
 
Mae looked at Val who was looking at her own lap in embarrassment, drunk but not so drunk that she did not understand all that was being said.
 
 
“Maybe it takes the right hand sometimes.” Mae said.
 
 
After a few quiet seconds Val sighed, “I don’t think there is any helpin’ me.”
 
 
Kiah sneered, “What a waste.”
 
 
“You girls kin use the shower if ya want.” Val said starting to slur a bit.
 
 
“We don’t really have any clothes other than our bunny suits.” Mae said.
 
 
“You kin borrow some clothes. Hondo has some shirts here still thet ya cud wear over them or ya kin borrow some of my clothes.” Val said slurring a bit still.
 
 
Kiah sighed, “I guess I could borrow one of his shirts.”
 
Mae nodded, “We could at least wash our underwear and dry it for tomorrow, but we can wait until after supper, if you don’t mind.”
 
Val nodded, “Thet’s fine.”
 
 
“You mind if we rest before supper, though? We did not get much sleep last night getting ready to leave and hiding from our handler, who would have tried to make us stay.” Mae said.
 
 
Val nodded, “Bed’s kleen. Couch pulls out to a bed as does the table.”
 
 
Kiah nodded towards the bedroom, “You three take the bed. I’ll rest on the couch and keep and eye on the drunk.”
 
 
Mae frowned, “Okay, but try to be nice, Kiah.”
 
 
Kiah frowned, “Alright, fine! I’ll try.”
 
 
Mae and the two younger girls went in the back, stripped down to their shirts and panties and laid down to rest on the bed. Kiah took her shoes off, sat on the couch, swung her legs up on it, and sat staring at Val.  
 
 
After a bit Val got up, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, took a swig, filled one of her empty flasks and sat back down. Kiah shook her head, frowned and huffed at the sight.
 
 
“Why.. why do ya hates me?” Val asked.
 
 
“Because you have a good life and are throwing it away!” Kiah said.
 
 
“You don’t understand… I know what’s happenin’ and I can’t stop it! I know I need help… I want to just die so I’m not angry, hollow, sad, lonely, or worst of all hurting those I love or cared about.” Val said as tears rolled down her face.
 
 
“You know my dad used to get drunk and beat me. My mom would get drunk too, because of him, and apologize to me saying she could do nothing about it. She could have, but she was a coward who drank to hide from something that scared her instead of facing it! My dad’s temper got so bad that he almost beat me to death once and she finally stepped up and he killed her! He then married a drug addict who convinced him to try to sell me.” Kiah said flatly.
 
 
“I’m sorry you had it so bad.” Val said.
 
 
“I don’t want your sympathy!” Kiah growled.
 
 
“Then what do you want from me?!” Val asked.
 
 
“For you to see that this drunken pity party will only hurt more! You think dying would save people pain?? No! It only causes more! My mom begged my dad not to kill me and to kill her instead and he did! Her death did not stop my pain! How can you think yours will stop anyones?! Is it only yourself you care about? Then fine! Drink yourself to death! Slit your wrists! Jump off a cliff! I don’t care what you do, but don’t delude yourself into thinking you are helping anyone!” Kiah said angrily.
 
 
 
Val sat quietly as the tears streamed down her face.
 
 
 
Kiah sighed forcefully after a bit and spoke again firmly, “Look, I’m sorry, okay?! Just angers me so bad. You think we haven’t all gone through hell and seen shit! I might be just a teen but I’d give it all to have a man who loved me! I’d love a boring life with a house and a garden and some kids. Cook for the man I love, clean and tend his house by day, make love and sleep with him by night… I hear these prissy girls say how they want adventure or excitement, its all bullshit! Would I take the adventure if the man I loved was on them? Hell yes, because I would be at his side! But I just want to be loved and held and some security. You had all that and more. So, you were hurt and lost the feeling of security and power over your own body for a little while? Boo hoo! Try having that gone for years and not seeing an end! Try having no one looking for you or loving you! Try a mile in any of our shoes, Mine, Mae’s or the others! All this, this being rescued from our life, I still don’t believe it’s real! How could it be?! I wish it was but I still can’t believe it’s real. What you had was real and you are throwing it away… That I find harder to understand than us escaping being whores, and I never believed anyone of us would save us from that!”
 
 
Val stayed silent as she did not know what else to say. Kiah set back with a sigh and finally laid down and fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. Val just held her flask and thought, the tears did not stop flowing as she sat there. She knew this girl was right but she could not get over her hate of Hondo and she did not know why.
 
She whispered a silent prayer for help, hoping the almighty watched over fools and drunkards as she feared she was both.
 
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
 
 
Hondo left a little after noon, expecting lunch to be late again, but was surprised to find it not only ready but boxes packed for the hanger. He talked with Ruth about needed supplies and the girls that were staying with Val. He offered to take them into town to get needed supplies but she said she wanted to help them. He argued that she was already busy enough with cooking and organizing meals for the camp but she insisted that she needed to be more active in helping individuals and wanted to start with these girls. He felt there was more to it but left it alone as she had her reasons. He gave her two thousand dollars in mixed coins and asked that she just get receipts for whatever she bought and give it to him. She agreed and he left with the food.  
 
 
Hondo managed to coax Valentine out of the dirigible to grab some food this time, but she did not say much and returned to work. He tried to get her to stop and talk but she refused saying, “No. I’ve failed you twice now. I just need to finish this up then be on my way before I fail you again”. Something weighed heavily on her and he wondered if his own Val was anywhere near as contrite or remorseful looking as this one was then maybe they could have a future still, but he did not see it.
 
 
After what happened his mind went more and more to wondering if he and Molly were meant to be. He even started thinking about them in the future tense. He did not want to let Val go, but he was lost on what to do for her. Until she could let go of her hate for him there was nothing he could do. He caught a glimpse of her when he picked up lunch but she dashed out of sigh, as if she was hiding from him. The four girls smiled and waved at him and he smiled and waved back but did not stop. If Val was close by and hiding he did not want to make it more awkward for her as he figured that would just make her hate him all the more.  
 
 
Molly came down and ate with them but she was much quieter than usual, much like the several days after James died where she just sat outside the camper and said nothing. She tried not to cling to him for comfort in front of everyone, though it was not a secret that they were together in this small group, but tried to keep it quiet, for Hondo and to hide her own embarrassment in falling apart like that. She was a kind-hearted woman, but years of hardships made her carry a tough façade that made it hard for her to let others see her emotions, unless it was an emotion of anger. Anger would have been easier for her to handle but all she could muster at the moment was grief.
 
 
After lunch Hondo held Molly in their room for a while, until she softly cried herself to sleep, and then he slipped out for a smoke. He had gotten more rest in the last couple days then he had planned but he still found himself feeling tired and weak. He cussed at himself for feeling this way as he puffed on a cigarillo and sipped a bit from his flask. He watched the clouds roll in as he smoked. It was around four pm now and in another couple hours he was sure it would rain.  He was worried a bit, about the storm to come, but he figured there was little he could do about it all.
 
 
A distant rumble of thunder confirmed that a storm indeed was coming, but that was not the storm that worried him. He had not seen Fernando yet, but he knew he would see him sooner or later. Between Fernando, Val, Hector, His girls, the camp, and the trip ahead, there was the makings for a world class storm. He felt the troubles they had seen so far was only the front edge. The heart of the storm still lay ahead.

Molly spent most of the afternoon upstairs, hiding from everyone as she could not control her emotions well after seeing James’ grave. She slept for a while after Hondo had left her to join Karl, Tonya, and the two soldiers, who were sent to help guard the hanger, but even after she woke up she stayed in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling and trying not to cry again. When she finally came down it was getting dark out and raining fairly hard. Thunder rumbled intermittently, shaking the hanger slightly, and lightning lit up the sky as if it were daylight at random intervals.  She shivered a bit as the damp, cool wind blew in from the open door, her white t-shirt, jeans, and thin leather coat not enough to halt the storms icy fingers from affecting her. She looked around at everyone as she approached the main shop area, sighing to herself as she was not liking the somber feel that hung in the room like a thick fog. Had she not known better she would have thought is was just the storm that left everyone with a grey cloud over their heads, but she knew all too well there was more to it than that.
 
 
Tonya sat curled up on the couch, with a nervous look on her face. She flinched at lightning strike, but some of that was from her over sensitive hearing, not just her fear of storms. She had not told any of them about being tied out in a storm a couple times as punishment while a slave. Her owner, at the time, took delight in seeing her or the others beg to be let in as they were staked out in the rain with no clothes. A few had been hit by lightning before and a couple had even died from it, making it all the more terrifying. Ever since then lightning storms terrified her, though she was just a young girl back when that happened. She tried to be courageous, though, and not let them know, but there was enough fear etched into her face to let anyone who observed her know she was scared. Though she was scared she did not make that their problem and she endured.  
 
 
Karl chatted a bit with the soldiers as they watched the storm from inside the hanger, standing by the dirigible as they talked. They did not talk about much important, and though one could tell they made an attempt at keeping the conversation light, heavy topics kept finding a way of taking over.
 
 
The older Valentine was seen up on deck, above them, messing with the control panels. Those below were as oblivious to her presence as she seemed to be of the storm. What she was up to, one could only guess as she had withdrawn into herself. She would not say but it seemed as if she took Val’s anger at Hondo and their separation as a personal failure. Molly wondered if seeing it all from the outside made her see what she had really done in full, for the first time.  
 
 
Hondo leaned against the opposite side of the hanger door opening, puffing on a cigarillo and sipping from a flask as he stared out into the storm. After a minute or two, Molly walked up beside him and leaned against him with a sigh.
 
 
“You got one of those for me?” She asked
 
 
He pulled a cigarillo from his pocket and handed it to her. She stepped back from him, unwrapped it, and stuck the wood tip in her mouth.
 
 
“You alright?” He asked as he lit it for her.
 
 
She nodded as she drew from it deeply and exhaled the smoke through her nose. She leaned against him again with a sigh.
 
 
“Yeah, just a bit emotional right now. Sorry, it was just a shock to see his grave and with not expecting it… I just lost it, I guess.” She said quietly.
 
 
He sighed and put an arm around her, “Sorry. I had no clue either.”
 
 
She shook her head lightly, “Don’t be sorry. You didn’t know… Guess I though I was more over it than that.”
 
 
“You never really get over losin’ someone you love.” He replied softly.
 
 
She nodded, “I guess not… I.. I think it was partly the name on the stone, too.”
 
 
“What ‘bout it?” Hondo asked.
 
 
She sighed sadly, “It.. it was not even his real name. They used his fighting name! It.. it made me think again about how much we are just seen as animals.”
 
 
“If I make you feel that way…” He started to say.
 
 
She shook her head, “No! You don’t at all! You.. you make me feel like a woman, a real woman.”
 
 
“You are, though.” He replied  
 
 
She shook her head, “I.. I’m not sure about that anymore… We used to tell each other that we were as man and woman like as any human and deserved treated like that, but are we? Between him and I we used to joke about things humans don’t because of who we are. Our habits, how we are looked at and treated are all different. We are not even allowed in human hospitals, as they say we are too different! … James..  instead of James Adiee the man he’ll always be remembered as James the Red, the wolf wessen … You know how he got that name?”
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “I reckon I don’t. Figured they called you Red Molly ‘cause of your hair, but his was green.”
 
 
“Yeah, but it was still because of me he was called that. You see, he had fought a few times, before I met him, and did fairly well. He wasn’t the best but he did good enough to get a bit of a name for himself. Back then he was just known as Wolfman James. He and I met some months later at the café across from the saloon where I was gambling. I was allowed to gamble at the saloon if I dressed slutty to keep the other gamblers attention while the guy who ran the game for the saloon cheated. I got a cut of what the saloon made and was allowed to win a few games if I cooperated. I liked James’ motorcycle, as I had seen it a few times at the cafe, and commented on it one day out front after lunch when we crossed path, and he offered to give me a ride. We met up a few times after, quickly fell in love, and made plans to leave that place once we had enough money saved. A few months later, one of the men playing poker with us called out the house gambler for cheating. He then threw the accusation to me to save himself and the saloon gave me to the man him to make up for what they said were my sins! They didn’t own me but I was an animal without rights so they did what they pleased. James heard about it and confronted the man, who was a fighter too. The man said he wouldn’t give me up as he wanted to use me to relax before fights. James insulted him, insulting his manhood, saying it was too small to pleasure a woman. James said he had seen the man rape feral animals before too, and was only taking me as even the animals wouldn’t #$@! him anymore. It probably wasn’t true, but James did have a way of running his mouth and pissing people off. The man got mad and pulled a gun on James. He was unarmed, but one of the lawmen who worked for the town stepped in. They usually didn’t get involved in things like that, but he saw a fight opportunity. If lawmen could setup a fight they got commission from it. Had he not seen a fight opportunity, he would have let that man kill James and no one would have batted an eye. James agreed to fight him if he got me as a prize if he won. The man agreed if he got James’ motorcycle if he won and if it was a death-match. It was agreed on and I was locked up in a holding cell for a week as prize loot. I.. I hate even thinking of the place. It was dark, damp, and dirty. The guards harassed me, even tore off my clothes and held a gun to my head as they made me suck them off a few times. They couldn’t #$@! me but anything else was fair game. They let me wash the day of the fight and trotted me out to show off to the crowd in nothing but see-through lingerie. I was tied up in front of the crowd, beside the motorcycle as if I was nothing more than merchandise. They didn’t let James talk to me but he saw me when they brought him out. He went into a fit of rage and had to be held down by four men before the fight started. When it started he charged the man blindly and nearly had the shit beat out of him, though he fought back fairly well too. At one point he started to falter as he wasn’t thinking, just fighting in blind anger, and got hit by a piece of pipe the man had acquired. He almost passed out, and knowing he was in trouble he did the only thing he could think of at the moment. He lunged at the man and bit his throat. He did not bite clean through but he hit the artery on the man and hung on. The man beat at him, thrashed, and tried to scream, but it was too late. The man soon bled out from that attack and James was covered in his blood from head to toe. The newspapers called him James the Red because of that, and put a picture of him covered in blood on the front page. It said he fought like the animal he was for no other reason than the drive to #$@! a bitch he called his.” She said in a sad tone.
 
 
Hondo nodded and listen quietly as she spoke. He heard the grief, anger, and shame in her voice as she told her tale. He held her close and spoke only after she stopped.
 
 
“Molly, I’m sorry ya went through such hell, but you are not an animal because you are wessen. I’ve known many humans who acted like animals, an’ I can tell you they were! You are not.” He said.
 
 
“But I’m not human either! Look at my pointed canine ears, my longer canine teeth! I have fur, a tail, and my face isn’t completely human either, with this freakish nose!” She exclaimed.
 
 
“Molly, looks aren’t everythin’. You have some things most humans don’t have, but comin’ from someone who has held you, talked to you, an’ made love to you, you are a woman. The slight differences come from whoever decided to play god an’ tampered with you. They changed you to look like this! They might have changed you for their purposes but they cannot take away your humanity!” He said emphatically.
 
 
“But I’m third gen wessen! I was born like this. I was never fully human.” She said sadly.
 
 
“You are fully human! The looks are not what make a human. It’s partly your DNA, but more so your soul an’ spirit.” He replied.
 
 
“My DNA is corrupted, though!” She replied.
 
 
“Could I get you pregnant?” He asked seriously.
 
 
She blushed a bit and nodded, “Y.yes. If I was in my fertile time you could.”
 
 
“Then you are human. Human sperm can’t fertilize anything other than human eggs. Even with the slight changes they have made to those called Wessen, you are still human. All they could do was use small parts of animal DNA to heighten certain senses an’ as a byproduct you took on some characteristics of those animals. They could not make you non-human, though.” He said.
 
 
“What about those wessens I’ve heard about who look like animals but can talk and such?” She asked.
 
 
“Have you ever seen one?” He asked as he raised an eyebrow.
 
 
She shook her head, “No. I’ve not known anyone who has either. Tonya is about the closest I’ve seen and she’s still very much human like.”
 
 
“Then I reckon it’s a myth spread to make you all feel less human.” He replied.
 
 
She sighed and nodded, “Maybe you’re right… Thank you.”
 
 
He chuckled and nodded, “No worries. I should be thankin’ you.”
 
