There were only four women in the group but even then they were a fairly diverse group. There was an older man with several earrings in one ear and a scar through his cheekbone; a woman with brown skin and thick, braided hair wearing flowing pants and a crop top; a teenage boy with curly brown hair and spindly limbs; and a middle-aged woman with cropped black hair and stretched earlobes.

The camp bustled with enough activity that their arrival went largely unnoticed. A couple of people noticed, throwing in a quick greeting to the leader, calling him "Chief." Two Dobermans ran about the camp and barreled over to the Chief, barking excitedly.

The Chief had Tali and Ethan brought over to the edge of camp where the livestock was kept. There was a cow, two goats, five chickens, and a rooster, all being guarded by the teenage boy. The animals were penned up in a makeshift fence. Toran and the man holding Tali dragged her and Ethan over to the sturdiest fence post and tethered them both to it.

The curly-haired teenager watched all of this from his perch on a nearby rock with mild interest. "I thought you were going to bring us back some meat." He smirked.

"The little kitten here got caught in the trap," Toran laughed.

The boy raised his eyebrows. "So you brought her back? It's not like we can eat her."

"Enough, Kareb," the other man cut in. "Chief wants you to keep watch over them tonight."

Kareb shrugged. "Okay, fine by me. I still would have preferred some meat, though."

Toran shoved the boy affectionately, making him tumble off the rock. "Right, because you need all the meat you can get." He laughed again. "Don't worry, Gayalo's checking the other traps."

Kareb leaped back to his feet and brushed himself off. He shoved Toran back, though less effectively. "Tell him he better not come back empty-handed or I'll eat one of his goats."

The other man shook his head, rolled his eyes, and left.

"Tch," Kareb said. "What's Honar's problem?"

Toran chuckled again, his laugh grating on Tali's nerves. "He's probably just upset that Chief wouldn't let him play with the kitten tonight."

Tali shuddered as she thought about her close call. She almost felt grateful to be sleeping outside next to the livestock.

Toran patted Kareb on the back. "I better go. I need to get some sleep before my watch." He walked away, raising his hand in salute. "Don't eat the goats before Gayalo gets back."

And then they were alone; just Ethan, Tali, Kareb, and the animals. Ethan sat down with his back to the fence, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes. Tali almost did the same before she remembered how dry her mouth was. Her body was shaking from the lack of food and water.

She cleared her throat. "Kareb?"

"Hmm?" The boy looked surprised to hear his name. "I'm not untying you if that's what you want."

Tali shook her head. "Can we get some water? It's been hours since we last had a drink."

Kareb raised an eyebrow. "What kind of idiot doesn't take water with them into the jungle?"

Tali was too tired to care about a teenager calling her an idiot. "Please. We need water."

Kareb peered at her in suspicion. "I don't know..."

Tali sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Well, don't blame me if we faint and your Chief gets mad at you."

The boy thought for a moment before waving a hand. "Fine. I'll be right back. It's not like you're going anywhere." He left, glancing back at them a few times to double-check they weren't trying to escape.

Tali heaved an enormous sigh, backed up against the fence, and slid to the ground. She turned to Ethan, who had opened his eyes to watch the exchange she had with Kareb. "How are you doing?" Tali asked. He looked so fatigued.

Gagged as he was, Ethan could only give a small shrug and a sigh.

She gave him a weary smile. "Yeah, me too." She laid her head against his shoulder, struggling to keep her eyes open. She focused on staying awake and keeping her breathing steady. She didn't have the mental energy to think of anything else. Besides being tired, her back was burning, her feet ached, and the itchy hemp rope cut into her skin.

Kareb returned with a water skin and held the spout to Tali's lips to pour lukewarm water into her mouth. In her dehydrated state, it was like drinking pure starlight. Once Tali had her fill, Kareb replaced the stopper and set it aside so he could remove Ethan's gag. He then held the spout to Ethan's lips as he had done with Tali.

When Ethan finished, Kareb reached for the gag.

"Can't you leave it off?" Tali asked, her words slurred.

Kareb looked at them both, then shrugged. "Whatever," he said, shoving the gag into his pocket. He picked up the water skin and returned to his perch on the rock.

Finally, Tali succumbed to the overwhelming urge to sleep, her back to the fence and her cheek pressed against Ethan's shoulder.