 
“For what?” she asked.
 
 
He frowned, “I reckon I’d have lost it or fallen apart if it wasn’t for you. Even with you knowin’ I still hope Val will come ‘round, you still treat me good an’ attend to me with a care that even Val never showed… I know it has to be hard on you but..”
 
 
“Please, don’t. It’s selfish too, you know.” She said.
 
 
“How so?” He asked.
 
 
“Because I have felt so alone since James died and I was scared to be alone. That and I do truly love you, even if you can’t reciprocate. I know she might get better and you will go back to her, but I’m a Wesson, and can’t expect you to stay with me over her.” Molly replied softly.
 
 
“That has nothin’ to do with it, an’ you should know it by now!” He retorted.
 
 
“It does in my mind, though. I can’t help but wonder if I was fully human if you’d love me.” She replied sadly.
 
 
“Molly, stop. You know that’s not why… called me old fashioned, but… I know I need you but I feel like I’m betrayin’ myself, Val, the girls, an’ all the morals I ever held as is! If I could I’d have you both with me… Honestly, I never wanted more than one woman before this. It sounded stupid, selfish, an’ hedonistic to have two women! ... Now, I almost wish I was different. I could almost change too if it wasn’t that I want my girls to grow up with a good moral foundation, an’ I don’t want either of you to feel half loved or have to share. I don’t want to lose you, Molly, but at the same time, I made a promise to Val before God. Her attitude an’ hate are the only things that are keepin’ me from fulfillin’ that promise. If she repents then I feel obligated, as an example to the girls on keepin’ a promise if nothin’ else.” He said
 
 
“Do you love her?” She asked
 
 
He paused for several seconds before sighing, “I.. I’m not sure anymore… I think so but right now when I think ‘bout her all I feel is pain an’ sadness. It’s hard to know how I truly feel ‘bout her right now.”
 
 
She sighed and nodded, “I think all of us are a bit down today. Maybe it’s just the rain.”
 
 
He shook his head, “It’s never that simple, though I wish it was.”
 
 
They stood together for several more minutes, as they finished their cigarillos, but said nothing as they listened to the rain and thunder.  
 
 
After a while Hondo crushed out the stub of what was left of his cigarillo and sighed a frustrated sigh.
 
 
“*sigh*… damn.” He muttered.
 
 
“What’s wrong?” Molly asked.
 
 
“Well, need to go get supper for everyone. Was hopin’ it would stop rainin’ or slow down at least, but this looks like an all-night storm, maybe even into the mornin’.” He replied with a bit of a growl to his voice.
 
 
“If it were easy everyone would do it.” She replied.
 
 
“If everyone did it they wouldn’t need fools like me, then I reckon.” He replied flatly.
 
 
Molly frowned, “You are too hard on yourself.”
 
 
“Well, not accordin’ to Jefe. Not only am I broken, but Val’s attitude is my fault, somehow, an’ I either am not doin’ enough to help folks, helpin’ the wrong folks, or seem to have an attitude ‘bout helpin’ folks.” He replied grouchily.
 
 
“He said that?” She asked in disbelief.
 
 
“Not exactly. He made a remark ‘bout me bein’ tired of rescuin’ folks an’ ‘bout me an’ Val havin’ a lot to make up for. Said to go to her an’ if I had to hit her, like I was runnin’ from her. Told the girls I was a broken man too. He must really think I’m a laughin’ stock.” Hondo replied in a quiet, defeated growl.
 
 
“I think you both were just tired and angry. He might have said some things he didn’t mean and maybe you took some of what he said the wrong way.” She replied.
 
 
“Well, I am fallible so I could have taken what he said wrong, but I can guarantee you he meant everythin’ he said! He’s too infallible to say somethin’ he didn’t mean.” Hondo growled.
 
 
“You couldn’t think he was too infallible or you’d not have decked him. I didn’t see it but I sure heard it!” Molly replied.
 
 
Hondo sighed, “He was out of line with how he talked to the girls, but I can’t say I handled that right either. Regardless, there will be a price to pay for my actions, believe you me.”
 
 
“Have you talked to the girls yet?” Molly asked.
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “Not really. I spoke to them before I sent them to a room. Was a bit harsher than I should have been, especially after Jefe’s spiel. I.. I need to calm down before I talk to them. I have a feelin’ there is more to what happened than we know, but after that all with Jefe an’ Val, not to talk ‘bout the gloomy weather an’ bein’ worried ‘bout you.. I’m just not in the right frame of mind to give them a fair shake.”
 
 
She nodded, “I understand. I wish you wouldn’t worry about me, but at the same time I like that you do. … You think it’s fair punishing them like this if there is an explanation?”
 
 
“I don’t know… Probably not, but this is for their protection too until we sort this all out. Maybe I am wrong for doin’ this. I’d have talked to them sooner if I wasn’t, as Jefe says it, broken as a man can be. Maybe it’s all my fault, I don’t know. I just know I need some more time.” He replied.
 
 
“Maybe some de-stressing and a good night’s sleep will help. I know I can help with the de-stressing.” She said as a sly smile crossed her lips.
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “Don’t push yourself for me if you’re not up to it.”
 
 
“After today I almost need it, so I’ll admit to a partial selfish desire there.” She replied, her smile softening a bit.
 
 
He gave her a weak smile back and nodded, “Then I reckon it couldn’t hurt.”
 
 
“Well, it might hurt a bit still, but after a little pain, the pleasure is worth it.” She said softly.
 
 
He chuckled slightly and shook his head, “Well, reckon I can’t help that, unfortunately. …” He looked back out at the storm with a frown,  “This damn storm isn’t lettin’ up… I’d better go get supper.”
 
 
“Can I go with you?” She asked.
 
 
He nodded, “I reckon, if you don’t mind gettin’ wet.”
 
 
She grinned, “With you I’m rarely dry!”
 
 
He rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Not what I meant.”
 
 
She just giggled in response to his reaction
 
 
He turned to Tonya and saw her curled up on the couch, noting her look of fear for the first time. He frowned with worry as he walked up to her, Molly following close behind
 
 
“You alright, girl?” He asked.
 
 
She nodded, “Fine papa… just.. just storms make me nervous.”
 
 
“Some wessen feel the pressure difference and can feel the electricity in the air, which makes them feel uneasy during storms. Plus, if her hearing is like mine, that thunder is painful to the ears!” Molly said.
 
 
Tonya frowned with some embarrassment, “It’s.. it’s not just that but… can we talk about it later?”
 
 
He nodded, “Yeah, anytime you need to talk I’ll listen, but you’ll be alright, I promise.”
 
 
“I know it’s just… just foolish fears, I guess.” Tonya replied quietly.
 
 
He nodded, “Alright, well Molly an’ I are gonna go grab supper for everyone. You alright here?”
 
 
“Yeah, papa. I’ll be okay.” She replied trying to force a smile, but losing it as she cringed at a lightning strike.
 
 
He sighed and nodded, “Alright.”
 
 
He headed for the door and Molly trotted along side him. At the door they paused before making a dash to the jeep and jumping in, though it did not help much in keeping them dry.  
 
 
Hondo shook his head and cussed as he closed the door.
 
 
“Dammit all to hell! Should have parked the damn jeep inside!” He groused.
 
 
“Bar of soap and we’d not need a shower with this rain!” Molly exclaimed.  
 
 
He looked at her and his scowl soften into a grin and she caught him staring at her.
 
 
“What?” She asked.
 
 
“Well, other than I like seein’ you wet, you’d better close your coat before we get out unless you want to give everyone a show!” He replied still grinning.
 
 
She looked down to see her white shirt completely wet and mostly translucent, showing of her breasts extremely well. To add to it her nipples were stiff from the cold and stood out, making her breasts even harder not to stare at. She blushed and zipped up her jacket, at which Hondo frowned.
 
 
“You could have waited until we got there!” He protested.
 
 
“You have to drive and, in this rain, you’ll need both eyes on the road, not on my tits!” She exclaimed.
 
 
He chuckled and shook his head, “Reckon I can look later. Just liked your glass-cutters. Don’t see them that firm without some work, usually!”
 
 
She feigned indignation, know he was teasing her, but in many ways, it felt like a compliment coming from him too and her feigned indignance soon gave way to a soft smile.
 
 
He started up the jeep and, after giving her one last look and a grin, he put the gearbox in first and eased out on the clutch. He drove slowly as he made his way through the storm towards the camp, and though it took longer than normal, they arrived safely.
 
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
 
 
With Val and the four girls helping, Ruth got most of the supper prep done early and everything laid out to box up meals as needed. Though she had planned on waiting to shop until the following day, they were running short on supplies and she felt bad for the girls who were at Val’s camper. She had not wanted to leave the burden of getting supper handed out to Joanna, but Joanna insisted.  
 
 
As soon as Fernando left Ruth shut the door and walked over to the bed area of the camper, as Joanna laid back on her bed resting.
 
 
“You sure you can handle everything if I get back late?” Ruth asked as she changed her dress for some jeans, a flannel shirt, felt fedora, leather boots, and an old canvas coat.
 
 
“We will be fine! We’ve done this a hundred times already!” Joanna protested grumpily.
 
 
“Yes, but the military isn’t helping much tonight, as they are doing their own thing.” Ruth protested.
 
 
“I know, but we are only feeding a couple of their people, they provided a lot of our supplies, and we have it handled!” Joanna replied
 
 
“I know, but I still feel guilty leaving you all.” Ruth said with a sigh.
 
 
“I know, but we can handle one night. Those girls need clothes and such, and we need supplies.” Joanna argued.
 
 
Ruth looked outside and frowned, “Starting to rain too. Hopefully it doesn’t get too heavy. … maybe I should wait until tomorrow.”  
 
 
“No! Just go! I moved that medical jeep from over by Fernando’s camper to behind ours for you. You just need to go get Val.” Joanna replied firmly.
 
 
“It was nice of Hondo to let me use it. The tuck is still half full of gear and I’d not have wanted to pull the wagon in the rain.” Ruth said as she finished lacing up her boots and slid into her coat.
 
 
Hondo had offered for her to use the medical jeep earlier but she had originally declined. He said the offer still stood, thinking she would contact him first or he would offer again in the morning and try to set up a time with her for the one he had. They misunderstood this and took Fernando’s, innocently thinking it was the same jeep.
 
 
“Yes, it was, now get going! That storm looks like it will only get worse and town is worse after dark!” Joanna protested as she got up and nearly pushed Ruth out the door.
 
 
“Alright! I’m going!” Ruth exclaimed.
 
 
Once Ruth was out the door, Joanna closed the door swiftly behind her making her jump a bit. With all that had happened lately she was a bit nervous about going to town, but more so felt bad about leaving the rest of the meal prep to her sister and cousins. The sheep wessen and Maribelle were told to take the night off, as most everything was prepared and with the impending storm, there was just not enough room for everyone inside the campers.
 
 
The rain was not much more than a sprinkle at the moment, as Ruth walked to Val’s camper and knocked on the door. There was no immediate answer, but the door was unlocked so Ruth cracked it open and peered inside. She saw one of the girls, the one named Kiah, on the couch sitting up as if just woken up and Val, half drunk trying to stand up.
 
 
“Ruth? .. come in.” Val said a bit groggily as she fell back into the chair.
 
 
“What’s wrong?” Ruth asked as she looked at Val with a worried look as she entered and closed the door behind her.
 
 
“Probably still drunk.” Kiah replied in a grumpy, half-awake tone as she stretched under the blanket that covered her.
 
 
Ruth sighed in frustration and shook her head, “Val, why?!”
 
 
“I jest.. I jest hate myself so much.” She slurred.
 
 
“She’s a walking, drunk pity party!” Kiah said almost angrily as she put an arm over her eyes.
 
 
“She needs help and I’m trying, but I’m not sure I’m the best to help her.” Ruth replied
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “I know she had a hard time, but I don’t see how falling apart helps! I feel bad she was tortured but she threw away her relationship and gets drunk because she can’t admit that she did this to herself! I’ve seen her man, and I only wish someone like that was mine.”
 
 
Ruth sighed, shook her head, and closed her eyes, “You’re not the only one, trust me, but there’s more to it all you don’t understand.”
 
 
“You too? … Not surprised. Mae likes that Fernando, but was always more a fan of the rugged country boys, myself.” Kiah said, grinning slightly.
 
 
Ruth nodded, “Can’t say I’ve told anyone that before, so please don’t tell anyone! He saved us too, so there is that. He deserves better than me, though. Not surprised Mae likes Fernando, either. A lot of ladies do. Can’t say I’d turn away his advances either, though he’s not my first choice… I’d say you two are a bit young for either of them, but after what you told me about what you all have been through, I guess you had to grow up faster than you should have.”
 
 
“Can’t say I’m proud of what I had to do, but I can’t regret it either. It helped me get tough and helped me survive. Could have been worse, you know?” Kiah replied from where she lay.
 
 
Val just frowned as she listened to the conversation through a drunken haze.  
 
 
Ruth looked back at Val and shook her head, “Val, I need to go to town and I can’t go alone, so you’re going to have to sober up.”
 
 
“Can’t yew get a soldier ta go wiff ya?” Val asked.
 
 
Ruth frowned again, “I could but I hate to ask. I told Hondo I was going tomorrow, but I hate to leave these ladies without what they need, otherwise I know he’d have set up an escort for me. Truth is, He and Fernando have too much on them as is right now and I want to handle this with as little bother to them as possible. Now, I got money and a jeep, thanks to Hondo, but we are going to take it from here! Just have to get some coffee into you!”
 
 
Val nodded, “Fine.”
 
 
She tried to stand but fell back into the chair with a sigh.
 
 
“I’ll make it. Where is that single cup pot?” Ruth asked.
 
 
“Uner th’ sink.” Val slurred.
 
 
Ruth opened the cupboard and pulled out a small Keurig and set to making some coffee.
 
 
“That’s an odd coffee maker.” Kiah comment as she put her arm down and squinted in Ruth’s direction.
 
 
“Old world tech, I’m told.” Ruth said.
 
 
“Old world?? That must have been expensive then, especially in such good shape!” Kiah exclaimed.  
 
 
“I don’t know. After that fight, though, Hondo and Fernando made enough money to buy and sell that town, this one, and probably the next three, so I’m sure things like this are inconsequential to them!” Ruth replied.
 
 
“Damn fight. Life was hard enough until that happened! At least they are helping us now, but as much as we liked watching them fight, the aftermath ruined that.” Kiah replied sourly.
 
 
Ruth frowned, “I’m sorry it was hard on you.”
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “It’s not your problem, so don’t be.”
 
 
Kiah looked over at Val again and frowned slightly, “You said there was more about her that I did not know. She told us she was tortured in a lab for a few days. I’ve had customers beat the shit out of me before, so I can’t see how she’s worse off!”
 
 
Val looked at Ruth and shook her head, “No.”  
 
 
Ruth sighed and, ignoring Val, looked at Kiah, “Did she tell you they held her naked in a damp, stone cell on drugs for two days?”
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “Been drugged before. We were made to take knock out drugs for those who wanted us unconscious when they had their way with us.”
 
 
Ruth’s frown deepened, “That is horrible, but there is more.”
 
 
“Ruth, please don’t!” Val slurred.
 
 
“She tell you they slapped her in a machine that shocked her and pumped her veins full of chemicals as they tried to change her into a wessen hybrid?” Ruth asked
 
 
Kiah raised an eyebrow and half sat up, keeping under the blanket, “No, she didn’t.”
 
 
“Ruth, stop!” Val protested as her eyes filled with tears.
 
 
“No, Val! Until other know and you can face it, you’ll always be like this! I’m running out of ideas on how to help you, so I need help! Maybe someone else who has lived a traumatic life can help.” Ruth exclaimed.
 
 
“If she doesn’t want you to tell, “Kiah started to say softly, feeling a bit embarrassed for Val.
 
 
“Did she tell you about the pain it caused, and how it all most killed her when it failed? Or how they removed organs of hers to test why it failed and just threw them away, leaving her a mess of scars, with horrible memories, a feeling of being hollow, scared to death of being rejected by her husband for being so cut up, and begging the almighty for death for days as living would have just been more experiment, more drugs, and being used as a breeder to test experiments to embryos if she lived!!” Ruth exclaimed.
 
 
Kiah looked at her dumbfounded as Val broke out sobbing.
 
 
“Stop! Please Stop, I beg you!!” Val sobbed.
 
 
Kiah looked at Val in awe as she sat up fully and clutched the blanket to her chest, showing her shoulders to be bare, “Is it true??”
 
 
Val could only nod as she curled up into a ball and sobbed in the recliner.
 
 
“She doesn’t look cut up, though.” Kiah said softly, losing all the indignant anger in her voice.
 
 
“Someone who took pity on her used experimental procedures to give her transplants to replace most of her missing parts and heal her without scars. I can’t explain it, but I saw her after she was rescued and she was in bad shape.” Ruth said.
 
 
“But why chase off her husband?” Kiah asked.
 
 
“She can’t see herself as healed and she blames him for not finding her.” Ruth said.
 
 
“I don’t want to blame him, but I can’t help it!!” Val sobbed.
 
 
Kiah slumped back into the couch, “Damn… I went through hell, but I’d do it again over that! I mean, there were times I thought I might die, or wished I would have, but I’m at least whole.”
 
 
About then Mae poked her head out of the room, a worried look on her face, “What’s going on?!”
 
 
“Ruth just told me Val’s full story… You were right. I was being hard on her.” Kiah said.
 
 
Mae frowned, “Glad you see that now, but still, we each live our own hell and shouldn’t judge how someone else’s hell effects them.”
 
 
Kiah nodded, frowning slightly as she thought.
 
 
Ruth took the cup of coffee from the coffee maker and handed it to Val, who was still crying but not as hard as before.
 
 
“I’m sorry I had to do that, Val, but I won’t give up on you. I’m only trying to help. … Now, drink this up and I’ll make another. I still need you to go to town with me.” Ruth said.
 
 
“Can I go to?” Kiah asked.
 
 
“You think that’s a good idea?” Mae asked.
 
 
Kiah looked at her, “I know what we need and our sizes.”
 
 
“You sure you can trust them?” Mae whispered
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “I don’t know. I have a hard time with that as is, but better than sitting around here.”
 
 
Mae nodded, “Okay, just be safe.”
 
 
Ruth looked at them, hearing it all as it was too small a space not to, “I know trusting us might be hard, but please try. We do only want to help.”
 
 
They both looked at Ruth with an uncertain look. Kiah sighed and nodded after a moment.
 
 
“Maybe so, but after you’ve been through what we have…” she paused, her voice trailing off as bad memories of her past nearly overwhelmed her.
 
 
“You don’t have to explain. Just asking that you give us a chance.” Ruth said.
 
 
Kiah nodded, “Fair enough…. Will Mae, June, and April be safe here alone?”
 
 
Ruth nodded, “Of course! We have people patrolling to make sure no one who doesn’t belong here gets into camp. If you need help just open the door and yell for help, but I cannot see that being needed. Just keep the door locked until we get back, and they should be fine.”
 
 
Val had downed her coffee, barely noticing how hot it was. She sniffled a bit, still but was regaining composure.
 
 
“You.. you can use the shower while we’re *sniff* gone if you want.” Val said, slurring less now.
 
 
Ruth took the cup and started a second filling, “I’ll have my sister bring supper by, otherwise there’s no need to go out or answer the door if you don’t want to.”
 
 
Mae nodded, “We should be fine. Would like to talk with Fernando soon, but that rain is getting harder so unless he comes here I’d rather not go out in it talk to him.”
 
 
Ruth nodded, “I understand… Kiah, we need to get going, so get dressed if you are going.”
 
 
Kiah nodded, stood up from the couch, and folded the blanket back, revealing that she had on only panties at the moment. She had been through too much to be shy about her body. Standing almost bare in front of strangers was nothing new, nor was dressing or undressing in front of them. Though Ruth raised an eyebrow curiously at her, it didn’t faze Kiah a bit. She pulled on the shirt, pants, and socks she had worn earlier, though they were a bit dirty, as they were all she had, other than her bunny suit.
 
 
Val stood up shakily and went to the closet, pulling out a slicker, an old hat, and a pair of boots. She handed them to Kiah before sitting back down.
 
 
“Put these on. They might not fit good but should work for now.” Val said almost timidly, still thoroughly embarrassed from Ruth spilling her secrets.  
 
 
Val was not sure how Ruth had gotten some of that info, unless she had talked in her drunken haze or Ruth had spoken to Maggie. Some of it she felt Ruth guessed at from other conversations, and some she altered to make explaining about the bio-pill that had made her nigh immortal less complicated. She knew she had even altered how she told Ruth about it to make it easier for her to understand, but it still seemed unbelievable to most, including herself at times.  
 
 
Kiah nodded and smiled at her weakly as she took the items, “Thanks.”
 
 
“Mae, if you need anythin’ I have here, use what you need. Just leave the safe and alcohol alone, please.” Val said quietly.
 
 
“Wish you’d leave the alcohol alone.” Ruth said in a sad tone.
 
 
Val’s frown deepened, and she felt like she might start crying again, but Mae spoke and pulled her from the edge.
 
 
“Thank you, Val. You don’t know how much your kindness means to us. I can’t say we aren’t all a bit worried and scared. It’s so new and we just don’t know who to trust. I know you’ve had a rough time and said a few things you didn’t mean, but you’ve still helped us a lot and we thank you.” Mae said
 
 
Val shook her head, “Don’t thank me. I don’t deserve thanks, but I am glad I can still help someone.”
 
 
Kiah rolled her eyes and sighed, “Listen, we understand you’ve been through hell, and maybe worse than any of us, but you can’t feel sorry for yourself! I don’t! I might get angry at times, but shit happens! You should get angry instead!”
 
 
Ruth gave Kiah a wide-eyed look and shook her head quickly, “No! That’s a bad idea!”
 
 
“Why?” Kiah asked almost indignantly.
 
 
“Cause.. cause I got angry… I got angry and said horrible things to Fernando, Hondo, and my adopted daughter Tonya. Molly, the wessen woman who was cryin’ at the grave, she tried to stop me and I fought her. She.. she almost won, so in anger I pulled a gun on her to scare her and it went off accidentally. Hondo, he.. he took the bullet for her. I scared my little Zoey too and have been banned from talkin’ to them or even seein’ them now… I.. I can’t do angry. I just hurt people when I’m angry.” Val said is a small, sad voice.
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “Damn! And I thought I was a bitch when angry!”
 
 
“Kiah!” Mae protested.
 
 
Kiah frowned, “Sorry.”
 
 
Val shook her head sadly, “Don’t be sorry. I know I’m a bitch and a cunt and any other bad word you can think of! I don’t want to be, though… I wish someone could help me, but they can’t. No one can.”
 
 
As Ruth handed Val her second cup of coffee Kiah sighed.
 
 
“Look, I’m not the right one to give you advice either, as I know I have issues and hate them too. I hate being a bitch, but sometimes it just comes out! It’s a defensive thing, I know, and I wish I wasn’t like that. I wish I knew how to help you, but I don’t. I know you can’t give up, though… I mean, maybe this whole being rescued from being a whore and not having to worry about being killed by the Fight Town Ripper is all some Shangri-La fantasy. Maybe we will wake up and find trusting you all was a bad idea and we are in a worse place than before. But maybe its real and we have a chance at being someone other than a bunch of whores waiting to get some STD that will end up killing us at a young age! If it is real and works, I’d have missed it all by giving up, you know? Even when things seem hopeless you can’t give up or quit. You do and you might miss out on something that was worth hanging on for, you know?” Kiah said as she sat down and laced up the boots.
 
 
Ruth cocked her head at her, “You’re wiser than you give yourself credit for.”
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “Had a lot of time to think. Not like I had much else to do while having to eat out some lesbian slut or while getting some little dick shoved into me. Thinking about other things helped me not think about what I was doing or having done to me. Not like I got a lot of pleasure out of it anyway. Unless they were paying extra for moaning, they only got what came naturally, and believe me they rarely did anything to make those noises come naturally!”
 
 
Both Ruth and Val blushed a bit, though Ruth definitely blushed the hardest. Mae seemed unfazed about that part but gave Kiah a look of curiosity.
 
 
“I never heard you talk like this before.” Mae said.
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “I kept a lot of things to myself. A lot of it I told myself was just fantasy bullshit to pass the time and keep me from suck-starting a shotgun.”
 
 
Mae smiled a bit, “That sounds like you.”
 
 
Ruth shook her head at it all and then sighed, “Val, we need to get going. You sober enough?”
 
 
Val shrugged as she stood up, “Coffee doesn’t make you sober, just makes you more awake but still drunk… I’m awake enough I guess, though.”
 
 
Ruth nodded, “Well, get your coat and hat on. You should have a gun too, just in case.”  
 
 
“Hondo took my guns. If you have one I can borrow, I’ll carry one, and I promise to not do anything stupid with it.” Val said as she shrugged into her coat.
 
 
“A gun? Is it that bad out there?” Mae asked nervously.
 
 
“There was a wessen extremist who tried to start a war between the humans and the wessens here. Hondo and Fernando put an end to it with the help of the military, but things are still tense.” Ruth said.
 
 
“That explains the military and the teens with guns! … You said a wessen extremist started all this? What was he extreme about?” Mae asked.
 
 
“He had sort of a wessen purity cult and had a bunch of them believing that wessens were superior and humans should be slaves to them.” Val said slowly.
 
 
“That’s a bit backwards.” Kiah said dryly.
 
 
“Backwards?” Ruth asked
 
 
“Yeah. Everyone knows Humans are superior. Wessens are just animals that can work without being tended constantly, are not smart but hardier for field labor, and are easier and less taboo to #$@!.” Kiah said matter of factually.
 
 
“What?!” Ruth exclaimed.
 
 
Mae nodded, “It is true. I mean, you catch a man #$@!ing a sheep and he’s labeled a weirdo, but if he’s caught #$@!ing a wessen, well that’s kinda what they were made for.”
 
 
“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Val asked, slightly taken back by their answers.
 
 
Mae and Kiah both nodded.
 
 
“It’s the truth.” Kiah said
 
 
Mae nodded, “Yeah, though I’d not let one #$@! me if I could help it. They are still animals and I’m not into that.”
 
 
Val and Ruth looked at each other a moment before turning back to them.
 
 
“We can talk more about this later. Just know we have several wessens here and they are not our slaves.” Ruth said.
 
 
“Most traveling groups have a few wessens to help with the hard work and to #$@!. You make them think they are free and they put in more effort, I’ve been told. Not like they would wander off anyway as they are all made with a need to follow a master.” Kiah said matter of factually.
 
 
Val sighed, “We’d better go, just please none of that talk around the others until we’ve had a chance to talk about this or you’ve had a chance to talk to Fernando or Hondo about it.”
 
 
Ruth nodded, “Let me grab a spare pistol for you from our camper. I’ll meet you at the jeep.”
 
 
Val nodded as she grabbed her hat and she and Kiah followed Ruth out of the camper. At the jeep Val climbed into the driver seat while Kiah climbed into the rear. Ruth soon reappeared and handed Val an old 1911 colt commander with a metal belt clip build into the grips.
 
 
“Here. It was my papa’s. We found it in the truck when we took it from the farm. Jo cleaned it up and said it was working good. It’s a little big for us to handle well, but I’ve seen you shoot bigger.” Ruth said as she handed her a couple spare, loaded mags to go with it.
 
 
Val nodded and tucked it into her waistband, “Thanks.”
 
 
“You okay to drive?” Ruth asked.
 
 
Val nodded, “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Not like driving in traffic, anyway.”
 
 
“Traffic?” Kiah asked
 
 
Val shook her head, “Never mind.”
 
 
Val started the jeep and they were soon off and headed into town. The first stops were the dry good and produce vendors, as they would be closing up their shops soon.  
 
 
At the dry good shop Ruth got a couple large bags of flour, salt, sugar, rolled oats, rice, barely, powdered milk, and beans. She also got some assorted canned good, a couple cans of baking powder and baking soda, powdered onion and garlic, as well as various other spices, oil, lard, vinegar, and some assorted other items they had room for and would need for cooking. She grabbed a few large, sealed bags of dried assorted vegetables and fruits to keep on hand for when they had to travel next. She knew they would need more, but night was quickly coming upon them and they were running out of time.
 
 
While Ruth was in their laying out her order and having it loaded in the jeep, Val and Kiah went across the street to a produce stand and put in an order for fruits and vegetables. Among them were Pears, apples, raspberries, black berries, blue berries, elder berries, currants, mull berries, onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and ancho chilies.
 
 
Once they were both done they met back at the jeep and made one last stop at the meat market. As they climbed into the jeep to heat to the meat market the rain doubled in intensity and the distant rumble of thunder changed to loud thunder claps as lighting intermittently light up the sky.
 
 
They soon came up to the meat market and all three of them dashed inside to get out of the rain. They stood, dripping as they looked over the meat counter display. There was enough there to feed them for days but storing it was another problem. Though Hondo had a fridge and freezer running on a mix of solar and generator power in the trailer and in the camper, and most of the campers had some sort of small refrigeration, they had limited space for keeping meat cool, so they could not stock up even if they wanted to.
 
 
“What should we get?” Val asked.
 
 
“I need bacon and hamburger if they have it, and maybe some sausage for gravy… Should get some roasts too. I can start drying some meat for traveling.” Ruth said.
 
 
“Might should get some sandwich meat, ham and turkey, too.” Val said.
 
 
“I don’t have much cheese left, though.” Ruth replied.
 
 
The butcher looked up at them with a grin, “You say you need some cheese? I’ve got wheels of it in the back. Usually have some in the display window earlier in the day, but getting close to closing time, so I put it all away.” He said in a friendly tone.
 
 
Val and Ruth looked at each other and Val nodded.
 
 
“Alright, here is what I need…” Ruth said as she started pointing at items and giving the man her order.
 
 
He wrote everything down with a nod and when he was done he shook his head.
 
 
“I got all of this, but I have to ask, you feeding an army or something?” He said with a raised eyebrow.  
 
 
Ruth chuckled, “It feels like it sometimes. We are with the medic and his convoy.”
 
 
“The one that brought the army and found off those Os Animas nutcases?” He asked.
 
 
Ruth nodded.
 
 
“Well then, You’ll get my special discount! If it wasn’t for the army and that crazy medic capping those animals my business would be burnt to the ground! Saw him myself shoot three as they were lighting torches to throw at my shop! If you want, I can deliver more later too, same deal for the food and the delivery is on me!” He said.
 
 
“We can’t ask you to deliver it for free.” Ruth said.
 
 
“Hey, its no problem. I drive past your camp every night as my wife has her own repair shop out that way and we live in an apartment above it. If you will take a delivery in the evening then I’m there already anyway, see?” He replied.
 
 
Ruth nodded, “In that case I’ll send you a list in a day or two, if you don’t mind getting paid on delivery.”
 
 
He nodded, “Works for me! I don’t give out money until I see the goods, either. Now, let me get this order up for you ladies and I’ll help you load it. It’s raining wessen and mutants out there and you ladies don’t want to get any wetter than you have to!”
 
 
“Thank you, we appreciate it.” Ruth said.
 
 
The man nodded and went about his work filling their order. Once it was all on the counter Ruth paid the man and then they started loading it all into the jeep. When done they thanked him and climbed back into the jeep, as he started locking up his business for the night.  
 
 
Kiah looked around at the supplies and frowned a bit.
 
 
“Are we going to have room for anything else in here?” she asked.
 
 
Val nodded, “We can hold stuff in our laps still. If we have to get the basics tonight and come back tomorrow for another round we will.”
 
 
The three of them began to shiver a bit as they were all damp from the rain that poured outside. Seeing through the windshield was becoming extremely challenging, so Val drove slowly to their final stop.
 
 
Their last stop was what looked like a large tin covered warehouse building. They parked as close as they could and dashed inside once again. As they entered and stood dripping in the doorway, Kiah looked around amazed at all the small shops and booths inside. It was a full indoor market for house goods, clothes and the like. They had similar stores in fight town, but there were the high-end places that she was not allowed in nor could afford, and the low-end places that she still really could not afford but didn’t want to buy from them anyway. This place was larger than any of them in Fight Town and the array of items and prices went from the inexpensive right up through the outrageous but with items in between that looked nice and were still affordable.  
 
 
“Wow… This place is huge, and it looks like they have almost everything!” Kiah said as she looked around in awe.
 
 
Val frowned, “Doubt they have everythin’ but we should be able to outfit you four. Just be care and haggle a bit. They always ask for more than things are worth.”
 
 
Ruth sighed, “Maybe so but it doesn’t pay to anger anyone either. Not sure the three of us want to fight off angry vendors.”
 
 
“I bet that Hondo wouldn’t be afraid to challenge them.” Kiah said.
 
 
Val nodded, “He wouldn’t but he’s not here. Ruth’s right though. We will try to haggle but if they push back too hard we will either buy it as is or go somewhere else.”
 
 
They started off, finding the girls each a leather back pack, medium sized duffel, and a toiletries bag. After that they got them each a week’s worth of undergarments, three pairs of jeans, two skirts and a nice, simple dress. They also got each of them five t-shirts, four bandanas, two long sleeve shirts, socks, belts, a hoodie, a warmer blanket lined canvas jacket, a rain slicker, a pair of boots, a pair of slippers, a pair of canvas shoes, and sleepwear. After that it was toiletries and other feminine items, a book, journal, and writing pencils for each of them, and a couple other small gift items Kiah approved of and a couple items for herself. She tried to act tough but it was getting harder to do so. She was so used to being used but never given stuff like this. It seemed like an odd dream that she half expected to wake from at any moment, but she didn’t. Once the bags were full it was decided they would call it a night for now, reassess later, and get a list together for other supplies.
 
 
On the way out, though, Kiah found a hat she liked and Ruth got it for her. She was not sure if the others would like it, though, so they decided that they would let the other three pick their own at a later date. Val spied some canning jars and supplies in a booth close to the door, and discussed with Ruth about coming back for them tomorrow so they could can some supplies for the trip as well.  
 
 
By the time they were done, it was well after dark and the storm had not let up at all. They dashed to the jeep again and stowed everything in as fast as they could, but that did not stop them from getting wet again. Val made Kiah and Ruth get in first and handed them things so they did not get as wet, but Val was soaked to them bone and shivering by the time she got in.
 
 
She shut the door behind her and rubbed her hands as her teeth chattered, trying to get enough warmth in them to use.
 
 
“I.i.if.f.f I.i.it.t.t.t w.w.was.s.s a.a.any c.c.c.colderrr i.i.it.t.t w.w.w.would pr.pr.pr.probably s.s.s.start fr.fr.fr.freezin’!” She said as she shook.
 
 
“Y.y.ou going to b.b.be okay?” Ruth asked, starting to shiver a bit herself.
 
 
Val nodded in response.
 
 
“Then let’s go, I’m freezing!” Kiah complained, though she was the driest of the three.
 
 
Val started up the jeep and pulled away slowly as she strained to see the dirt road that took them back to camp.
 
 
“W.w.we can c.c.come back t.t.t.t.tomorrow and a.a.add to that for w.w.what else you m.m.might need.” Ruth said.
 
 
Kiah nodded, “Thank you… I know I don’t show it well, and maybe I don’t seem appreciative, but I do appreciate this. Guess it will take a while for me to believe this is all real.”
 
 
Ruth nodded, “W.w.we understand. It w.w.was the s.s.same for us. But d.d.don’t thank me. H.h.hondo gave me the m.m.money. H.h.he w.w.wanted to make s.s.sure you had w.what you n.n.needed. None of us w.w.would be here if it w.w.wasn’t for h.h.him and Fernando. ”
 
 
Kiah nodded, “Just the same, thank you…. I’ll be sure to thank them too.. if this isn’t a trick.”
 
 
Val shook her head, “It’s n.n.n.not a trick. Th.th.they are g.g.good g.g.guys.”
 
 
“And you tried to tear them both down, though. Why?” Kiah asked, not able to wrap her head around it still.
 
 
Val shook her head as she fought off tears, “D.d.don’t know. C.c.c.can’t h.h.help it.”
 
 
“Was it a cry for help or a defensive measure? I know my bitchiness is for defense at times. Never had anyone to cry out to for help, so not sure there.” Kiah said.
 
 
Val just stared silently at the road as she trembled from the cold. They couldn’t tell she was crying quietly, though as water ran down her face and dripped off her hat as it was.
 
 
“Don’t know, but it could be.” Ruth answered for her.
 
 
The rest of the ride was pretty quiet and when they pulled up to Ruth’s camper. Ruth shuffled the stuff off her lap so she could get out.
 
 
“Th.the f.f.food should be f.f.fine in here t.t.tonight. I’ll g.g.grab it t.t.tomorrow.” Ruth said.
 
 
Val nodded as when Ruth had got out she pulled up close to her own camper.
 
 
“This is going to suck.” Kiah said as she looked out at the torrential rain between them and the camper.
 
 
“D.d.dash ins.s.s.side and I’ll th.th.th.throw everyth.th.th.thin’ in.n.n.nto y.y.y.you.” Val stammered through her chattering teeth.
 
 
“You sure? I don’t want you to get sick!” Kiah exclaimed.
 
 
Val nodded, “I’m s.s.sure. g.g.g.go!”
 
 
Val baled out a second before Kiah and unlocked the camper door. Kiah ran out of the jeep almost right behind her and nearly jumped into the camper as soon as the door was opened. Val went back to the jeep and got the bags, one at a time and handed them into Kiah. The noise drew the other girls’ attentions, and as the bags came in and Kiah started handing them out, the younger to chatter excitedly as they opened them to see what was inside. Once everything was inside, Val came in and closed the door behind her.  
 
 
(To be continued)

As Hondo and Molly pulled up to Ruth’s camper, they saw Joanna wave at them from under the canopy that stood out their back door, where they often prepared food. He stopped the jeep as close as he could before they dashed out, trying to make it under cover before they got too wet. With the rain as hard as it was, though, it did them little good.  
 
 
“Damn that rain’s cold!” Molly protested as they trotted up to Joanna.
 
 
“Yeah. Hoping it doesn’t freeze tonight. A little late in the year for these temperatures but it happens.” Joanna said
 
 
Hondo nodded, “We’re high enough up an’ close enough to the mountains for it, I reckon.”
 
 
“You guys probably want your supper.” Joanna said.
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Yeah. We need eight meat meals, two veggie meals, three nightshift meat meals an’ one nightshift veggie meal.”
 
 
Joanna nodded and started to head inside, “Give me just a couple minutes to pack it up.”
 
 
“Ruth ‘round? Need to talk to her ‘bout makin’ the run to town for supplies.” He said
 
 
Joanna paused and looked at him questioningly, “She is in town now. I thought you two talked about it?”
 
 
He frowned, “We did an’ she said this evenin’ or tomorrow, but most likely tomorrow. I figured with this rain she’d definitely go tomorrow.”
 
 
Joanna shook her head, “She didn’t want those girls to do without any longer than they had to already. You should have seen them. They had almost nothing! Been there before and know all too well what it’s like. You guys gave us everything we have now. She wanted to make sure they had that security we felt when you outfitted us, and wanted to take that burden off you and Fernando.”
 
 
“Please tell me she didn’t go alone?” He asked warily.
 
 
“No, she got someone to go with her for protection.” Joanna replied.
 
 
Hondo nodded, thinking that she got one of the soldiers or the teens to go with her, which was what he had planned on arranging for her anyway.
 
 
“I hope they’re not walkin’ in this storm.” Hondo said
 
 
“She took the jeep.” Joanna replied.
 
 
“What jeep?” Hondo asked
 
 
“The medic jeep you told her she could take.” Joanna replied hesitantly.
 
 
Hondo furrowed his brow, “But I still have the med… oh hell. She took Jefe’s.”
 
 
“What!” Joanna exclaimed.
 
 
Hondo sighed, “Yeah. There are two, both are his. I’m just borrowin’ one until mine get some work done on them. The one I’m borrowin’ was the one I was talkin’ ‘bout”
 
 
Joanna turned a bit pale as she gave him a worried look, “Is Fernando going to be mad at us??”
 
 
Hondo shook is his, “I doubt it, though he is bein’ surlier than a grizzle with a toothache lately. Reckon that’s partly my fault, though… If he asks tell him I said she could take it, that way he can be angry at me.”
 
 
Joanna shook her head, “We don’t want you blamed for our mistake.”
 
 
“No, it’s my mistake. I told her she could borrow the med jeep an’ wasn’t clear on which one. That’s my fault, so I’m to blame.” He said.
 
 
“You’re too kind to us, thank you… Is there anyway we can make it up to you? We’d do anything!” Joanna said, with emphasis on the word ‘anything’.
 
 
Hondo did not miss the emphasis and could only imagine the connotations, but he acted like it went over his head.
 
 
“Just our meals an’ some beer, if we have any left.” He said.
 
 
“There is a six pack of bottles left. They were for you, Val, and Fernando only, and you have been the only one drinking any, so you can have them.” She said.
 
 
He nodded, “I’ll take all six then. Think there might be another case in the trailer, but I’ll see ‘bout gettin’ more tomorrow. We all need to sit down, just through some burgers on the fire an’ have a beer together some night.”
 
 
Joanna smiled softly, “Sounds nice but I’ve never even had a beer before. Had some wine a few times that grandpa used to make, only on holidays though. We were allowed one glass on special occasions after we hit thirteen, but one was it. Never even been drunk before.”
 
 
“Same for Ruth too?” Molly asked.
 
 
Joanna giggled and shook her head, “No. She was trashed bad once! You’ll have to ask her about it, but make sure I’m there so she can’t sugar coat the story!”
 
 
Hondo chuckled lightly and shook his head, “I’ll have to hear that later.”
 
 
“Just give me a couple minutes and I’ll be right back.” She said as she slipped inside.
 
 
Hondo and Molly stood looking at the camp and listening to the rain as it hit the canvas on the canopy and the tin on the campers. The wind started to pick up a bit, occasionally blowing rain in on them but it was better than standing out in it.
 
 
As they stood there, a figure wearing a rain slicker dash in under the canopy and took off her hood. It was Esther, Ruth’s younger sister.
 
 
“What you doin’ out in the rain, young lady?” Hondo asked
 
 
“Oh, Hi Mr. Hondo! Joanna has me and her sister taking turns delivering meals so no one has to stand out in the rain!” She said with a smile.
 
 
“You stayin’ warm enough?” He asked.
 
 
She nodded, “Got my jacket on under this and it’s keeping me dry. Might have to let my boots dry out tonight but they aren’t too bad yet.”
 
 
“Well, if you ladies need anythin’ extra to keep warm or the like, let us know.” He said.
 
 
She nodded, “I will Mr. Hondo.”
 
 
“You deliver meals to Miss Val an’ the girls stayin’ with her?” He asked.
 
 
“To three of them, anyway. That Kiah girl and Miss Val went with Ruth. The others were doing fine, though. Using your shower to wash up when I was there. They are nice, for the most part. That Kiah girl is a bit grouchy though. Ruth says it’s from being alone, used, and abused, though. I guess I understand. She said we would have been like them if it wasn’t for you and Mr. Fernando.” Esther replied.
 
 
He tried to hide a grimace as he nodded, “Alright then. Maybe y’all can be friends. I bet they need some friends after all they have been through.”
 
 
Esther nodded, “I’d like friends too. Kinda lonely at times, even with Ruth and my cousins. They are family and I love them, but it’s not the same as having a friend, you know?”
 
 
“Yeah, I reckon it’s not.” He replied.
 
 
“Well, I need to grab more meals and head out. Still have a couple others before I stop by Mr. Fernando’s camper. Not sure many meals he needs.” Esther said.
 
 
“Macey an’ Zoey are with me, so two or three I reckon, if that hamster girl is stayin’ with him still.” Hondo said.
 
 
“You think Mr. Fernando likes that hamster girl and Miss Ichigo?” She asked.
 
 
“Well, he lets them stay there.” He replied.
 
 
“No, I mean like like, you know, more than friends like?” She asked.
 
 
“What did I tell you about asking things like that!” Joanna exclaimed as she exited the camper with full hands.
 
 
Esther frowned, “Sorry.”
 
 
“Now, go talk to Susana about who’s meals are ready next, and trade off if you want to.” Joanna said.
 
 
Esther shook her head, “No, I’m good for now. She did most of the ones I don’t like doing, like those mean Jeanette girls! I hate talking to her or those creepy spirits she hangs out with. I told her if she did those I’d do the rest.”
 
 
Joanna sighed, “Fine, I don’t care as long as everyone gets fed!”
 
 
Esther nodded and hurried inside to talk to her younger cousin.
 
 
“You alright?” Hondo asked Joanna.
 
 
Joanna nodded, “Yeah, just didn’t realize how much Ruth handles. The cooking was pretty well done before she left, but how she manages to organize everyone to get it done is beyond me! For me to get Esther and Susana to concentrate and work steady at the task I gave them is like trying to straighten a can of worms, yet Ruth seems to get them to do it without any problems! At least it seems like it. I don’t know if they just respect her more of if she has more patients than I do.  On top of it, this weather is making it harder.”
 
 
“I’m sure you do fine.  She does take a lot on her shoulders, though.” Hondo replied.
 
 
Joanna frowned, “Yeah. Wish I was more like her. I’m more comfortable out in the woods, hunting or gather wild berries, or fishing, or working on motors! I never was much of a homebody like she was. Mom always said I couldn’t be domesticated. Part of that was because of other tensions at home that made me try to avoid the place, but still… I just feel out of my element.”
 
 
Hondo raised an eyebrow, “Wish I’d known that sooner. I’d have tried to find other things for you to do.”
 
 
“I’d like that, but Ruth does need the help. With Val like she is, Ruth has no one else to wrangle the help, plan, and such.” Joanna said with a shrug.
 
 
“Well, maybe one of these new girls would be willin’ to step up an’ help. Speakin’ of Val, though, why didn’t you tell me she was the one goin’ with Ruth?” Hondo asked.
 
 
Joanna gave him a sheepish look, “Because I didn’t want you to worry. Sorry.”
 
 
Molly raised an eyebrow at her, “You think she is stable enough to be trusted with Ruth’s safety?”
 
 
“I.. I don’t know. It was Ruth’s Idea. I guess Val opened up to her about everything that was done to her and now… *sigh* Ruth want to try to help her. She doesn’t know how, but she thinks making her get out and be valuable will help. I don’t know if she can help her though. She needs someone that knows her better. She needs them to just be kind and take her yelling until she breaks down and then just hold her. You and Fernando are the only one’s who know her that well.” Joanna said.
 
 
“Sounds like something from a romance novel.” Molly said a bit gruffly.
 
 
Hondo sighed, “She hates me, she told me as much, an’ Jefe is too angry to deal with her, so I’m not sure what to do… I’m startin’ to think it might be over between us.”
 
 
Joanna frowned at the sad tone of his voice and the crestfallen look he tried to hide.
 
 
“Ruth and I are here for you, if you ever need to talk or some company to make it through the dark times and nights, you know?” She said with a welcoming smile.
 
 
He nodded, acting like he missed her meaning again, “Thanks… Let me take those from you. We’d better be getting back as I know folks are hungry.”
 
 
She handed them to him and smiled still, but a slight disappointment was evident.
 
 
“Chili with rice, cornbread, fruit, and some boiled cabbage. The ones with the carrot and celery sticks have the vegetarian chili in them. I have the beer and night meals, and the vegetarian meals inside still.” She said.
 
 
“I can get those and meet you at the jeep.” Molly offered.
 
 
Hondo nodded, “Thanks.”
 
 
As he headed off to the jeep Joanna gave Molly a bit of a look.
 
 
“Wait here and I’ll bring them out to you.” Joanna said a bit flatly.
 
 
Molly frowned at her as she watched her go inside. She did not have to wait long as she had everything bagged up already and ready to go. She half threw the bags at Molly, causing Molly to scowl.
 
 
“What’s your problem?!” Molly asked angrily.
 
 
“Nothing!” Joanna snapped.
 
 
“Then back off Hondo! If he and Val don’t work out, he’s mine, and I’ll fight any woman who says otherwise!” Molly snapped.
 
 
“Oh, come on! If you think he’d take you over a human, you’re delusional.” Joanna replied in a cold tone.
 
 
“What is that supposed to mean?!?” Molly growled.
 
 
“Look at you! You’re a wessen dog girl! I’m at least human! He might #$@! you, but wait until he gets harassed or denied to be able to shop someplace if they think you two are a couple! He’ll tell them you’re just his #$@! bitch in a heartbeat to get what he’s after!” Joanna snarled.  
 
 
“You don’t know him at all or you’d not say that! And I’m not a dog! I’m Coyotl!” Molly retorted angrily.
 
 
“Same difference! … I think you’re just scared that I might be right and he might want me or Ruth over some wessen like you!” Joanna replied.
 
 
“Do you even love him?” Molly asked in a cold tone.
 
 
“What does that matter?” Joanna asked warily.
 
 
“Do you?!” Molly asked more firmly.
 
 
Joanna frowned angrily, “I don’t know! I know I’d love him to #$@! me and I am sure once I get to know him, if he #$@!s me good, and treats me right, I would learn to!”
 
 
Molly shook her head, “I know you are alone and want held, but that’s just wrong. I love him, for all he is, whether he #$@!s me or not! He loves Val still, though, but if that changes then we will see what happens. If he doesn’t want me, then fine! I only want him happy. Can you say the same???”
 
 
Joanna just stared at her angrily, but Molly’s cold stare won and she looked away, going inside in a huff. She knew Molly was right, but still, she laid awake at nights longing to be held and dreaming of being ravished. Sometimes she imagined she was with Hondo and sometimes Fernando, when she laid in bed late at night touching herself. There was just no one else there who came close to stirring her like they did. Yet she knew she did not know them or love them, but she half did not care. She needed #$@!ed bad and needed to find a way to get it done!
 
 
As Molly hopped into the jeep with the remaining food, a tinge of anger was evident on her face.
 
 
“You alright?” Hondo asked.
 
 
“Yeah.” She replied a bit coldly.
 
 
“Saw you an’ Jo talkin’. Everythin’ alright? You both seemed a bit tense.” He queried.
 
 
Molly frowned, “Just some girl talk… We’d better get back before this all gets too cold.”  
 
 
He frowned, but not so much at her reply but at the way she said it and the look on her face that said she was obviously bothered.  
 
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,
 
 
Val stood dripping in the camper doorway, shivering as she leaned against the door. Mae looked up at her and gasped softly.
 
 
“You’re sopping wet!” Mae exclaimed.  
 
 
“I think she’s turning blue too.” Kiah said with a raised eyebrow.
 
 
“You need to get out of those clothes!” Mae said worriedly.  
 
 
Val’s teeth chatter and she nodded as she tried to get her coat off, but was having a hard time.  
 
 
As Kiah started getting out of her wet clothes, Mae walked over and grabbed one of Val’s sleeves.
 
 
“Let me help you.” She said.
 
 
Val tried to shake her head, but it was too late as Mae had her coat pulled off and took her wet hat before she could resist. She looked pretty pathetic as she stood there, her hair dripping wet, her button up shirt mostly translucent and showing her bra through it, and her jeans soaked and clinging to her. She shivered violently still and hugged her arms across her breasts trying to warm herself as her teeth chattered.
 
 
“You’ll never get warm unless you get out of those clothes!” Mae scolded in a worried tone.  
 
 
Val just nodded and started to shakily head for the bathroom before Mae stopped her.
 
 
“If you strip here, you’ll not drip everywhere. Besides, you’re shaking too bad to get those buttons undone. Let me help.” Mae offered as she reached for Val’s buttons.
 
 
Val pulled away, a slightly embarrassed look on her face.  
 
 
“You don’t need to be embarrassed, around us! We’re all girls here and we’ve seen it all many times.” Mae said softly, trying to calm her.
 
 
Kiah frowned and marched over, having stripped down to her panties already.  
 
 
“Can’t sweet-talk this one! She’s too stubborn!” Kiah said as she walked over and nudges Mae out of the way.
 
 
She grabbed Val’s arm and pushed it down before starting to quickly unbutton her shirt. Val tried to pull away but Kiah swatted her arm.
 
 
“Stand still! You’ll get sick if we don’t get you dry and warm! … I swear, it’s as if you’ve never had anyone undress you before!” Kiah half growled.
 
 
“O.o.o.only H.h.h.hondo h.h.h.hhas a.and.. and th.th.the t.t.t.t.time I.. I .. w.w.w.was a.a.a.almost r.r.r.r.raped as a t.t.t.t.teen.” She stammered through her chattering teeth.
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “Damn, you have been sheltered, at least sexually.”
 
 
“You didn’t have any siblings or cousins your age?” Mae asked.
 
 
Val shook her head.
 
 
“Only child explains some of it.” Kiah said flatly.
 
 
Val frowned and blushed slightly as Kiah pulled off her shirt and undid her bra.
 
 
“My sister, three cousins, and I, when we were young, would all wait until after lunch in the summer, and once the men went back to the field to work we’d strip naked and swim in the pond to cool off. It’s not like it was sexual or anything. A body is a body, you know. Nothing to be ashamed of.” Mae said, a sad tinge to her tone as she thought about those she lost.
 
 
Val tried to protest as Kiah yanked her boots off and pulled her wet jeans off her legs, but Kiah did not give her the time.
 
 
“Just hold still, damn it!” Kiah protested.
 
 
Once Val was down to her panties Kiah looked her over appraisingly.  
 
 
“A little skinnier than I thought from how you dress, but nice. Could use a little more meat on your bones. Didn’t take Hondo for liking the bony type, though with that ass, flat belly, and tits like that, I could understand.” Kiah replied seriously.
 
 
Val blushed a bit, even though still paler than normal from being cold, and turned away shyly. She had always been fairly fit but her not eating lately was starting to show, as before you could only see her ribs if she stretched.
 
 
“Don’t take that as I want to do you or anything! I had to do women for my job, but I’m straight. It was do them and have a place to live and food to eat, or refuse, probably get beaten half to death, thrown out into the streets to then get raped and killed by whomever… Would have been nicer if all the women looked like you, though. I mean damn! Not sure why you wear a bra, other than being so puritanical. If my tits looked like those, I’d want them unbound and accessible!” Kiah said.  
 
 
Val only blushed more.
 
 
“Kiah! She’s embarrassed enough as is… Now, we need to get you in the shower so you can warm up!” Mae exclaimed.
 
 
“Want me to help you in there too?” Kiah asked with a grin.  
 
 
Val’s head snapped up and her eyes got wide as she shook her head.
 
 
“N.n.n.no!” She chattered.
 
 
Kiah smirked and shook her head, “Oh, settle down, sugar tits! I was just messing with you, though I’d do it. Showered with plenty of clients. Plus, the four of us used to shower together at times. Nice to have someone to talk to and wash your back. And sometimes you just need help getting the cum washed off you. You’d not imagine the places some guys like to shoot that stuff!”
 
 
Val’s eyes widened again, causing Kiah to cackle almost evilly.
 
 
“Kiah!! Leave her alone!” Mae scolded.
 
 
“Oh, come on! She’s fun to embarrass!” Kiah protested.
 
 
Mae grabbed Val’s arm and lead her towards the shower.
 
 
“You need help in there or you going to be fine?” Mae asked.
 
 
Val gave her a slightly embarrassed look.
 
 
“I.i.i.i’ll b.b.b.b.b.be f.f.f.f.ine.” She replied.
 
 
“You sure? I’m not trying to mess with you, either. I’ll help if you need it.” Mae said sincerely.
 
 
Val nodded.
 
 
“Alright. I’ll warm your supper, and I saw some tea in the cupboard too, if you want something hot to drink.” Mae offered.
 
 
Val nodded, “Y.y.yes, th.th.th.thanks.”
 
 
Mae nodded and let her go as she headed back to the kitchen.
 
 
“You can be a real buzz kill.” Kiah said as she sat on the couch and pulled a blanket around her.
 
 
“She was embarrassed! Not everyone has gone through what we have or grown up like we have.” Mae retorted as she put Val’s supper in the oven.
 
 
“It’s just a body, though! Some are better looking than others, yeah, but whatever. Being naked is natural.” Kiah said.
 
 
“Some people are very private about that, though, as they equate it with sex.” Mae replied.
 
 
“Sex is natural too.” Kiah replied flatly.
 
 
“And some people like to keep that private too. We are numbed to that, maybe more so than we realize, so we need to be careful on how we judge others about that stuff.” Mae said, filling the kettle with water and putting it on the stove.
 
 
“So, we should hide ourselves and be like her?” Kiah asked in an almost disgusted tone.
 
 
“Being comfortable in your skin isn’t a bad thing, nor is knowing who you can trust to be open like that with, but we are trying to start new lives, too! We need to learn to be a bit more private maybe. We don’t want to show off our bodies to the camp and have them think we are opened for business!” Mae said seriously.
 
 
“I wasn’t saying we prance around camp nude!” Kiah snapped
 
 
“This is her camper, not ours. We shouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable.” Mae replied sternly.
 
 
“She wasn’t uncomfortable with us, only with herself! Didn’t you hear what Ruth said about what she went through?” Kiah asked
 
 
Mae nodded, “I did, but what does that have to do with it?”
 
 
“She needs to learn to feel comfortable in her own skin! From her muscles, I can’t believe she should be that skinny. She hasn’t been eating, that means. She has to learn to let go and take care of herself at the same time!” Kiah protested.
 
 
“Maybe so, but do we even know how to do that?” Mae asked, pulling out three cups and some chamomile tea from the cupboards.
 
 
“Maybe not, but at least we know how to accept who and what we are!” Kiah retorted.
 
 
“Do we? We know we trust each other and became almost like sister because of that, closer than sisters even! Just because we are not bothered by nudity and are comfortable in our skin around each other doesn’t mean we want anyone walking in and stripping down with us! Even you’d not be comfortable with that!” Mae argued.
 
 
“You three might be nervous and shy, but I’m not. I’ll hang in the buff with the camp!” Kiah retorted snidely.
 
 
“Yes, June, April, and I are a bit shy and nervous at times. We don’t want that life anymore! We don’t want to be used or hurt anymore! We are scared and we know it. You are too, but you insist on putting up this tough façade in front of everyone, like we don’t know you feel the same way!” Mae scolded, becoming a bit tearful as the same time.
 
 
Kiah frowned, “Sorry… I just.. I don’t know if I even know how to live like.. like..”
 
 
“A normal person?” Mae asked softly.
 
 
Kiah sighed, “If that’s what you want to call it, then yeah. I was raised rough. Modesty, decency, kindness, love, care, I didn’t have that! Maybe I am putting on a façade, maybe I don’t want to be a whore anymore but maybe I’ve done it too long to not be a slut! I don’t know! You three at least had some decent lives before.. before the purges and harvestings.”
 
 
“That doesn’t make it easier on us.” Mae replied.
 
 
“You at least know how to act like ladies and what life was before this! My life has just gone from one bad knock to the next.” Kiah replied sadly.
 
 
“But you have a chance now, a chance to be better and do better!” Mae said passionately.
 
 
The kettle whistled, signaling that it was up to temperature, drawing Mae’s attention momentarily. She shut it off. Put tea bags in the cups, and filled two of them. The younger two girls retreated to the room at the front of the camper to hide from the heavy conversation and to look through their bags more thoroughly.
 
 
Kiah shook her head, “What if it’s all fake? Or what if I let myself believe it and it gets ruined? I’m not sure I could take that. You see what it did to Val. She had everything and lost it all and it ruined her. If she had been a bit freer or more promiscuous she might be better off, you know? That’s what happens to normal people when everything is pulled away! It’s.. it’s better to just not hope and run wild, knowing there is not future, than to dream big and see it all crumble away.”
 
 
Mae frowned as she grabbed the two cup and sat down beside her, handing her one of them.
 
 
“Kiah, you have to give it a chance and give them a chance. Val has some issues, and I know how she’s handled them has rubbed you the wrong way…” Mae started to say.
 
 
“She threw away people who cared about her! I know she’s had it bad and I’m sorry she has, but she made it worse! Then she calls us whores, and hides behind her clothes like it somehow makes her better than us!” Kiah exclaimed
 
 
“You really think that?” Mae asked softly.
 
 
“Yes!... maybe… I don’t know, okay?! Just, I’m so used to how open we are and how open we were forced to be, and her being all ashamed to be bare in front of us there, just made me feel … ! .. it.. it made me feel dirty, like something really is wrong with me and I should be ashamed.” She said, her voice getting softer as she spoke.  
 
 
“There is nothing you should be ashamed about, and neither should she. We are all different, and that’s fine. If you’re more open about your body and feel free and fine in less clothes and she doesn’t there isn’t anything wrong with that, as long as you’re not out in the nude showing off to guys and temping them.” Mae said.
 
 
“I don’t want to be a whore, but at the same time I want what sex is supposed to be! I know some girls when they get out of that life don’t want it at all, but I think I still do! I just with someone who actually wants me for me, you know?” Kiah asked
 
 
Mae sighed, “I guess. I.. I mean with the right man definitely, but I’ve not made up my mind about how I feel about that all yet.”
 
 
“So, am I a slut for wanting it after all we’ve been through?” Kiah asked in an almost worried tone.
 
 
Mae shook her head, “No. You’d have to want it from just anyone without meaning then. You act tough but I know you have a soft heart and just want to be loved.”
 
 
Kiah’s frown deepened, “Soft hearts only get you hurt and used.”
 
 
Mae shook her head, “I don’t think so. I know we had to be more guarded before but I think we have a chance at better now. I think we could learn to be ourselves, not who they made us.”
 
 
“I don’t even know who else I could be other than this… Are you sure we can trust these people?”
 Kiah asked
 
 
Mae shrugged, “I can only hope we can. What does your heart say? You spent the evening with Val and Ruth.”
 
 
“My heart is confused and my mind says to run, but…” She paused
 
 
“But what?” Mae asked.
 
 
“My gut says that we were rescued, and that Ruth and her sister and cousins, Hondo, that Fernando, as intense as he is, and even Val can be trusted. It’s hard for the rest of me to accept but… I don’t know. I wish I knew… I’m not really afraid of these people or even of being made to whore again if this is real, so that doesn’t worry me.” Kiah replied.
 
 
“You are afraid of something. I know you too well to not know that.” Mae replied softly.
 
 
Kiah stared at her tea for a minute before sighing and looking back up at Mae.
 
 
“I.. I’m afraid that this is real and.. and I will ruin it somehow.” Kiah replied seriously.
 
 
Mae furrowed her brow as she looked at her friend questioningly, “Ruin it, how?”
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe I’m a slut and they will get them angry at us for something I do. Maybe I’ll get angry and say something before I think about it, like I’ve done with Val, and they’ll throw us out. Maybe.. maybe I should be ashamed of myself like Val is and not being ashamed of my body will be our downfall! … I don’t know what it is, but I only know how to be a whore and in trying to learn different I might ruin this all, and my biggest fear is that if I do that they will throw us all out and you three will hate me forever for ruining your one chance at happiness.” Kiah replied, a solitary tear trickling down her cheek as she spoke.
 
 
“I’m sorry.” A soft voice spoke from behind them causing them to jump and turn.
 
 
They saw Val standing there, wet but warm, in a short silk robe.
 
 
“Sorry for what?” Mae asked.
 
 
“I.. I overheard a little and.. and I’m sorry if I made you feel bad. I didn’t mean to!” Val said.
 
 
Kiah frowned and looked stared at her tea, slightly embarrassed that she was overheard and seen getting emotional.
 
 
“It’s okay. We know you didn’t.” Mae said as she stood up to fill Val’s tea.
 
 
“Kiah?” Val asked softly trying to get her to look up.
 
 
“I know you didn’t. Just tired, I guess. Been a long day and didn’t mean to get all sappy about it.” Kiah said in a firm, flat tone.
 
 
Mae sighed and shook her head, “Kiah…”
 
 
Kiah looked up at her with a bit of a glare before looking back at her tea.
 
 
Mae sighed again as she handed Val her tea, “Sit down, Val and I’ll grab your supper for you.”
 
 
Val shook her head as she sat down, “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”
 
 
Mae frowned and shook her head.
 
 
“See? I told you she wasn’t eating. Her ribs and hip bones are too visible for her body type.” Kiah said coldly.
 
 
“You need to eat.” Mae said softly as she held a bowl of chili out to Val.
 
 
Val shook her head, “Just can’t right now. Maybe later.”
 
 
Mae nodded, “Alright. I’ll wrap it up and put it in your fridge, then, in case you want it later.”
 
 
Val nodded before turning back to Kiah.
 
 
“Kiah? … Kiah, please look at me.” Val said.
 
 
Kiah sighed and looked up at her with a hard look.
 
 
“I didn’t mean to make you feel bad, honestly. I know I said some wrong things earlier, and I know I’m messed up and losin’ Hondo as my husband and Fernando as my friend are my faults. I’ve done a lot wrong, and I hate myself for it. But, please don’t feel bad about yourself because of my stupidity or because I’m shy. I know this has to be hard for all of you, and I cannot imagine how you all feel right now. You are all very pretty and have nothing to be ashamed of. We know this will be a hard adjustment and we want to help. Please, don’t be afraid and don’t be afraid of messing up. Everyone messes up at times. It’s… it’s only when you knowin’ly do wrong and people get hurt that would cause problems, like I have done.” Val said sadly.
 
 
“I’m just a whore, though! I don’t have skills or talents, other than #$@!ing! I don’t even know how to be modest like a normal person.. like you! ” Kiah snapped, trying to maintain her hard demeanor.
 
 
“Don’t judge yourself by me, please! I.. I’m a bit shy. I always have been and it got worse after.. after .. well, it doesn’t matter.” Val said softly.
 
 
“When you were almost raped as a teen?” Mae asked
 
 
Val looked up at her with a surprised look and nodded.
 
 
“I was listening, earlier. Just it’s pretty much what happened to us daily. We weren’t whores because we wanted to be. We pretty much let ourselves be raped so we could live. I’m sure it was horrible for you, but we did it so often we just got numb to it.” Mae said quietly.
 
 
Val nodded, “I understand. I know it can’t sound like much to you but it was traumatic for me. Even when I fell in love with Hondo I had a hard time gettin’ comfortable being nude with him. I wore a snap up shirt and a skirt the first time we made love and wouldn’t let him take them off! The first time we showered together, as he said he wanted to, I wore a swimsuit! I.. I guess I’ve never been extremely comfortable in my own skin. Always felt ugly and somehow dirty.”
 
 
“From being almost raped?” Mae asked.
 
 
“It.. it definitely got worse from that but… somehow I think I was always that way a little. Even worse now since… since what happened at that lab.” Val said.
 
 
“You don’t know what it’s like to feel dirty.” Kiah said in a sad, matter of fact tone.
 
 
Val sighed, “Kiah, I can’t understand how you feel, as I wasn’t in your shoes, but I understand not feelin’ adequate. Hondo, he made me feel like I could do anything, but before him I was a depressed, scared little girl, hiding and lashing out when I could. Until recently I felt I could take on the world but.. I can’t even describe what happened to me nor why I feel as I do because of it. I know I felt like I lost everything, including myself. That feelin’ of being ugly and dirty overtook me and.. and I felt like the one person who gave me strength abandoned me and the one friend I had here turned his back on me… I felt and feel so inadequate because of what happened that all I can do is hide, lash out, and wait until it’s over….  I can’t know you and you can’t know me, but I know you girls are much more than what you were forced to be. I don’t want you to feel like I think I’m better than you, because I know I’m not. If anything I’m jealous of you a bit.”
 
 
“Jealous?! Of what??” Kiah half exclaimed.
 
 
“That you have each other and can be so free around each other. That you have been through so much and have not given up. You act angry, and I understand that. Mae is timid and nervous, and I understand that too! But you both have been carin’ and kind to me when I don’t deserve it. I should be helpin’ you and instead you have been tryin’ to help me. You have each other’s backs and have been through the same hell so someone understands you… I have no one who understands me.” Val said quietly.
 
 
“Hondo had to try to help you.” Kiah said softening a bit again.
 
 
“And Fernando?” Mae asked.
 
 
“Fernando, he… he did a lot before I lost it, but… he doesn’t seem to understand my mental issues right now. He just yells at me and .. and I yell back… I don’t mean to but I see him and just feel that… he was my friend too but he chose Hondo over me when I needed that friendship so badly!! I know I wronged him and need to apologize, but all I want from him is a kind word, some understanding, a hug, and to be told it’ll be alright… That I will be alright! ... Hondo tried hard to understand but… I blamed him so much for not savin’ me from that place that I couldn’t tell him what happened to me to even give him the chance at understandin’ me! I hurt him, and though I want what we had back, I hate him too! I hate that I feel this way, but… They… they nearly killed me multiple times on that operating table… every time I thought I’d finally be released from that hell and every time they brought me back from the brink I’d sob because he wasn’t there! I wanted him there, I begged for him to be there and he wasn’t there!!!” She said starting to sob again.
 
 
Mae walked over and sat on the arm of the recliner and pulled the older woman’s head to rest against her chest as she held her and let her cry. Kiah sighed and stood up, with the blanket draped over her shoulders and wrapped around her. She walked over and grabbed Val’s other hand as she squatted down to look into her face better.
 
 
“I.. I’m sorry. I know you didn’t mean anything and I didn’t mean to push… well I did, honestly, but I didn’t know it would make me feel so bad to see you upset like this. Val, Mae is right. I’m scared to death. I don’t know your pain and fears, but I know mine and they terrify me! I lash out because I’m scared, like you. I don’t know how to make my insecurities go away any more than you know how to stop hating Hondo or stop lashing out… Maybe you are right. Maybe I’m luckier than I knew, having three sister like this who understand me and are as scared as I am. I.. I don’t think I’d be alive if it wasn’t for them. I’d sure not be able to try this without them. Mae talked to Fernando enough to get us here. I’d have propositioned him and then gotten angry if I didn’t just get paid and #$@!ed him and got it over with! I’d not even have thought getting out was possible, and if he would have offered I’d have laughed at him as I was sure it wasn’t possible. We can’t offer you a chance to get out of your own hell, as we didn’t know how to do it for ourselves. If we knew we would help you… Please, please just don’t hate us because of me and my attitude.” Kiah said
 
 
Val shook her head, “I don’t *sniff* hate you… I hate myself! *sob*! I don’t want to be like this!”
 
 
Kiah gave her hand a squeeze before letting go and standing back up.
 
 
“I’ll watch her if you want to shower.” Mae offered.
 
 
Kiah nodded, grabbing her clothes bag before heading to the shower.
 
 
When she came back, Val had settled down for the most part but was drinking whiskey again to dull the pain and emptiness she felt inside.
 
 
“Feel better?” Mae asked as Kiah entered the kitchen drying her hair and wearing just a pair of shorts.
 
 
Kiah nodded, “I really needed that. How’s Val?”
 
 
“I’m okay.” Val said in a small, quiet voice.
 
 
Mae shrugged, “She’s drinking again, but hopefully it will help her sleep.”
 
 
Kiah nodded, “Think we could all use some sleep. Feels weird being able to go to bed this early and not have a client or two waiting.”
 
 
Mae smirked, “I could get used to it, though.”
 
 
“Yeah, though the thought of being free to find that one person to go to bed with every night sounds nice too.” She said with a grin.
 
 
“I know who you’re thinking of but don’t! Not until she at least decides on moving on.” Mae whispered at her firmly.
 
 
“I know! I’m not a complete bitch!” Kiah hissed back.
 
 
“Besides you’re a bit young for him.” Mae replied quietly.
 
 
“Age is just a number. Once I show him my skills he won’t care!” Kiah said back quietly with a grin.
 
 
“He might be a little standoffish too, like her.” Mae whispered nodding at Val.
 
 
“Let’s find out.” Kiah said, wiggling her eyebrows at Mae.
 
 
“Don’t!” Mae hissed but it was too late.
 
 
“Hey Val, I have to know. You said you were shy around Hondo, was he as shy around you?” Kiah asked.
 
 
Val looked up at her, furrowed her brow in thought and then shook her head.
 
 
“N.no, he’s different. I thought he hated me or thought I was ugly at first as he kept rejectin’ my advances. Didn’t understand he was goin’ through some things. He was also worried that I just had a mission crush on him and would dump him when things settled down like the woman before me did. He was a gentleman to me and made sure I was alright with everythin’, but after our first time, I saw him out of clothes more then in them, when we were alone at least. Unless he’s workin’ or there is company it’s hard to keep clothes on him. He rubbed off on me some, and when it was just us I finally felt comfortable in my own skin because of how he saw me… until now that is. … Why do you ask?” She replied.
 
 
Kiah shrugged, “Dunno. Guess I was curious if opposites truly do attract or not.”
 
 
Mae gave her a look that said she was not pleased but Kiah ignored it. Val went back to her drinking as Mae cleaned up from the tea and laid some of her new clothes out for the next day. After a while she turned to Kiah who she found to be nodding off on the couch.
 
 
“You can come sleep with us, you know. This bed is pretty big.” Mae said.
 
 
Kiah blinked a bit and shook her head as she came back from almost being asleep.
 
 
“No, I’m good.” She said groggily.
 
 
“The girls would like you to, I know.” Mae replied.
 
 
Kiah nodded, “I know and maybe tomorrow night or the night after. I’ll stay up and watch this one.”
 
 
“Don’t worry ‘bout me.” Val said, her words starting to slur again.
 
 
“You sure?” Mae asked her.
 
 
Kiah nodded, “I’ll be fine here. I think she said this pulls out into a bed, anyway.”
 
 
Mae nodded, “I’ve seen these work before. Want help with it?”
 
 
Kiah nodded and stood up.
 
 
Between them they got the bed out, found some sheets and an extra blanket. It was well after 10:30 pm now so Mae bid her a good night and joined the other two who had already passed out in the big bed at the front. Kiah sat down on the edge of the bed after she left and looked at Val for a moment, who was crying softly in her drunken stupor. She shook her head after a moment, stood up, and covered Val up with one of the blankets.
 
 
“Don’ worry ‘bout me… don’ wan anyone ta worry ‘bout me.” Val slurred.
 
 
“Sorry, but I’m starting to not only worry about you but like you. Just wish you’d learn to like yourself… But I’m one to talk… Now, get some sleep.” Kiah said softly.
 
 
Val sniffled and nodded before taking another deep pull from the whiskey bottle, setting it down, and curling up in the blanket.  
 
 
Kiah rubbed her arm subconsciously as she stood over Val for a moment watching her and wondered if she shouldn’t have taken Val to bed with her. It just seemed to awkward to her, as the thought of sleeping with a stranger brought bad memories into her mind that she had managed to block out until now. Before it was just a fact of her existing so she could block them out. The thought of being free of that changed everything for her though. She shook her head after a bit and turned her mind to other thoughts as she turned out all but one small light and laid back onto the pull-out bed. She knew she should not think about him, but it did not stop her. Though the events of that fight weighed heavily on her, she had imagined it was that cowboy on her, instead of which ever customer she had at the time, many nights after that fight where she first saw him. She knew if she owed her body to anyone it was to that Fernando guy, but she would let Mae pay the tab this time. She never dreamed she would get this close to that cowboy, let alone see him again, though she dared not hope at her chances with him. Still, it was a nice thought. The thought alone of being held in his large, powerful arms was almost overwhelming to her, let alone having any physical relations. Just to be held there for a night, she told herself, that’s all she needed to feel human, just one night.
 
 
-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-
 
 
Upon returning to the hanger, Hondo pulled the jeep inside this time to spare them getting even wetter than they were. They both shivered a bit from being damp, but at least they were not soaked to the bone. Tonya met them at the jeep and Karl and the soldiers followed close behind, all hungry and ready to eat. They took to food to the counter, with everyone’s help, then left things for the others to sort out.
 
 
While Tonya set food out, and Karl helped warm up some of it as it had cooled off more than they liked, Hondo and Molly ran upstairs to get dry shirts. Once upstairs Hondo shed his coat and vest, with Molly’s help as she insisted. She then helped with his guns and his shirt, laying them to the side and out of the way. She ran her small hands over his chest, shivering still slightly, though more focused on him at the moment than on getting out of her own wet clothes. After a couple minutes, he grabbed her hands, pushed them to her side, and then unzipped her jacket. She tried to protest, but a firm look from him and she gave in, complying to his help. He hung the wet jacket on a chair before pulling her wet t-shirt off and throwing it into the pile of laundry to be washed. She stood before him and looked into his eyes as he gazed back at her. After what seemed like an eternity of bliss and deep longing, he pulled her into him and kissed her deeply. Her cold, firm nipples poked into his warm chest as he pulled her into him. She moaned softly from the sensation and kissed him back more passionately, pushing him onto the bed and falling on top of him without ever unlocking lips. After a few minutes of that she pulled back and looked at him with a hungry look, as she panted.
 
 
“If we don’t *pant* go down now *pant* we’ll not eat tonight.” She said to him.
 
 
He nodded, “My hunger for you is greater than that for food, but I reckon we should eat.”
 
 
She nodded and leaned in for one more kiss before getting off him. As he stood up she threw him one of his warmer button-up shirts and pulled on a hoodie herself. She grinned a bit as he stared at her.
 
 
“Just need to stay warm and cover up for a little bit. I plan on you taking me after.” She said with a grin.
 
 
He nodded and pulled on the shirt, “So, how fast can you eat?”
 
 
She giggled and headed out of the room ahead of him. He shook his head, grinned, and headed out the door behind her, buttoning his shirt as he went, the food being the last thing on either of their minds. After such a stressful day he was sure they were not the only ones who needed some sort of release, but he was fairly sure not many others would get it like he and Molly would. His smile faded briefly as Val came to his mind, but he pushed that thought out, thinking of his and Molly’s past exploits and those to come to keep him from going down the dark paths in his mind where thinking about Val took him these days.
 
 
Tonya shook her head as she looked at them, as Molly was smiling big and Hondo had this grin on that he only seemed to get when he was having a certain type of good time.
 
 
“You guys hungry? Supper looks pretty good.” She said.
 
 
“I should eat somethin’ but not too hungry.” Hondo said.
 
 
“Same here.” Molly chimed in.
 
 
“Can always share a meal, I guess, and see how you feel.” Tonya replied.
 
 
They looked at each other and nodded.
 
 
The soldiers had taken their meals and gone back to watching the door as they ate. They would shut it soon, as the wind was picking up and the air was getting extremely cold.
 
 
Karl ate with Tonya, Hondo and Molly at the bar, though he eyed Hondo and Molly as they shared a meal, eating out of the same bowls together and eating quickly. After a moment he shook his head at them.
 
 
“If you two act like that at the camp, there will be no hiding that you two are together and doing it.” He said flatly.
 
 
Hondo glared at him, “What the hell do you mean?”
 
 
“You two act like a couple! Not just friends or companions but a #$@!ing couple who is definitely #$@!ing!” Karl said.
 
 
“Is it that bad?” Molly asked.
 
 
Tonya grimaced and nodded her agreement, “I’m afraid so. Does anyone else know about you two, other than the six of us here?”
 
 
Hondo sighed, “Ruth maybe. Otherwise most think we’re just workin’ together or at most comiseratin’ over relationship woes.”
 
 
“If you don’t want people to know you’ll have to be more careful! Especially in front of the soldiers. They talk, you know. Good thing they didn’t eat with us. Seeing you two share bowls like that and they’d tell everyone you two eloped!” Karl exclaimed quietly
 
 
“Do the girls know?” Tonya asked softly.
 
 
Hondo shook his head, “No, an’ it’s best they don’t for now.”
 
 
Molly frowned and nodded in agreement, but she could not help but think on Joanna’s words again.  
 
 
Hondo saw her frown and took her hand in his and gave it a light squeeze, causing her to look up at him with her sad eyes. He looked at her as he spoke, but it was to all of them, not just her.
 
 
“Know that it’s not because I’m ashamed of her. I don’t know where this is goin’ with us yet, an’ I’m tryin’ to give Val more time, as I made a promise to her first.” HE said.
 
 
“Is that fair to Molly, though?!” Karl asked in an accusing tone.
 
 
Hondo sighed but before he could speak, Molly spoke up.
 
 
“I understood that this might be only temporary. I lost James and was so empty inside and felt like I was going to lose myself. Val’s rejection has made him feel similar things. We are just helping each other through bad times. If Val comes around I will be pleased for them both. If she doesn’t I’d be happy to stay with him too. There is nothing unfair to me about it as it was made clear to me that he  
felt obligated to get Val back if he could, for his promise to her and for the girls. I knew this and pushed for us to be together after he tried to hold me at arm’s length. I knew we needed each other and I knew what I was getting into.” Molly stated softly but matter-of-fact like.  
 
 
“You want to get back with Val because of us?” Tonya asked.
 
 
Hondo sighed, “Partly, yes. She’s havin’ a rough time but she loves you both, despite things she said in anger. Plus, I want you girls to know what commitment means, an’ to be an example to you.”
 
 
“Don’t worry about us, papa! I like Molly and I know Zoey will understand if you explain it to her.” Tonya said.
 
 
“I still made a promise to Val. It would be easier to break it, but I only will when I know she’s rejected me for good.” He said.
 
 
“Why not stay with Molly even if you get your wife back?” Karl asked.
 
 
“Yeah, why not?” Tonya asked.
 
 
“It’s not right, that’s why!” Hondo said.
 
 
“Not right? A lot of guys are married and have wessen girlfriends too.” Karl said.
 
 
Tonya nodded, “It’s fairly common in some areas. Some have more than one. If they have wessen slaves, all of them are fair game to be screwed by their owners, though not all owners screw their slaves.”
 
 
“I’ll not hear anymore of this! You girls need to learn you are human and not second rate citizens. You deserve a man who loves you an’ is faithful to you alone! I.. I care a lot ‘bout Molly, but had Val not kicked me out an’ humiliated me in front of the camp, that caused us to separate, I’d never have been with Molly. Now, the Almighty might still judge me for this, but that’s between him an’ me… Molly is right an’ I need her right now, more than I care to admit, but that doesn’t mean I’m doin’ right… It’s not on her, though, its on me. She only has shown me love, care, an’ loyalty, all of which I don’t deserve. None of this is easy for me, but it’s between me, her, an’ Val, so I’ll not hear discussion about it from any of you, understand?!” He demanded more so than asked.
 
 
Tonya looked down and nodded. Karl grimaced and sighed.
 
 
“Alright, MASTER!” Karl said overemphasizing ‘master’.
 
 
Hondo glared at him and spoke in a low growl, “Listen here, I might have saved your ass, but I’m not your Master! I ask you to follow me ‘cause I’m tryin’ to help protect everyone. You don’t like it, then you are free to walk away, but my personal life is my own to deal with! I start lyin’ to women to use them then I deserve your ire an’ intervention. But We both explained that there is not anythin’ bein’ hidden from each other. We are two adults, who know the stakes an’ are workin’ though shit together, so keep you nose, opinions, an’ attitude to yourself!!”
 
 
Karl tried to match his glare but ended up looking away with a sigh. He then got up, grabbed the last of his supper and walked away.
 
 
Hondo stood up and shook his head angrily. He then walked to the fridge and grabbed the beer and started walking to the stairs.
 
 
“Where you going?” Molly asked.
 
 
“To the room. I’ll see you when you’re done, but don’t rush for me… Tonya, please look after the girls.” He said in a quiet flat tone, without turning around.
 
 
“They have their food already. I’ll stay with them tonight in case something happens, so I won’t bother you two tonight.” Tonya replied.
 
 
“Alright… G’night” He said as he walked up the stairs.
 
 
After he left Tonya looked up at Molly and saw her frowning, sadly.
 
 
“You okay?” Tonya asked.
 
 
Molly looked up at her with a surprised look, as she was jerked from her own thoughts unexpectedly.
 
 
“Oh, uhm.. yeah! I’m fine!” she said quickly.
 
 
“Are you?” Tonya asked hesitantly.
 
 
Molly sighed and her frown returned, “I don’t know.”
 
 
Tonya put her hand on Molly’s, “What’s wrong? You can talk to me.”
 
 
Molly shrugged, “I don’t know… I guess it’s partly that I do love Hondo and wish I could stay with him. I didn’t lie when I said he wasn’t being unfair, as I knew from the start what I was getting into. I guess I didn’t realize I’d fall madly in love with him.”
 
 
“Have you told him that?” Tonya asked.
 
 
“NO! I can’t! He’s struggling with it all as is! Plus, .. I can’t help but feeling that he’d be unhappy with me, seeing I’m a wessen.” She replied sadly.
 
 
“He’s not like that. I accused him of that before too, but I was wrong! He genuinely sees us as humans.” Tonya replied.
 
 
Molly sighed, “I was starting to believe that until someone in came told me he’d be ashamed of me for being a wessen and take them over me since they were human, if Val leaves him that is.”
 
 
“Who said that?!” Tonya asked in shock.
 
 
Molly shook her head, “It doesn’t matter. What matters is I can’t help but wonder if she’s right and if.. if he would love me if I was human.”
 
 
Tonya frowned, “I think he does love you, but he still loves her too. I think he feels if he admits it he will only tear himself apart if she comes around. He acts tough, and is in some ways, but he also is kind-hearted and loves deeply. I think papa has had people use that against him in the past and learned to act hard to protect himself.”
 
 
She nodded, “I know you’re right about him. Just not sure about myself right now.”
 
 
“I think this storm is making us all a bit more depressed and question ourselves more than usual.” Tonya said.
 
 
An unexpected flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder nearly caused Tonya to jump out of her chair. Molly gave her a worried look as Tonya panted and tried to calm herself down.
 
 
“You alright?” Molly asked in a worried tone.
 
 
Tonya shook her head, “N.n.not really.”
 
 
What’s wrong? That can’t be just from being sensitive to the pressure and noise.” Molly said.
 
 
Tonya shook her head, “It isn’t… two masters ago used to chain us out in storm like this, as punishment, in nothing but our fur… There was a big tree that seemed to draw in lightning and he’d put us close enough, that even if lightning didn’t hit, you could feel the electricity on your skin… He tied me out in it several time… had a good friend tied out in it once who died from a strike and another who was hit and paralyzed from the waist down. She was given away to some doctors to be experimented on! … been terrified of storms ever since.”
 
 
“That’s terrible! You should tell Hondo.” Molly said
 
 
Tonya shook her head, “No! please don’t say anything to him. I.. I don’t want to add to his worries right now…. I’ll stay with the girls tonight and I’ll make it.”
 
 
Molly sighed and then nodded, though begrudgingly so, “I guess I understand. If it gets too much come up and get us, though. We don’t want you to be afraid.”
 
 
Tonya smiled at her, “Thanks.”
 
 
Molly nodded, “No problem… I’d better go see how he’s doing.”
 
 
Tonya nodded, “Okay. I’ll clean up then get the girls ready for bed.”
 
 
About then Marvin and Maggie appeared, both looking a bit groggy still.
 
 
“Hell of a storm.” Marvin said.
 
 
Maggie nodded, “It is but awesome too! Have been kept underground so long I almost forgot how much I liked them!”
 
 
Molly chuckled at her and shook her head. Maggie was usually a ball of nerves, but she liked storms. It was odd, but all of them were in their own way. She had noticed Maggie had been a bit steadier the last few days, and she was pretty sure that was because of Marvin. She feared what would happen to Maggie if they didn’t work out but liked how it was going so far.
 
 
“I think Tonya has your meals in the fridge. I’m headed up to bed. Goodnight!” Molly said as she headed to the stairs.
 
 
“Goodnight! We’ll have coffee waiting for you in the morning!” Maggie called out cheerfully.
 
 
Molly just smiled to herself and continued walking. She doubted herself and worried that being a wessen would embarrass Hondo, if they were found out, but she realized even so she had it pretty good here. Never before had she had friends of whom she could talk to and trust like this. It was a good feeling. She feared if Hondo and Val got back together that she would lose all this, as she was not sure she could stay and not be with him now. For now, though, she tried to push that out of her mind and think only about the here and now.
 
 
When Molly walked into the bedroom she found Hondo with his shirt off, and pants on, half laying on the bed staring at the ceiling. She walked up to hi and looked down at him with a soft smile on her face.
 
 
“You okay?” She asked.
 
 
He nodded, “Yeah. Just thinkin’.”
 
 
“What about?” She asked
 
 
“If I was really bein’ unfair to you.” He said quietly.
 
 
She sat down beside him with a sigh, “You’re not.”
 
 
“Do you feel like I am, though?” He asked.
 
 
“I knew what I was getting into from the beginning. How is that being unfair to me?” She asked
 
 
He sat up and looked her in the eyes, “That’s not an answer.”
 
 
She sighed and looked down, “I’ve never felt like you treated me unfairly.”
 
 
“But somethin’ is wrong.” He said.
 
 
She looked back up at him with sad, longing eyes, “It’s not you, but the universe that is unfair. First it gives me hope of finding my mate, then takes him away. Then I fall for you, knowing it may never be. I knew what I was getting into and I need you probably more than you need me, but I can’t help but feeling is an unfair and cruel trick to fall in love with a man who loves someone else.”
 
 
He sighed and looked at the floor, “I’m sorry, Molly. I really am.”
 
 
She grabbed his hand softly and held it in her lap, “Don’t be sorry. Just love me for the time we have together, that’s all I ask.”
 
 
He looked up at her and forced a weak smile, “I’ll do my best.”
 
 
Another bolt of lightning at the far edge of town and a rumble of thunder drew their attention. Hondo shook his head and swore softly.
 
 
“Damn.. no shower tonight I reckon.” He said.
 
 
“I know it’s cold, but we can run out on the balcony, soap up, rinse off, and run back in quickly. Safer than using water from the shower.” Molly suggested.
 
 
He thought for a moment before nodding, “Still dangerous but better than not washin’ before I ravish you… Unless you’d rather take a rain-check an’ call it a night.”
 
 
She gave him a hungry look and shook her head, “That isn’t even an option. I’m a wessen, after all, and use to not having the luxury of a shower every night. That never stopped me from making love, though.”
 
 
She stood up and pulled off her hoodie, allowing her breasts to bounce slightly as the fabric was pulled away from them. She then walked to the bathroom, grabbed the soap and a couple towels, and laid them on the table in the middle of the room. She then walked up to him and as she stared up into his steely eyes, she dropped her pants and panties and stepped out of them before pulling his down. She then grabbed his manhood, tenderly but firmly, tugging slightly as she moved towards the door, leading him to the balcony door by his privates. As they passed the table she grabbed the soap and then stopped by the balcony door.
 
 
“You ready?” she asked in a sultry tone as she handed him the soap to free one hand as she was not letting go of him with the other.
 
 
He nodded and grinned, “This might hurt a bit, but yeah.”
 
 
She opened the door and lead him out into the rain, only letting him go once the icy waters had drenched them both and his manhood reacted to the cold. He soaped her up quickly, feeling her body trembling as he did so before handing the soap over to her. She soaped him and they both rinsed off, both shivering from the rain. They stopped momentarily, though before going in to kiss in the rain. The feel of the natural water hitting their bodies felt almost sensual, and the coldness, though almost painful, aroused their senses in other ways. After a moment he scooped her up in his arms and carried her inside, where he set her down by the table. They both grabbed a towel and after wiping most of the dripping water off their bodies, clung to each other for warmth. He lifted her up and kissed her again as her firm, cold nipped pushed into his chest and her body trembled in his arms. She pulled back after a bit and stared into his eyes, panting and still shivering slightly.
 
 
“Th.that was exhilarating!”She stammered excitedly.
 
 
He set her down on the bed and moved his mouth down to her firm nipples. She wrapped her fingers in his hair and pulled him into her, as her breath started to pick up again. His warm mouth on her firm cold nipples as a new sensation for her, and caused her to moan from pleasure sooner than normal. Her body tensed and she closed her eyes tightly as a wave of pleasure rippled through her and he pulled back, smiling as he looked at her face. She opened her eyes after a moment and smiled at him with that hungry smile of hers again.
 
 
(To be continued!)  ***** {Post continued as ran out of characters. Might be my longest post to date}

Roll back, Fernando’s time, around 6:45PM
 
They slept longer than he expected and more than he wished. He slowly got out of bed without waking up Ichigo or Minerva, managing to get to his driver’s seat and start putting on his clothes. Meeshie stretches and get out of the bed, trotting over to him. He gets her food and water bowl ready and filled with food and water. She then goes back to the bed to wake up Kitty. He watches them as they hop down from the bed, making sure Kitty does not get hurt from the jump. He then waits for them to eat and drink their fill, and clean up the bowl if they get empty. But this causes time to go by unintentionally making it past a few minutes after 7o’clock. As the cats were finishing up, there was a knock on the camper side door. Though he was in a t-shirt and pants, he steps up to the door and opens it half way.
 
Esther was outside in rain gear pulling a covered pull cart next to her. She says to him, “Since it is raining, we’re delivering the food out to as many that needs them. How many do you need?”
 
“Thank you, I was going to check on the status of the food but thanks. I would need two regular meals and one vegetarian meal.” He tells her.
 
“Any juice or sweet water drinks?” She asks.
 
“No, I have drinks in here. Save it for somebody else.” He replies to her.
 
“Alright then...” As she goes into the pull cart and pulls out three bags to hand to him, “Two meat meals and one vegetarian meal.”
 
Fernando takes the bags and places them on the camper floor behind the door, “Thank you. We appreciate what you guys are doing for us. Like I tell Ruth and Joann, anything you guys need, I’ll get it for you.”
 
“We are just doing our part, nothing more.” Esther says, adding, “Take care.”
 
She then starts to walk to the next camper, with Karl and Marvin with Hondo, where she should see La La and Lee Lee, then Maribelle and Teri next. As she walks away, Fernando slowly closes the door before putting the food bags on the counter. He takes them out of the bag and organizes the items on the counter. He hears scratching by the door, turning around and sees Kitty scratching the door. Meeshie has stepped up to his feet and meows.
 
He picks up the felines and gets his cane. They disappear in a flash of light.
 
[Moon Base on the Dark Side of the Moon]
 
A bright flash happens on an empty lab area. Fernando kneels down on one knee and puts the two cats on the floor.
 
“Meeshie, you know where the facilities are, take Kitty there and use it accordingly.” Fernando tells her.
 
Meeshie nudges Kitty and then leaves the room with Kitty following her.
 
Fernando walks over to one of the consoles and starts typing on the keyboard. The screen brings up the answer of possibilities and probabilities of and all events from The Chaos to Present Time and a few years into Future Time; only thing that he comes up is that this was an artificially constructed world from the remnants of a world they had destroyed. Whether this destruction was accidental or intentional remains to be seem though by the Spirit’s behavior alone is that it was accidental and they are trying to make up for what they done. This only anger Fernando more. Furthermore, he is going to have to tell Hondo of this finding eventually, but for now things are going to have to remain secret from everybody.
 
Looking at the second chart on the other screen, he sees duplicate Personal Time Lines of a few individuals including of himself, Hondo, Val, Jeanette, Ichigo, Minerva, Meeshie and a few others. Looking at their position on the globe, he can see who is here, with a second Jeanette and a second Val in around the Convoy Camp area of Flight Town; he knew about the Second Jeanette but the Second Val is news to him and it answers a few questions he could not answer before. Fernando, Hondo and most others are in Asia, mostly China and Japan, with Fernando, Meeshie, Ichigo and Minerva in Japan and Hondo in his way there.
 
A couple minutes to his research the cats return from their little trip to the sand box. Meeshie jumps up to the console and looks at the screen. She understands what she sees and she is not happy about it. Fernando looks down at her.
 
“No Meeshie. We will keep this a secret until the right time.” He tells her before lightly scratching her chin.
 
She just meows back at him.
 
He then moves to scratching behind her ear, “Girl, I swear.” He continues after gathering his thoughts, “It is us against the world. And looks like Minerva and Ichigo will be with us for the long term.” He then lets out a sigh before throwing in, “Those two want to start practicing making babies but I want to wait until we are out of that hellhole place called Flight Town. You think I’m making the right decision?”
 
Meeshie just meows once while rubbing the side of her head against his hand.
 
“Glad that you agree.” He says to her. He then asks, “You ready to go?”
 
Again, Meeshie just meows once.
 
He then picks her up and bends down to pick up Kitty, then takes his cane into his hand. In a bright flash of light they are gone.
 
[Inside Electric Camper in Convoy’s Camp at Flight Town]
 
A bright flash of light appears inside the camper, with Fernando and the two cats appear in the center of the standing area. He puts down the two cats on the floor. He then goes back to preparing the food he had on the covered sink and stove counter. Finding the tray he has in the lower storage area, he puts the food on it but leaves it on the counter. The cats make their way back to the bed and under the blanket.
 
He leans over and shakes both Minerva and Ichigo by their shoulders to wake them up. They reluctantly wake up though he reminds them that it is dinner time. They reluctantly wake up though he reminds them that it is dinner time.
 
Dinner is served, and they begin to eat as he strips down to his briefs before going back to the bed to join them on the meal. Nothing is said during the meal other than thanking him for getting the food, to which he stated that it was delivered here by one of Ruth’s sisters and thanks should be given to her the next day or so when the weather clears.
 
After dinner has been eaten, Fernando takes the bowls, bottles and utensils to wash them and put them away in the cupboard and put the trash into a bag to throw out when the weather clears, which gets placed by the front driver’s seat. He gets back to the bed and crawls under the blanket, lying on his back and staring at the ceiling.
 
Ichigo crawls onto him, straddling as needed. Minerva laid up against him with her front against his side.
 
Ichigo makes her complaint “Now that you woke us up and fed us, it is going to be difficult to go back to sleep.”
 
He tells them “You two got an hour to digest your food and get sleepy.”
 
For the first ten minutes, they were quiet, which gave him time to think about what he saw on the Moon base console screens.
 
“OK ladies; let me ask a personal question. If I were to go to Japan, would either of you go with me?” He says and asks.
 
“I would go where you go. That goes without saying.” Ichigo says.
 
“Back in that bitch’s shop, you said and read things that were in Asian Languages and explained it to the store assistant. So what languages do you know and how you know them?” He says and asks.
 
“My family came to America long ago from Japan, hence my name ‘Ichigo Morino’ which as a whole means ‘Strawberries of the Forest.’ My parents made sure that I and my sisters knew our Japanese heritage, culture and language. We connected with a Chinese family and I learned Mandarin Chinese from them. English I learned in school when it was open.” Ichigo explains.
 
Minerva gasps, “You’re Ichigo Morino? The one with the million dollar reward on her head?”
 
“She is and no one is going to collect on it as far as I can help it. General Jastrey knows that Ichigo was set up to fail by the hands of the ‘Grey Lady’ and it was the Grey Lady that caused the revolts in Fight Town that Ichigo is being blamed for. For that Ichigo has my personal protection.” He explains.
 
“Oh.” Minerva replies, wanting to say something but does not.
 
Fernando throws the question at her, “What about you, would you go to Japan with me?”
 
“Well...” Minerva begins to say as she looks at Ichigo. She continues, “Yes. I will go with you and her.”
 
“Then do you any Asian Languages?” He asks.
 
“Well, like Ichigo’s family, my family came in from Japan long ago, and they taught us those things to continue to be Japanese. But The Chaos happened and other things happened shortly after. Certain people of our community were purged and turned into Wessens and sold into slavery, but many of us were rescued by members of our own community though those who were rescued were already in the process of being turned into Wessens – mice, rats, rabbits, squirrel, gerbil and hamster – you can see where I came from as my grandmother was turned into a hamster. But the community held together as much as possible over the years until Hector came some 20 or 30 years go. He destroyed Flight Town, and started his Wessens being the chosen ones. My family held on, and I learned those things to be Japanese, its language and its culture. So I know Japanese as far as I was taught but being a Wessen, English was the main language I had to learn to be in the outside world, Japanese was when I was at home.” Minerva explains.
 
“So you’re a Third Generation Wessen...” He asks.
 
“Third Generation Wessen, Second Generation Hybrid as mom was a hybrid and then Miniya and I.” Minerva explains.
 
Ichigo lets out “それで、あなたは日本語を話すことができますか”(“Sore de, anata wa nihongo o hanasu koto ga dekimasu ka?”, which translates to “So, you can speak Japanese?”)
 
Minerva replies, “もちろん日本語も話せます”(“Mochiron nihongo mo hanasemasu” , which translate to “of course I can speak Japanese.”)
 
Fernando throws at them, “お互いを信頼するなら、お互いをテストする必要はありません” (“Otagai o shinrai surunara, otagai o tesuto suru hitsuyō wa arimasen.” which translates to “If we are going to trust each other, we do not have to test each other.”)
 
They both look at him.
 
“I know some 10 different languages, including Japanese, Chinese and Korean, and that is not counting 56 different computer languages.” He explains.
 
“Computer languages?” Minerva asks.
 
“Information retrieval systems.” Fernando explains. He then sits up, “Hold on.” He then gets off the bed and steps to the front section of the camper at the passenger section, opening a panel there where he keeps some personal equipment there and takes out one of his laptops, a G4 Powerbook with a 64GB Compact Flash being used as a SSD Hard Drive. He turns it on, it lets out its musical diagnostic beep and the front of the camper lights ups while it boots up into OSX 10.4. He logs in with his password, puts in an Encyclopedia Britannica and takes it to the bed as the desktop loads up even with the screen closed. All the girls can see is a thin metal box with light coming out from a seam in the middle of the thinnest part. He sits on the bed and under the blanket, putting the laptop on his lap. Pressing the button on the front of the machine it opens up, revealing the screen and a keyboard on it. He tells them, “Ladies, this is an Old World Portable Information Retrieval System.  It and many others like it work on their own set of rules and languages, of which I know 56 of them. This covers for more than most of the possible systems I would run into.”
 
They look at the screen in awe, having never seen one or know how it works. Though the military would have access to such devices, the “Community Lawmen” would not.
 
Minerva says, “I remember Grandmother saying that she has seen something like this on some work tables where she was transformed into a Wessen Hamster. But she said that they big boxes and looked heavy.”
 
“It would figure that a Lab Town would have such a thing.” Fernando says. He then double clicks the CD Icon on the upper right of the screen, activating the program. As it loads up and runs, he says, “This is one of the Information Discs I have in it. Ask me anything you want and I will see if it is on the system.”
 
“Well, according to my grandmother, we went to the moon and had bases floating up above the Earth.” Minerva states.
 
“OK, let’s start with entering ‘Moon Landing.’ Put the words ‘Moon Landing’ into this information entry box, and hit the ‘Enter’ button.” Fernando explains as he demonstrates.
 
The computer screen changes and outputs a list of the Apollo Moon and Space Missions. He says to himself, “I remember this from long ago.” He then double clicks on the video icon for the 15 minute video explaining the Apollo 11 mission and its landing on the moon.
 
The video goes through its introduction, showing Neil Armstrong stepping off the lander and saying his famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind!” The girls were awed in silence as they watched the video as it showed mission highlights and explains the mission as a whole for the next 15 minutes.
 
The video ends.
 
Before the girls would begin to argue as to what to see next he closes the lid to the laptop. He looks at them both before saying, “The information on the systems I have is Old World Information, and it is not complete or up to what this world has but the technology and information does apply here. Terms of language and situations like Lab Towns turning people into Wessens did not exist in the Old World, Spirits and other Space Visitors were not public knowledge and only worked with high levels of the government and the military and we have been at war since. As you can see, this war has been hard on us all, have lost many major battles but we have not lost the war. It is people like Hector that are continue to fight for the wrong side and what to give our world away to these Spirits and enslaving all of humanity – all of us. That is why Wessens were formed, to be slaves to the Spirits. I and members of this convoy are not going to have that, we are going to fight until the Spirits leave or there is nothing left of this world for them to take and people like Hector will either dead or in jail.”  
 
The girls look at him and slowly nod.
 
“I need to get you two and the others trained in firearms usage. Having and firing a gun are two different things.” He tells them.
 
Ichigo asks, “Anything else on that Information system?”
 
“There are a lot of things on it, but I will save it for another day.” Fernando explains.
 
Minerva throws in, “Does it show movies like those having sex?”
 
“What?” Fernando asks.
 
Ichigo throws in for her, “Sex shows, like they show at a lot of the theaters. If it has archive films of people going to the moon and other various information, it should have sex shows on it.”
 
“Whether it does or does not remains to be seen. The information here is to help others and teach children their words and numbers, and to teach people like you science and technology.” He explains.
 
“So, it ‘remains to be seen’ means that you do have sex shows on that system but you do not want to show it to us. Why?” Minerva asks.
 
“Let’s say that I do have sex shows on this system. Why would you want to watch it?” He asks.
 
“Why not? We are stuck here during the storm, it’s boring and nothing to do as you do not want to get busy having sex with the two girls that are with you. Might as well watch the sex shows that you have on that thing.” Minerva says.
 
“OK then, what if we watch the sex show on this unit and either of your girls get in the mood to do it like on the screen?” He asks.
 
“We are already in the mood to do it now, but you insist on waiting until we get out of here in a few days.” Ichigo tells him before looking at Minerva who nods embarrassedly.
 
“What would it get you, I or us if we started having sex now and not in a few days after we leave this place?” He asks.
 
They both look at each other for a moment before turning to him.
 
“I’m not saying that it would give respect and loyalty...” Ichigo begins to say.
 
“Just say it.” He tells her.
 
“We would be more emotionally attached to you and more trusting of you that we would give of ourselves to you.” Minerva throws in.
 
Ichigo throws in “Yeah.”
 
“OK. What if I was a complete dud in terms of sex?” He dare asks.
 
“I have slept with you and Macy in these past few days, and from what I seen felt during those nights, you are no dud.” Ichigo points out.
 
“Yeah... You’re bigger than most Wessen males out there, which explain why many human women cheat on their human husbands with a Wessen male, usually a servant or field-hand.” Minerva points out.
 
“When did you slept with him?” Ichigo asks.
 
“Only recently and it was a short nap during the day because he was tired but it was more than enough for me to learn what he has. And another time soon after that, we were in the field and he pinned me down on the hood of the jeep to give me an ultimatum on how I feel for him and how it would affect us two.” Minerva says.
 
“I was referring to being a ‘Minute man’, ‘Short Comer’, or any other name for a man who shoots off quickly and prematurely.” He points out to them.
 
“I know from the past interaction with you, you are not ‘Minute Man.’ In fact you lasted longer than I had in those days.” Ichigo tells him.
 
Minerva chimes in, “There are certain herbal Asian medicines that I know that will fix that if that is a problem for you. Besides, if you were, I am here for you because what you are doing for me. So if you ‘shoot off’ early, I hope it is deep inside me. I’m sure Ichigo would agree it if were to happen to her and for the same reason.”
 
“Hmph...” Fernando replies to himself, losing this war of words with these two females.
 
“Well?” Ichigo says in a challenging tone.
 
“Let me put this thing away before its battery runs down.” He tells them before shifting to the end of the bed and to its edge. The steel wall of the camper was already cold as it was outside. At least the heater kept the bed area warm. He stepped over to the passenger front seat and opens the laptop for a moment to activate its shut down command. As soon as it shut down, he puts it away in the laptop into the passenger storage compartment with the others personal items he has in there. He locks it shut as to limiting access to his things and securing them. Even if anyone broke in and took his laptops, they were password protected.
 
He goes back to the bed and under the blankets. Ichigo immediately gets on top of him to straddle him as Minerva slides up next to him.
 
Ichigo asks almost demanding “Well? You want to #$@! us or not?”
 
“The both of you stated out how it would be more emotionally attached and more trusting of me if we do. So if we ‘#$@!,’ are we doing it because of such emotional trust or just to get our jollies off?” He throws at them
 
Minerva says, “For emotional trust...” while Ichigo says at the same time “To get our jollies off...” They then look at each other before turning to him.
 
Ichigo tells him, “You sound like a bunny ring girl going to her first day to satisfy her assigned fighter.”
 
Minerva throws in, “I understand how you may feel about it, even the girls talk about it – getting #$@!ed to #$@! and get things like food and money, and have sex to make somebody feel better and make themselves better too because they like them.”
 
“With me, us, this convoy, no person will be forcing themselves to have sex in order to get things like food, shelter, clothes, money, even a vehicle and camper. We all work together here to get things done. Money is not a problem, and we learn to deal and haggle to get better prices for what we buy. Nor will anyone be forcing themselves onto others to get sex – and that includes you two on me. ‘No’ means ‘NO!’ What sex that happens will be of those who want it with each other.” He tells them.
 
“A man has to prove himself to a female by pinning her down and having his way with her when she challenges him.” Ichigo tells him.
 
“I already proved it to her, and I proved it to you too. So what gives? Both of you picking up from each other’s heat?” He says and asks.
 
“No!” Ichigo replies quickly. Minerva decides to remain quiet.
 
“Then you two relax.” He tells them, but lightning flashed around them and the thunder sounded like an explosion as it happened so close. Ichigo falls onto him from her straddling position, holding him tightly as she could. Minerva manages to partially get on him with what space was left and hold onto him as tightly as well. They both whimper like cold kittens and puppies in a burlap bag. There is nothing much he can do but holds them until they calm down.
 
It took a few minutes for them to calm down as the storm seems to surge with heavy rains and a hard wind. Being parked between Hondo’s Camper and Ruth’s camper gave some shelter against crosswinds. His camper does not shake like one think it would, though the campers the two Jeanettes have shudder in the wind as they are out in the open of the parking group. The other campers and vehicles are too heavy to be moved by wind, and the dune buggies and jeeps are too low to the ground to be effected as well.
 
There is knock on the sliding door.
 
Fernando gets up and puts on a t-shirt and pair of pants quickly before heading to the sliding door, Ichigo and Minerva get under the blanket as to not be seen by whoever is knocking. The sliding door opens partway revealing both Jeanettes outside.
 
“You going to let us in?” One of them says.
 
“No, and why should I?” Fernando asks.
 
“It’s a violent storm, the campers are shaking in the wind!” The same one points point.
 
“And? If you pack everyone into one camper, the weight will stabilize it against the wind. And if you park them beside the trucks and trailers, they would be shielded against the wind.” He tells them. They both look at him for a moment. He then tells them, “I’m going back to sleep and do not want to be disturbed. Whether it is shaking in the wind or not, the campers are safe to be in.”
 
They continue to look at him like some side-show display before he closes the door behind them. He can hear them complain outside for a couple minutes before they go away.
 
He takes off his outer layers, going back to bed in just his briefs. Minerva literally pounces on him and holds on to him tightly, he can feel her shaking within her tight embrace. Ichigo tries to get on him but he holds her at bay for the moment. He tells her “Let me deal with Minerva for a second, you’re safe with me no matter what, so sit down and relax.”
 
Ichigo sit down next to him, leaning against him.
 
After Ichigo quiets down Fernando asks Minerva, “You OK?”
 
She shakes her head against his chest, a soft whimper of a “No...” come out from her.
 
“Tell me, what’s wrong?” He asks.
 
Ichigo responds, “Many Wessens get like that during a storm. And people do not know why.”
 
“With sensitive hearing, aversion to bright lights, sensing electro-magnetism in waves we cannot, to her would be an assault on the senses. She would have a right to scared and nervous as it can be painful to her. But one has to learn not to let the fear to take over and that can have a very difficult first step.” Fernando tells them, though to Ichigo more than Minerva.
 
Minerva seems to nod with her head against his chest.
 
“Like it or not, it is time to force ourselves to sleep. I now it is early but nothing is going to happen during the storm, so it is best we go to sleep and take advantage of some extra rest.” He tells them.
 
“But I am not sleepy.” Ichigo says.
 
Fernando slowly gets up and lifts up the end of the bed and bench seat, pulling out a large blanket from within, and then setting it up over the others. He then turns to the propane space heater and shuts it off before going back to the bed. Once under the blankets, he positions himself on his side and takes Minerva against him. Ichigo goes up against him from behind.  
 
He whispers into Minerva’s ear, “Just close your eyes and go to sleep. You are safe here. That is happening outside is outside and not in here.”
 
Minerva nods before trying to force herself to sleep.
 
The temperature outside stays above freezing, and prolong used of the propane heater increases the humidity, Carbon Dioxide and trace amounts of Carbon Monoxide; thus it is needed to be turned off. At least with the extra blanket will keep them warm.
 
It takes them over half an hour to go to sleep.
 
Time: After 8:30PM.
 
- To Be Continued. -